HONOLULU (HI Now) - Raised on the water in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Jack Kittinger’s early love of the ocean set him on a lifelong path of conservation and community stewardship. Now leading Conservation International’s work in Hawai‘i, Jack took an unconventional route: degrees in biology, marine studies, and geography led him to leave academia for hands-on impact. That clarity powered one of Hawai‘i’s landmark environmental wins—the Green Fee—modeled after efforts in Palau and the Galápagos. After nearly a decade of persistence and setbacks, the policy passed and is poised to generate $100 million annually to restore and protect Hawai‘i’s natural resources.
Jack’s leadership is grounded in resilience. He’s candid about the twin global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and the emotional weight they carry—especially as a father. His approach: learn from failure, keep moving, and build momentum through small victories. “Sweep your front porch,” he reminds his team—do the work right in front of you, and together it adds up.
This episode of A Leader’s Journey traces Jack’s evolution from ocean-loving kid to conservation leader—showing how grit, purpose, and community can turn moonshots into reality. The 10-part series profiles Hawai‘i leaders and the experiences that shaped them. A Leader’s Journey airs Mondays at 7pm on K5, with weekly encores on KHNL and KGMB, and streams on HNN platforms.
To watch A Leader’s Journey’s weekly episodes, visit www.hawaiinewsnow.com/leadersjourney.
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