Faculty

Founder, Instructor

Originally from the United Kingdom, his early years were spent in the British Royal Corp Transport where he learned advanced driving techniques and auto repair.  He later worked in construction, restoring ancient stone masonry on heritage cottages and castles.  In recent years, Dominic was a pet and livestock animal specialist for a farm co-op in Devon, England. Dominic  traveled extensively around Europe and Northern Africa before moving to Lava Land. He has pursued auto mechanics as a hobby for over 40 years and has extensive experience with off-grid solar and water systems.  Dominic is a proud Turkey Dad with 4 human children too.

Founder, Instructor

Raised in small town in Montana, with respect for the land and growing food, Kristen chose adventure and set out at 19 to travel the world, honing her skills in the kitchen across Asia and gaining certification as a SCUBA Instructor in Thailand.  Her culinary successes took center stage as an award-winning chef and International restauranter featured on The Food Network and Cooking Channel.  Kristen retired from the Food and Beverage Industry in 2015, and began pursing homesteading and small holding agriculture, using her culinary skills to develop animal processing workshops and food cultivation classes, that ultimately led to developing some of the curriculums for Lava Land.  

Instructor, Cook

Passionate about growing food, hunting, and self-sustainability, Mama Joy, as she is affectionately called, was homesteading long before the Instagram trends.  She has been growing and preserving food for over 50 years in places like Massachusetts, Florida, Montana, and Tennessee.  While new to Hawai'i, she's no stranger to off-grid systems like rain harvesting and toilet composting.  Initially trained as a hair stylist- back-in-the-day, Joy has worn many career hats, including semi-truck driver, manufacturing inspector, professional cook, firefighter and EMT. Joy brings age old wisdom and multi-generational traditions to our homesteading domestics program.  As a long-time wood worker, she also knows her way around a tool shop and covers some classes for our Intro to Tools course. 

Instructor

A 'maker,' master herbalist, fiber artist and Medicine woman, originally from North Carolina, Star has been in Hawai'i for more than a decade cultivating and caring for the land.  She has a wealth of knowledge around health and healing; plant and food preservation techniques like canning, dehydrating and pickling, and teaches our sewing classes.  Star has her own off-grid small holding a few towns away and has experience in construction and animal processing. She makes chocolate from bean to bar along with other specialty items that she sells at local farmer's markets. Additionally, Star leads some of our community workshops to support students emotional development, communication strategies and cultural awareness. 

Assistant Instructor

Luka is a home-schooled high school student who's grown up off-grid homesteading. She's a skilled gardener and the driving force behind "Cooler Crops" the recycled refrigerator raised garden beds on our campus.  She's nursed kitten rescues, cared for baby bunnies, and is a  great resource for our animal husbandry program.  She's also our campus IT expert and manages our Tiktok.  Luka will be headed off to college in a few years, but until then she's excited to share her off-grid living experience with our students.

A Hawai'i transplant from Berkley, CA, Julie is a nurse and homesteader. As a mental health professional Julie really understands the pressures young people face from her time working in mental healthcare.  Now she balances her professional career while building a farm, caring for chickens and honey bees, candle and soap making and homesteading domestics. You'll often catch Julie selling her hand-made goods at the local farmer's market. She is also part of our administrative team, reviewing our web content and applications.

Farm Security

A good boy, Monty is an important member of the staff.  He provides security, animal protection and moral support.  Always happy to give kisses and get pets, Monty brings excitement and joy to campus.

Farm Security

Agave and Ginger are recent rescues who provide much needed biosecurity on campus.  Always quick to keep rodents out of the chicken feed and farm supplies, these two curious kitties are an important part of keeping things secure and orderly. 

Emotional Support Staff

The "OG," Sunshine is always down for a cuddle and extra nibble of food.  Sunshine is part of the original crew at Lava Land and really knows his way around the place.  His interests include naps, snacks, and affection.  He's not much help around the farm, but he's a sweetheart who's always happy to hang. 

Social Media, Administrative Staff

EMPLOYMENT ALERT! We are actively hiring for our media marketing designer and administrative staff position.  Please email us if you are local to Hawai'i Island and interested in more details.