Charles R. "Chipper" Wichman, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and N...

Chipper Wichman is NTBG's Chief Executive Officer and serves as Director of the organization, effective January 2005. Prior to serving as the organization's Acting Director for nearly 1-1/2 years, Mr. Wichman served as Director of NTBG's Limahuli Garden on Kaua`i since 1994 and also as Director of NTBG's Kahanu Garden on Maui from 1997 through early 2002.

Mr. Wichman joined the organization in 1976, graduating from its Horticultural Internship program. He spent his early career developing Limahuli Garden. During this time, he obtained a Special Subzone designation in the Conservation District for the entire Limahuli Valley, restored ancient taro terraces, developed a collection of rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants, opened the garden to educational tours, and added the 989-acre Limahuli Preserve. Subsequently Limahuli was named the Best Natural Botanical Garden in the United States by the American Horticultural Society.

Through numerous grants, Mr. Wichman was able to fund extensive native habitat restoration work in the Limahuli Preserve, which continues today. In addition to his work in conservation and education, he has lead efforts to perpetuate and preserve native Hawaiian culture. He spearheaded a four-year Indigenous Communities Mapping Initiative Project at Limahuli. This collaborative project focused on researching and documenting traditional cultural knowledge and land use relationships and perpetuating traditional practices within the native community.

Mr. Wichman brought renewed focus to NTBG's conservation and horticulture efforts, a greater appreciation of the native Hawaiian culture, and undertook a major capital campaign. Under his leadership, NTBG built its fourth building at the headquarters campus, a major research facility which has received wide attention for its "green architecture."