Leah Kocher

Operations and Event Manager

Leah was born and raised in Madison, CT, a small shoreline town. She holds a B.S. degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire (’02) and an M.S. degree in Animal Science from the University of Hawaii (’11). Leah has previously worked extensively as a marine mammal trainer for a variety of species, specializing in animal care and behavior, at facilities on Oahu and the mainland. She has a long history of work with Hawaiian monk seals, having worked as the Marine Mammal Specialist at the Waikiki Aquarium and also through SeaWorld San Antonio. Her master’s thesis focused on monk seal nutrition and physiology. After living on Oahu from 2002 to 2012, Leah spent time in Texas and Virginia before returning to Oahu in 2023 and joining the team at CCH. Leah has always had a passion for the ocean and animals. She is excited to show her daughter all that Hawai’i has to offer.