OUR TEAM

  • JOE ROOT

    CO-FOUNDER

    Joe Root is an avid sportsman and craftsman with an affinity for conservation. He is a respected industry leader with decades of experience envisioning and cultivating resort destinations that raise the bar for luxury experiences. His professional career spans time at Kohanaiki, Auberge Resorts and Farallon Capital, Mauna Kea Beach Resort, and Waikoloa Beach Resort.

  • GEORGE PUNOOSE

    CO-FOUNDER

    George Punoose is a dynamic hospitality and real estate expert who has garnered vast experience cultivating world-class resort destinations across the globe. He has a personal passion for golf, residential architecture, sales and marketing, and food and wine giving George’s projects an ideal insider’s perspective.

  • Allison Aganus

    Vice President, Administration

    Allison was raised in Paʻauhau and now calls Waimea home. She attended Honoka‘a High School and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School. Allison brings more than 20 years of administrative, legal, and human resource expertise to ‘Ōuli Farms. Prior to joining ‘Ōuli, Allison served as Vice President of Administration at the private club community of Kohanaiki on the Kona Coast. This role also brings her back to the ahupua‘a of ‘Ōuli where she served in a similar role for several years at Mauna Kea Resort’s Hāpuna Beach Prince Hotel. Allison will oversee the organization’s administrative structure including ‘Ōuli’s People & Culture arena where her work will be dedicated to on-boarding employees and sharing the company’s culture of sustainability and care for the place and people.

  • Enjon Angelo

    Vice President, Development

    Born to Philippine immigrant parents here on Hawai‘i Island, Enjon grew up around the sugar plantations of Paʻauilo and Honokaʻa. He attended Honokaʻa School and has deep seated roots to the Big Island. Enjon has been involved in the construction industry since his mid-teens and has done extensive work in the resort developments.  He spent almost three decades at the Mauna Kea Resort where he served as the Director of Engineering, Director of Resort Services, and Project Manager for Mauna Kea Properties and Development. In his role at ʻŌuli Farms, Enjonʻs initial focus will include his oversight of the planning and permitting processes, infrastructure development, and all water and utility projects.

  • Mike Cinelli

    Vice President, Marketing

    With extensive experience in finance, business development, marketing and membership at private clubs, Mike brings a broad scope of skills to his role at ‘Ōuli Farms. Mike was part of the development team at CordeValle in San Martin, California and was the Director of Membership for many years. His life-long passion for Hawai‘i’s culture and way of life will be critical to his role at ‘Ōuli as he helps to establish a community where the family member experience and the culture of the islands is celebrated.

  • Patrick Heymann

    Vice President, Culinary Operations and Food Crop Distribution

    A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America New York, Chef Patrick has cooked his way through exotic kitchens around the world, including Executive Chef at CordeValle in San Martin, California. Chef Patrick started his career at the Hyatt Waikoloa, and most recently, Chef Patrick was executive chef at Loews Minneapolis Hotel in Minnesota and was the founding executive chef at Kohanaiki on the Kona Coast. With these global influences and diverse techniques, Chef Patrick will oversee all dining options as well as the distribution of ‘Ōuli’s farm grown products. A resident of Hawai‘i Island for more than 20 years, Chef Patrick’s cuisine will be focused on locally grown ingredients and engaging culinary experiences at ‘Ōuli Farms.

  • RICKY Kamimura

    Vice President, ʻŌuli Farms Builders, LLC

    Ricky was born and raised in Waimea and a graduate of Honoka‘a High School. A general contractor in the state of Hawai‘i, Ricky’s responsibility at ‘Ōuli Farms includes management of the construction of homes and infrastructure. A native of Hawai‘i Island, Ricky has been involved in the construction industry on the Island of Hawai‘i for more than 40 years. At ‘Ōuli Farms, in addition to construction oversight, Ricky will also direct the completion of permits, contracts, and billing, as well as hire and manage ‘Ōuli Farms Builders staff.

  • BILL MILLER

    General Manager

    Bill was born and raised on the windward side of O‘ahu, but has been living on Hawai‘i Island for nearly three decades. In his role as ‘Ōuli’s General Manager, Bill’s creative instincts and keen eye for detail are a result of his 25 years of food and beverage, catering, hospitality, and private club experience. Since returning to Hawai‘i Island after his most recent role as assistant general manager at The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bill will oversee all aspects of the ‘Ōuli community. This includes the Club experience, Member Services, and events. Bill’s broad knowledge of the island and all it has to offer will be invaluable as he introduces ‘Ōuli’s Club members to a variety of exciting activities at ‘Ōuli, both on the island and in the ocean.

  • Joey Przygodzinski

    Vice President, Farms and Agronomy

    Joey hails from Opihihale and is proud alumni of Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. Joey’s career in landscape development and installation, landscape and turf maintenance, and golf course management spans nearly three decades.  Most recently, Joey was integral in organically developing the Sperber Companies of the Hawaiian Islands Region after assisting with the renovation and re-opening of the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection in 2020 and overseeing maintenance of the property. At ‘Ōuli Farms, Joey will institute agricultural best practices and oversee all aspects of the project’s crops and farming, landscape installation, and maintenance. He is eager to be a part of restoration efforts of the native dryland forest flora and fauna, and to provide food that’s “grown here not flown here.”

  • Will Root

    Vice President, Vertical Construction

    Born and raised in Captain Cook, Will is a proud alumni of Konawaena and West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy. Will’s extensive experience in the construction industry in Hawai‘i and California, coupled with his management of private club facilities on the Kona Coast, are the perfect skills for ʻŌuli’s mix of luxury living and farming. Will’s prior experience as the Facilities Manager at Kohanaiki involved the maintenance of homes, amenities, and the properties’ cutting-edge reverse osmosis system. Working closely with the design team, architects, and engineers, he will oversee all aspects of the Club’s amenity and building construction.

  • Char Taniyama

    Vice President, Information Technology

    Char grew up on O‘ahu, and now calls Hawai‘i Island home for the last 35 years. Char holds over 30 years in the hospitality and private club industry including careers at Kohanaiki and Mauna Kea Resort. Char was also instrumental in overseeing IT operations for Prince Resorts Hawai‘i. Now as the Vice President for Information Technology (IT), Char will be involved in creating ‘Ōuli’s IT systems for construction, farming, and water related systems. This includes the establishment of the infrastructure needed to support the organization’s tech and the management of those systems.

COLLABORATORS