Mentors, Specialists & Guests

Mariah Mann- our founder, fell in love with Nature Mentoring during her first Coyote Mentoring training on Kauai. She went on to deepened her knowledge by attending the full Art of Mentoring training on Salt Spring Island in BC, Canada, and recently completed a one-year professional development program for Nature School Leaders. Mariah is currently enrolled in the Kamana Naturalist Training Program, the Awakening the Senses in Nature course and the Survival, Resilience, and Preparedness class.

 

She grew up on two ruggedly diverse islands (Vancouver Island, Canada, and the Big Island, Hawaii) and was raised deeply connected to nature, spending most of her time outdoors: camping, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, and wayfinding (sailing). In high school, she had the privilege to be mentored by respected elders & cultural practitioners in her community.

 

She studied Education and International Studies at LIU Global University; studying and living in eight countries. Since graduating, she has worked worldwide in the educational and non-profit field for over 20 years. She moved back to Hawaii from the mountains of Colorado to raise her family and work at a local Charter School. During her time at the charter school, she wore many hats as the Nature Enrichment Leader, the Ike Wa’a (Canoe Knowledge) and Nature Studies Specialty Teacher, a member of the Ola Lokahi (Hawaiian Cultural) team, and the Hana Mala (Hawaiian Gardening) Assistant.

 

Mariah’s passion for wayfinding started in high school when she had the honor to be mentored by the Na Kalai Wa’a (on Makali’i voyaging canoe) and other crew members of Hokulea. She deepened her mana'o by participating in the Ku Aina Pa Teacher Training, and the E Lauhoe Wa’a Educator Training Program run by Na Kalai Wa’a.

 

She knows in her na'au (gut intuition) that it is her mission to provide transformative Deep Nature Connection experiences and adventures to people from all over this intriguing planet.

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Nature Mentoring Team

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Dominique Saks is a nature enthusiast and educator.  She is passionate about facilitating opportunities for deep connection to the natural world and believes this connection is essential for a healthy relationship with ourselves, each other, and the environment.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, where she majored in Fine Arts and minored in exploring the Rocky Mountains.  She has experience as an environmental educator, arts educator, a garden and nutrition teacher, and most recently as an Education Assistant at Kona Pacific Public Charter School.   Dominique grew up here in Kona and is so happy to be back serving her community on the Big Island.  In her free time, Dominique enjoys surfing, hiking, growing food, and spending time with her family. 

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Nicholas Poccia’s vocation is connection and belonging. He has been mentoring youth for over two decades in a wide array of capacities and over that time has witnessed the profound need, power, and beauty that comes from connection with oneself, other people, and the natural world. Nicholas spent ten years as a professional mariner, holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Captains License, and, as the full-time captain of the 91’ wooden schooner Quinnipiack and 73’ wooden schooner Lavengro, practiced and preserved the ancient art of traditional seamanship.  During this time, Nicholas, shared his cultivated love of the sea and reverence for traditional arts with youth of all ages, teaching them stewardship of our marine environments, leadership, and personal empowerment skills. From 2014 - 2017, Nicholas trained in nature connection, wilderness survival, ancestral living skills, and 8-shields mentoring by attending and teaching at Wilderness Awareness School, where he graduated from both their Anake Outdoor School and Anake Leadership Program. Currently, Nicholas is working with young adults as a wilderness therapy guide on the Big Island of Hawaii using horticulture and the natural world as the therapeutic foundation for holistic healing. Nicholas’s passions include martial arts (he is currently an avid practitioner of Qigong and T’ai chi), peacemaking, and exploring the incredible diversity and wild beauty of the Big Island.

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