CEO, Oceanographer

Dr. Brian Glazer

Brian is an Associate Professor in the department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Brian’s research focuses on understanding the synergy between geochemical processes and microbial diversity and function. An avid sailor and dedicated scientist working with the Native Hawaiian Community, Brian began working with fish ponds and started early development of Hononu sensors in 2014.

Co-Founder, Engineer

Stanley Lio

Stanley is an Embedded Systems Engineer in the Oceanography department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He designs and builds tools to support research projects in marine tech development, conservation and management, physical oceanography, and renewable energy. Stanley has an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California and BS in Computer Engineering at York University in Ontario, Canada.

Co-Founder, Coastal Geologist

Dr. Nicole Elko

Nicole is the Science Director for the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Executive Director of the South Carolina Beach Advocates, an Executive Director of the U.S. Coastal Research Program, and President of Elko Coastal Consulting based in Folly Beach, SC. She also serves as one of the three civilian members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Engineering Research Board, and has recently been appointed to NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel.

COO

Kevin Mukai

Kevin has 10 years of experience working in startup operations from founding to hypergrowth. At Bird, Kevin was an early employee as Bird scaled from its operations from 1-city to global. Kevin holds a MS in Product Development Technology and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Southern California.

Coastal Geologist

Dave Walsh

Dave has 22 years experience designing and implementing real‐time data monitoring systems in coastal and estuarine environments, as well as oceanographic data collection systems. He specializes in oceanographic data collection program management and
operational logistics for both surface and subsurface systems.

Physical Oceanographer

Sebastien Boulay

Sebastien Boulay developed an early love for the ocean. He grew up spearfishing in Brest, Brittany, with a father in the Navy. He holds a BS in Oceanography and a MS in Coastal Oceanography. worked as a surveyor, navigator, and project manager in the offshore oil and gas industry, and on submarine cable laying ships around the world. He has experience working with buoys, operational marine forecast services, and went from tech support to eventually leading all global commercial weather operations for the MetService. In 2019, he joined Sofar Ocean leading international growth.

Software Developer

Owen Wattenmaker

Owen Wattenmaker developed an early love for the ocean. He grew up skiing in Tahoe, California as well as kitesurfing in Half Moon Bay, California. He holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has worked as a developer for a healthcare company before moving to Hohonu, who shares his values for ocean and conservation. Owen currently resides on the north shore of Oahu, spending his days alternating between coding and surfing

Board Member

Donavan Kealoha

Donavan Kealoha is a Director at Startup Capital Ventures, where he focuses on aspects of potential and active investments. He serves on the board of portfolio company AreaMetrics, Hobnob, and Breinify. In 2013, Donavan co-founded the Purple Maiʻa Foundation, a non-profit focused on empowering high opportunity youth in underserved Hawaiʻi communities by providing indigenized technology education.