192 Maʻalaea Road, Wailuku, HI, 96793 info@mocmarineinstitute.org Maui Sea Turtle Rescue Hotline: 808-286-2549

Vicky Priest

Corals in Maui MOCMI

Vicky Priest


“Growing up along the Texas Gulf Coast and attending the Oceanography Program and Flour Bluff High School is where Vicky’s passion for the marine environment first began. It was a great introduction to marine biology, as they had a school boat, lab, and exhibit hall complete with individual aquariums which they built, stocked, and maintained.

In 1990 Vicky obtained a B.S. in Construction Engineering and a B.S. in Construction Management from the University of New Mexico. When she moved to Maui in late 1990 to work as a project engineer for G. W. Murphy Construction in commercial construction, she was able to reawaken her love for the ocean environment. That time, construction experience came together full circle when she was hired to be the Project Engineer assisting with development and construction of the new Maui Ocean Center.

Vicky’s interest in the reef systems and the abundant variety of marine life prompted her to get her scuba certification in 1982. Since that time, she has had the opportunity to explore Gulf of Mexico, Cozumel’s Palancar Reef, sailed throughout Tahiti from Papaeete to Bora Bora, Fiji from Malolo Lailai to the Northern Yasawas, New Zealand, Rarotonga in addition to exploring our beautiful Hawaiian Islands. During her travels she had seen the devastation that can affect reef systems caused by both weather systems and human disregard.  Her hope however is to preserve these environments for future generations, through research and education, encouraging others to do the same. 

In addition to her construction company, Triton Corporation, she owns and operates Hawaiian Style Interiorz LLC a Retail Furniture Showroom since 2010 where they focus on sustainable indoor and recycled HDPE Outdoor furniture throughout the islands.

She lives in Kihei with her husband of 25 years Warren, their daughter Jessica, and their cat Aslan.”

Vicky(at)MOCMarineInstitute.org