Reconnecting with Founding Friends
Pauline and E Z Street in their Princeville home.
I recently had the wonderful opportunity of meeting two volunteers who were part of the founding team of supporters for Kīlauea Point NWR and the Kīlauea Point Natural History Association (the original name for our Friends Group). Of course, many people have already had the pleasure of working with Pauline and Nicholas “E Z” Street over the years. However, since my tenure here began in late 2018, they are new – but now very much beloved – friends to me as well.
A few months ago, I conducted an outreach presentation to the ladies of the Mokihana Club and met Pauline Street. Recently, I was able to sit down with Pauline and E Z to hear stories of their work, their life and their positive impact upon our wildlife and our island community.
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Nicholas, or E Z as he is known, and Pauline met in Paris and have been married for 66 years. Over that time, they have raised a beautiful family and built an inspirational life together, woven with service to our native Hawaiian wildlife, Kīlauea Point NWR, the young people of Kauaʻi and many other causes touched by their philanthropic spirit.
E Z and Pauline began visiting Kauaʻi in 1971 and were early “pioneers” in the development of Princeville. After they bought a home there in 1979, they watched homes emerge out of the bluffs around them and a community form.
E Z worked as a coach for 25 years and Pauline was an art teacher for 20. In addition to making a difference in the lives of countless young people, these careers also afforded them summers off together. With this time and their adventurous spirits, they traveled the world together, and across the United States in a camper with their two daughters, Nicole and Vicki.
They retired when E Z was 50 and Pauline 48 and took a year off to travel before landing full time on Kauaʻi in 1985. That same year, Kīlauea Point NWR was established and Pauline began to work as a volunteer, with E Z joining the volunteer team in 1990. Together, they had many rewarding experiences across the Refuge sharing their knowledge with countless visitors. During this time, they also led many hikes to the summit of Nihokū passing by ʻā (red-footed boobies) roosting in the trees. In those early years, the Refuge was still learning and assessing the levels of human activity that can be safely brought into this special portion of the Refuge which, today, is largely set aside as a wildlife conservation area.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, E Z and Pauline were also part of the volunteer team that helped support some of the island’s very first reintroduced nēnē (Hawaiian geese) broods. They are proud to have supported some of these first generations of beloved birds. Today, Kauaʻi is home to approximately two thirds of the entire State’s nēnē population, thanks to protected spaces like Kīlauea Point NWR and people who care, like E Z and Pauline.
Pauline’s t-shirt design, which helped to generate thousands of dollars in support of our mission.
We have much to thank these two passionate and hardworking friends for. Among their many achievements with us, Pauline brought her passion and incredible artistry in service of our mission. She designed the very first images imprinted upon t-shirts sold in our Friends Nature Store at Kīlauea Point NWR. Thanks to her incredible skills, we have raised thousands of dollars of earned income over the years to support the work of Kīlauea Point NWR and her designs have made their way – quite literally – around the world. Through their travels, Pauline has seen shirts sold through our Nature Store on visitors in places across the globe and she even took to carrying a pen with her, to be able to sign them after delighting the shirts’ owner with the awareness that she was the artist.
Pauline also designed the Kīlauea Point NWR volunteer patch, a patch for our hats and the Kīlauea Point NWR logo, among many other artistic contributions. In addition, today, her amazing artistry can be seen within many genres and forms on display in their lovely home and local galleries.
Through their many hours of service and passion for Kīlauea Point NWR and Pauline’s countless hours developing art projects for our mission, E Z earned an impressive 5,000-hour USFWS volunteer service pin and Pauline a mind-blowing 10,000-hour pin!
However, this was far from the extent of their philanthropy and service to our island community. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they established and continue to manage the Pauline and Nicholas “E Z” Street Charitable Fund, which is administered through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. Through this fund, they provide annual scholarship awards for all Kauaʻi high school students enrolling in a 4-year college. Together, they distribute over $200,000 in scholarships annually and have had an immeasurable impact upon Kauaʻi families and our local economy!
The book cover to “E Z Directions to Adventure,” by E Z Street.
E Z has written a delightful book chronicling their adventures traveling over their lifetime, and is proud to share his work with donors to their fund. If you’d like more information and or to learn how you can support their scholarship fund, please contact Robin Pratt at RPratt@hcf-hawaii.org or 808.792.3102.
Pauline also serves as a member of the Mokihana Club, a group of passionate philathropists working to provide scholarships for local nursing and music students, in addition to supporting other important causes. Pauline has the distinction as the longest living member of the Mokihana Club and has twice served as its President.
E Z and Pauline were founders of two churches on the North Shore of Kauaʻi: The Church of the Pacific and the North Shore Christian Church, which is now called Kauaʻi Christian Fellowship Church North.
Pauline with a mosaic tile composition she created, one of the few elements from their prior home to survive the effects of Hurricane Iniki.
Today, E Z and Pauline continue to enjoy the beautiful home they designed and built after the loss of their original Princeville home due to Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and time with their family. Their daughter Nicole is a retired literary professor living in Līhuʻe and their daughter Vicki divides her time between Huntington Beach, CA and Princeville, where she is now following in her mother’s inspiration by exploring and developing her own amazing skills as a painter.
It can sometimes be difficult to quantify the impact of a life well lived. However, I truly believe that E Z and Pauline provide a truly inspirational vision of what that can look like for each of us. Mahalo nui loa to these two beloved founding friends!
Kīlauea Point NWR Volunteer patch designed by Pauline.
Kīlauea Point NWR logo, designed by Pauline, on shirts sold at our Nature Store.
The USFWS Volunteer hat worn by E Z during his many hours of service as a roving interpreter and hiking guide. Boy, if that hat could talk!
Another shirt designed by Pauline for The Albatross Project.
Another orignal t-shirt design by Pauline.
An original piece developed by Pauline to support the Hanalei Canoe Club.
A display of several original pieces designed by Pauline, used to support our mission.
Pauline with several of her original pieces of art.
E Z and Pauline Street with their daughter Vicki.
E Z and Pauline Street with Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges Executive Director Thomas Daubert.
E Z and Pauline’s daughters: Nicole and Vicki.
Pauline and E Z volunteering at Kīlauea Point NWR.
Pauline and E Z leading a hike at Kīlauea Point NWR.
Pauline volunteering at Kīlauea Point NWR and some of the original nēnē broods established on the Refuge with the care of E Z, Pauline and others.
Pauline with the local fish display she developed for Kamalani Park. She affirmed the authenticity of her designs through many snorkeling adventures in our waters.
Pauline with the lens of the lighthouse, known today as the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse.
Pauline with the hula halau at Kīlauea Point NWR, which she continues to participate with.
E Z and Pauline Street at Kīlauea Point NWR.
