Ho'olauna: Jennifer Luck

Jennifer Luck, the Hawai‘i Land Trust board chair, is a lifelong nature lover, but there is a specific event that she refers to as her land conservation career “origin story.”

Jennifer grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Hawai‘i in 2007 with her husband Jason Schaper. The couple loved California but sought a gentler and more nature-focused locale to establish a home base and raise a family. Before relocating, she flew from California to Kauai for an interview to become the executive director of Kaua‘i Public Land Trust.

Gary Blaich, the then-president of the organization, presented Jennifer with a puakenikeni lei and drove her to the North Shore to see the conservation easement Waiakalua. As the two stood together looking out over the ocean, Gary described how the wind sweeps up from the cliffs and explained the land’s importance for albatross and other wildlife, as well as its significance to the entire North Shore community. 

 “The way he talked about the land with such reverence is a moment that really sticks out to me and when I understood why this work is so important and what it means to people,” she said. “It’s not just about protecting nature, it's about safeguarding the foundation of healthy communities.”

Jennifer landed the job, and in 2011 when Kaua‘i Public Land Trust merged with HILT, she brought her experience and passion for protecting Hawai‘i’s ʻāina to a role as HILT’s Kauai Island Director.

In 2015, Jennifer moved on from her paid position with HILT but maintained and reinforced her ties with the organization through her work on the board.

As a board member, Jennifer is focused on supporting CEO 'Olu Campbell and ensuring HILT’s long-term financial health and vitality.

“The board is comprised of amazing people who have an incredible commitment to protecting the essence of this place, not just now, but for many, many generations to come,” she said.  “Every time I’m with the board someone says something that is an ‘aha’ moment or that gives me chicken skin. To learn from the other board members and to see and know Hawaii through their eyes is genuinely a privilege.”

In the future, Jennifer would love to see HILT continue to build a robust land fund so the organization can move quickly when there are opportunities to protect more of Hawaii’s natural spaces.

Jennifer is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Common Ground Kaua‘i, a regenerative hospitality company on the north shore of Kaua‘i. In her free time — which is not abundant with her full-time job and board responsibilities with HILT and other organizations! — she prioritizes being with her husband and daughters, Midge, 15, and Frankie, 10, catching longboard waves, and running.

Whatever future endeavors Jennifer sets her mind to will unquestionably revolve around the conservation and stewardship of the beloved ʻāina that serve as the backdrop for her family and professional life.