Featured Speakers

Dr. Caires is an Assistant Extension Agent at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). He is currently an Associate Livestock Agent Serving Maui and Kauai Counties. 

A native of Maui, he grew up on a diversified cattle and asparagus operation. Kyle originally left the islands to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at Oregon State University and was a member of its championship livestock judging team. He later attended Washington State University where he earned Master’s and Ph. D. degrees in Reproductive Genomics and Stem-cell biology. 

Kyle hit the ground running with programs to benefit livestock producers and 4-H youth on Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i, helping ranchers improve profitability, while at the same time conducting high impact research that has garnered awards at national and international meetings. Kyle was recently recognized with an Achievement of Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. 

He has served on the board of the American Society of Animal Science as Chair of the Endocrinology and Physiology Section, and served as a national committee board member, chair or delegate of the American Angus Association, Red Angus Association of America and South East Red Angus Association, and is a current member of the International Brangus Breeders Associations Breed-Improvement committee. Kyle is an active member of Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association and serves as the President for the Maui County Farm Bureau. 

Kyle knows a thing or two about livestock outside of academia. In 2003, while still in college, he founded Future Beef, a livestock genetics and consulting company, and over the next decade, developed that business serving the various needs of clientele in over 40 states and 18 countries around the globe. In fact, Kyle is the only Hawai‘i native ever selected to judge cattle at the National Western Stock Show, the “Super Bowl of livestock shows”!  

His passion for the livestock industry is evidenced by working with 4H/FFA youth, judging livestock expositions both in the United States and abroad, and maintaining active research collaborations with researchers and livestock producers in several countries like Brazil and Japan; often leveraging those relationships to help the livestock industry in Hawai‘i.  

When Kyle isn’t at work, he spends time with his family and small herd of beef cows at Caires Farms. 

Nicole Galase is the Managing Director of the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council, Hawaiʻi Rangeland Stewardship Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Beef Industry Council. Nicole started her career working with endangered species across the State of Hawaiʻi, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Now, she has the privilege to work for premier land stewards – Hawaiʻi’s paniolo. This work includes educating the public on the benefits of well-managed rangelands, partnering with researchers to understand climate smart ranching practices, and increasing access to resources and opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s ranchers. Her goal is to highlight the overlapping goals of cattlemen and conservation to foster closer collaboration between the communities. 

In 2021, she was nominated by her organization’s board members and recognized as a Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 Honoree, and in 2022 she was bestowed the honor of being names Cattlemen of the Year by the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council.

Nicole was born and raised in Palolo Valley. Today she lives in Volcano with her husband and two dogs and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from UH Manoa’s Shidler College of Business, and a Master of Marine Conservation from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.  

Timothy Luton is the General Manager of the Maui Cattle Company, one of Hawaii’s few grass-finished beef producers. He comes from decades of agriculture business and growing the beef industry in developing markets throughout Southeast Asia. He has extensive experience in finishing tropical cattle and beef cattle start-ups.

James “Jay” Nobriga is a proud Maui native raised on the values of hard work, humility, and aloha.  After starting his career in the beverage warehouse at Maui Soda & Ice Works Ltd, Jay gained a comprehensive understanding of the family business, eventually progressing to his previous role of Beverage Distribution Manager.  As the current Vice President of Maui Soda & Ice Works Ltd., Jay leverages his extensive knowledge to collaborate with company leaders and make strategic decisions that benefit the family, company and its employees.

Deeply committed to his community, Jay has dedicated over 25 years as a member of the West Maui Soil & Water Conservation District, where he currently serves as board chairman.  In addition, he has served as past president of the Maui Cattleman’s Association and the Maui County Farm Bureau.

Jay obtained his associate’s degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a proud St. Anthony School graduate.  In his free time, Jay enjoys working on his family’s cattle ranch and spending quality time with his ʻohana. 

Ryan Torres serves as Global Category Manager – Protein for Y. Hata overseeing the Enterprise Protein Category including support of the local cattle industry and manages protein categories for the company that include beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and other proteins.

With over two decades of foodservice experience, Ryan supports & assists the company’s efforts in the training of his colleagues in sales, purchasing, info central sales support reps, and operations. In his career at Y. Hata, Ryan has embraced the company’s core value of Partners First where we place our partner’s needs above our own and provide profitability solutions to help our partners succeed.

Born and raised on the windward side of Oʻahu, Taylor received a Bachelor’s of Science in Tropical Agriculture from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. He then spent 6 years working for Hawaiʻi’s pineapple industry including Delmonte Fresh Produce in Kunia, and Maui Pineapple Company in Hāliʻimaile.

In 2007, Taylor returned to Oʻahu and was farm manager for the Hawaii Seed Industry until 2015. Taylor is now the Director of Diversified Agriculture and Land Stewardship for Kualoa Ranch with responsibilities including livestock, aquaculture, farming, and natural resource conservation. He has served as an officer for the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and on the boards of West Oahu Soil and Water Conservation District, Kunia Water Commission, and Oʻahu Resource Development Council. Taylor currently is a committee chair for the Hawaiʻi Cattleman’s Council, Board Chair for the Hawaii Rangeland Stewardship Foundation, past board president for the Agriculture Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi (ALFH). Taylor is also a graduate of the Agricultural Leadership Program class XV of ALFH and the Pacific Century Fellows.