Jonee Peters

Executive Director

Jonnetta “Jonee” Kaina Peters, a native Hawaiian woman, is the Executive Director for Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, the oldest environmental non-profit organization in Honolulu, HI.  Jonee has been with CCH for 16 years and learned environmental advocacy work and managing a non-profit organization under the tutelage of the late Marjorie Ziegler (1956-2018). Born in Honolulu and raised in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu, Jonee is a graduate of Castle High School who went on to earn her degree in Fashion Design and Technology from Honolulu Community College, and a Certificate of Achievement from Ho‘ohalike Ko Kahiko Hou La‘au Lapa‘au in Hawaiian traditional healing arts.  Jonee was also a co-author of  “Kupu: He mau mo ‘olelo no ke au hou – Stories for a new era”.  She was also a member of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘ohana and a founding board member of Nā ‘oiwi o Hawai‘i.  Jonee worked as a groundskeeper in the native Hawaiian plant section at the Waimea Falls Park Arboretum, where she engaged with rare native Hawaiian plants and Hawaiian birds, guiding her passion at CCH.  Jonee credits her parents and kupuna (elders) who practiced lauhala (pandanus leaf) weaving, hula and chant, kahuna la‘au lapa‘au (native Hawaiian healing), manō (shark) protectors, kalo farming, fishers, and food gatherers in influencing her path in life. She spent time in and around the ocean, and continues to learn about plants as food, medicine, and clothing. She loves creating multi-media art projects and learning about genealogy and DNA.