Board of Directors

Catherine A.G. Sparkman, Esq. - Chairperson

Ms. Sparkman has a deep connection to Hawai’i island, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and national parks throughout the country. She first visited Hawai’i in 1967, and has travelled to our state over 24 times and continues to visit annually. Her visits have included living on Hawai’i island for four months.

Ms. Sparkman has extensive experience in the areas of media, healthcare compliance matters, and regulatory, legislative and governmental relations at both the state and federal levels. She also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and domestic and international arbitration. She is trained as a mediator by the American Arbitration Association. Ms. Sparkman has over 30 years of non-profit board experience, including board development and strategic planning. As a consultant, Ms. Sparkman has led numerous training sessions in board governance, development, finance and D&O issues for non-profits in several states nationwide.

Civic & Professional Leadership Positions:

Member and chair of the City of Boulder, Colorado Human Relations Commission, Planning Board, and Library Commission.

Civic and charitable boards in Colorado:

Colorado Music Festival
Colorado Chautauqua Association and the Boulder Bach Festival.
Most recently, she served on the Board of Directors, and as President, of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, Inc.

Shane Akoni Palacat Nelsen - Vice Chairperson

Tanya A. Ortega - Treasurer

Ms. Ortega is the Founder and current President of the National Parks Arts Foundation. Prior to starting the NPAF, Tanya has held many positions – Ortega National Parks (2004-2020), Ranger/Volunteer with Youth Conservations Corps (1989-2011), and the Environmental Protection Agency (1993-1997).

Ms. Ortega holds a BFA from Southern Oregon University; Art as a Global Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art; holds a certificate from the National Association of Interpretation 2013-ongoing; Leadership and Innovation Certification from MIT.

Objective: To provide and support the best authentic National Park experience while respecting the culture, environment, and inherent nature of our sacred lands. Tanya’s objectives align with those of Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Tanya is an avid photographer and lives in Kona with her husband.

Joni Mae Makuakāni-Jarrell - Secretary

JM is a native Hawaiian born in Hilo, Hawai'i. Her roots are tied to the districts of Honu'apo, Ka'ū and Kapoho/Opihikao, Puna, the one hānau (birth place) of her mother Violet May Akamu Makuakāne and father John P.C. Makuakāne. Both were senior kahu at Opihikao Congregational Church in Puna, Hawaiʻi.

She spent the first five years of her life with her pure Hawaiian tūtū, Miriam Puaokekoʻolau Kua Akamu while her parents worked. Those formative years found her connected to the tip of her tūtū learning the traditional knowledge and Hawaiian culture of fishing, farming,food preservation, sustainable living, sense of place and so much more.

JM began her National Park Service career in October 1978 with the Young Adult Conservation Corp (YACC) at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This opportunity provided her the foundation to a career of leadership and superior customer service.

JMʻs career spans nearly four decades of extensive work in Interpretation and Education, Protection, Fire, conservation, preservation and ecosystems management in the Hawaiʻi parks she served including USS Arizona Memorial, Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP, Puʻukoholā NHS and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP. She has done extensive work on numerous Parksʻ cultural festivals and events as the coordinator and cultural practitioner.

JM retired as the first Native Hawaiian and female Chief of Interpretation and Education at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in 2016: the 100th Anniverary of the Park and the National Park Service.

JM is the proud mom of Kuʻuleimomi, Kimmer and Brenn and tūtū of Starrcia Kuʻulei (17 years old) who grew up at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (underneath the desk of her tūtū) and attended every cultural festival and Junior Ranger Program.

Aaron Woofter, MD - Board Member

Aaron Woofter, MD is a gastroenterologist in Honolulu. He was born and raised in northeast Ohio to a high school Spanish teacher and a small business owner who honeymooned at Gettysburg National Park. His father has been a Friend of Gettysburg since the 1980s. Aaron developed an appreciation for Big Island while maintaining office hours there from 2017 to 2019, and for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while on vacation with friends. He's a proud dad of two daughters and husband of a registered nurse. In his spare time he enjoys following and studying baseball, working outside and hiking with his dog, Dexter. He is proud to be a part of such an important and influential organization as FHVNP.

Willette K. Akima-Akao - Board Member