Core Team

Norman Bezona

Norman Bezona has dedicated nearly 50 years to becoming an expert in tropical horticulture. Norm specifically remembers his first inspiration for plants at the early age of four as he worked beside his grandmother in her garden. At age fifteen, Norm set off on his first of many big adventures. He traveled alone from Portland, Oregon to Okinawa where he attended Kubasaki American High School. The tropical setting of Okinawa set the stage for Norm’s lifelong passion for tropical horticulture and a strong desire to live in the tropics. This became a reality when he enrolled at the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture, in 1956. He did graduate work at the University of Florida, but quickly realized that Hawaii was where his heart was. He returned with his family and began working for C Brewer Company Ltd. in the Big Island’s District of Ka’u. His work as a diversified crop horticulturist allowed him to work with macadamia, coffee, citrus, guava, avocado, and ornamentals, as well as being a part of the agricultural reforestation of Ka'u.

Inspired by his favorite childhood book, “Swiss Family Robinson”, and his favorite childhood hero, “Johnny Appleseed”, Norm has never stopped dreaming. He began acquiring forest land on the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1982. Now known as the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, education and botanical tours are offered in cooperation with other organizations.

Norm worked in the field of tropical agriculture for more than 30 years before retiring from the University of Hawai'i. In addition to his dedication to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, Norm is currently the Hawai'i Director for the International Palm Society, an Advisor to the Hawai'i Chapter of the American Bamboo Society, and an Advisor to TREE (Tropical Reforestation & Ecosystems Education Center) and Kona Outdoor Circle. Working as a consultant Norm has visited many equatorial forest regions worldwide and continues to work with organizations on special projects around the world. He writes articles for local publications, and works with the community to support tropical forest protection. Norm has been a tour guide for numerous eco-agricultural tours in the Hawaiian Islands as well as tours in Africa, Asia, Australia, South and Central America. At Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary Norm leads many of the tours and maintains the property grounds with the help of his family and local volunteer groups such as the Kona Outdoor Circle, 4-H, Scouts and TREE.

Ric Bezona

Ric Bezona has aquired extensive knowledge of Hawaii’s culture, history, horticulture and archaeology while living on the islands for most of his life. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hawai'i with a major in Horticulture Technology, emphasis in Business, and special study in native plants in Hawai'i. In addition, he has a secondary teacher certification in Science. For over 25 years Ric has worked in all phases of landscape design, planning, development, and maintenance; both exterior and interior; specializing in tropical and sub-tropical plants.

Currently Ric is Landscape Manager for the Kuki’o Resort, an exclusive residential property located on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Ric also contributes to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary as a Horticulture Consultant and assists with landscape design and implementation. In his spare time, Ric is an avid bottle collector with special interest in bottles from Hawai'i dating back to the late 1800's and early 1900’s.

Diane McWhirter

Diane McWhirter spent the majority of her childhood on the Big Island of Hawai'i and Oahu. Although she currently resides on the mainland with her husband and three children, Hawai'i still feels like home. Frequent visits to the Islands, lifelong friendships, and family ties to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary have kept her spirit of Aloha alive. She looks forward to someday moving back to Hawai'i where she and her husband plan to be involved in the community.

Diane brings 15 years of Marketing and Sales experience to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary. In addition to high level sales positions, Diane worked as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for a systems integration firm. She reported directly to the Vice President on a project developing a prototype GIS/Land Information System (LIS) for the Russian Federation. She led all marketing and public relations activities for the project including media event planning, writing press releases and distributing them through Russia and the United States. Diane created all media kits, project write-ups, sales and marketing tools, and cost justification analysis. In addition, she worked with all the sub-contractors to effectively communicate the philosophical alignment of the “Team Mission”.

Diane will be contributing her diverse skills to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in a variety of ways. Her primary responsibility at this time encompasses the administrative and operational control of the website. In addition, Diane will have growing involvement in Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary's business management and program development.

Other contributors

Phyllis Bezona, Norm's mother, assists with hosting tour guests.

Tim Bezona dedicates his time to miscellaneous projects on the property.

Kona Outdoor Circle, 4-H, Scouts and TREE help with special projects on a volunteer basis.