Born and raised in Pauoa Valley, O‘ahu, Matt formed a close connection to his environment and community. Matt graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with top-honors and received his Master in Landscape Architecture in Spring 2021. Matt’s award-winning research focused on traditional Native Hawaiian land management practices, their inherent benefits and how they could be applied as climate change adaptation strategies.

Matt also brings over 10 years of graphic design experience. He has worked for award-winning web and graphic design studios, and worked as the in-house graphic designer for WATG. While at WATG, Matt focused on business development and presentation graphics. Additionally he reinvigorated the office’s wayfinding and environmental graphics service line.

Outside of the office Matt can be found volunteering with Native Hawaiian Dryland Reforestation initiatives, making lei, or in the taro patch growing kalo to “make some ‘ono grinds.”