"No task is too great when undertaken together.”
Meet The Team
Sabrina Day
President
Sabrina Day Is a sustainability professional originally from Australia, now based on Kauaʻi, where she leads community-driven composting and waste reduction efforts. She serves as Program Manager of Composting Initiatives at ʻĀina Ho‘okupu o Kīlauea, supporting practical, local solutions that strengthen ecological and circular systems. Sabrina is also deeply involved with Zero Waste Kauaʻi as the Compost Committee and Fundraising Committee Lead, helping guide strategy, partnerships, and resource development in support of a thriving circular economy.
Alanna Dawn
Vice President, Marketing & Outreach Lead
Alanna Dawn has been helping Zero Waste Kauaʻi since 2019, inspiring our community to make everyday choices that care for our island. She first got hooked on zero waste while managing waste at music festivals in California, and later brought that passion to 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, where she created their zero waste system from the ground up. A USC graduate in Business Marketing, Alanna loves using her gifts to support her community, and she’s also passionate about music, DJing, hosting, and programming at KKCR Kauaʻi Community Radio. For her, living on Kauaʻi is all about caring for the land, connecting with people, and making a positive impact wherever she can.
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JoAnn Yukimura
Curbside Recycling Committee Lead
JoAnn Yukimura former Mayor of Kauaʻi and longtime Councilmember, has dedicated her life to public service. A Kauaʻi High, Stanford, and UW Law graduate, she became the first Japanese-American woman mayor in the U.S. and a pioneer of lasting community programs—from the Kauaʻi Bus and affordable housing to the island’s first recycling and composting initiatives. JoAnn has championed environmental protections, shoreline preservation, and youth empowerment throughout her career. Today, she continues her passion for service on Kauaʻi’s Resilience Project Committee, while cherishing time with her husband, John, their daughters, granddaughter, and extended ʻohana.
Ruta Jordans
Fundraising Committee Lead
Ruta Jordans has followed a zero waste way of living all her life but only learned about zero waste in 2018. Starting out as a World War 2 refugee set her on a life of traveling, finally finding her way to Kauai. Along the way she worked as a registered nurse in various locations and areas of healthcare, and served in a variety of nonprofit organizations trying to leave this earth a little bit better then she found it.
Nancy Romaine
Executive Committee Member
Nancy Romaine, Executive Committee Member
Jimmy Trujillo
Executive Committee Member
Jimmy Trujillo has lived on Kaua’i since 1999 and is a resident of Kapahi. He raises bees, enjoys composting more than weeding and appreciates the beauty of the Garden Isle. He is a husband, father and educator concerned about the environment and humanity’s ability to adapt to a changing world. His work with ZWK is one of several community volunteer opportunities that provides for him meaningful and rewarding interactions with the beautiful people of Kaua’i.
John "The Dump Doctor" Harder
Founder
John Harder a.k.a. The Dump Doctor is a Berkely dropout who came to Kaua‘i in 1969 and worked across construction, from carpentry and surveying to project management. In the late 1970s, he began designing and installing alternative energy systems before discovering his true calling in solid waste management. He became Kaua‘i County’s first Solid Waste Coordinator in the 1980s, then led the Hawaii State Office of Solid Waste Management, bringing the program into EPA compliance and promoting recycling and composting statewide. From 1999–2001, he managed Saipan’s solid waste system, transforming one of the Western Pacific’s worst dumps, before returning to Hawaii to oversee Maui County’s operations. In 2006, he helped found Zero Waste Kaua‘i, advocating sustainable waste practices. John is widely recognized for his expertise in solid waste management and remains especially passionate about composting.
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Jenn Sifuentes
Executive Committee Member
Jenn Sifuentes Is an environmental advocate and member of the Zero Waste Kauaʻi Executive Committee, where she helps guide strategy and support community-driven waste reduction efforts. She is also the Founder of Compostable Kauaʻi LLC, a local initiative focused on promoting composting and sustainable solutions tailored to Kauaʻi’s needs. Jenn’s work centers on building awareness and strengthening local systems that divert materials from the landfill and support a more circular, resilient Kauaʻi.
Willow Volkert
Member & Education Lead
Willow Volkert is an environmental educator and community advocate passionate about connecting people to place through sustainability, cultural learning, and mālama ʻāina. Her work has included environmental education and stewardship programs on Kauaʻi’s North Shore, helping residents and visitors deepen their understanding of the island’s unique ecosystems and cultural landscapes. Willow is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to take meaningful action toward a more sustainable future
Sequoyah A.
Executive Committee Member
Sequoyah A., Executive Committee Member
Martin Metz
Executive Committee
Martin Metz is a sustainability strategist, circular economy advocate, and environmental storyteller who helps organizations develop innovative solutions that reduce waste and create positive social and environmental impact. Based between Kauaʻi and California, Martin has worked across industries including sustainable fashion, clean beauty, adventure travel, and consumer products. His experience on the Plastiki expedition, a groundbreaking voyage across the Pacific aboard a boat made from recycled plastic bottles, helped shape his commitment to addressing waste and pollution through systems change. Through his work, Martin helps businesses and communities transition toward a more circular, regenerative future.
Our Partners
