Ashley Watts has lived on Hawai’i since 2007. She worked with the Pacific Islands Region Observer program for 7 years as a fisheries observer on the commercial long line vessels out of Honolulu and a port coordinator who placed the observers on the vessels. As a coordinator, she acted as a liason between the fisherman and NMFS for many years.
She is originally from a fishing and farming family in Florida and has a B.S. in marine biology from the University of West Florida and a M.S. of Zoology from Miami University. Her focus as a master’s student was community engagement in marine conservation and as a project she created an informal educational program on marine ecology, conservation, and how we all can make a difference.
Prior to Local Iʻa, she fulfilled her culinary curiosities through work with Onopops, a local, organic popsicle company here on Oahu. The ingredients for the popsicle are sourced locally to support local agriculture with the same mindset as Local I’a, who sources seafood only from local fishers. Ashley is an active participant in marine conservation and has known since she was very young that she would have an integral role in protecting and preserving the marine world. Now as Owner and Managing Partner of Local Iʻa she feels empowered to scale sustainability and economic equality within the local fishing industry by sharing the story of the seafood with the consumer.
Wil Cecil
Volunteer Superstar & Supply Data Manager
Will Cecil was a PhD student in the Geography Department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and lived in Honolulu for several years. Prior to moving to Hawai’i, he worked at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Statewide Marine Protected Areas Management Program. Will grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and developed an interest in the ocean and marine conservation through family trips to the Georgia coast growing up. He has a BA in history and marine science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a graduate certificate in protected areas management from James Cook University, and an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Wil tremendously helped Local I'a over the years, but has since moved back to the mainland.
Rodel Agony
Master Cutter & Fish processor
Rodel has cut fish for a major processing and distribution company for over 16 yrs. We have been blessed and lucky to have him on our team for 6 years now! He cuts faster than we can provide trays for the fish!
Ashley Watts
Owner & Managing Partner
Ashley Watts has lived on Hawai’i since 2007. She worked with the Pacific Islands Region Observer program for 7 years as a fisheries observer on the commercial long line vessels out of Honolulu and a port coordinator who placed the observers on the vessels. As a coordinator, she acted as a liason between the fisherman and NMFS for many years.
She is originally from a fishing and farming family in Florida and has a B.S. in marine biology from the University of West Florida and a M.S. of Zoology from Miami University. Her focus as a master’s student was community engagement in marine conservation and as a project she created an informal educational program on marine ecology, conservation, and how we all can make a difference.
Prior to Local Iʻa, she fulfilled her culinary curiosities through work with Onopops, a local, organic popsicle company here on Oahu. The ingredients for the popsicle are sourced locally to support local agriculture with the same mindset as Local I’a, who sources seafood only from local fishers. Ashley is an active participant in marine conservation and has known since she was very young that she would have an integral role in protecting and preserving the marine world. Now as Owner and Managing Partner of Local Iʻa she feels empowered to scale sustainability and economic equality within the local fishing industry by sharing the story of the seafood with the consumer.
Wil Cecil
Volunteer Superstar & Supply Data Manager
Will Cecil was a PhD student in the Geography Department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and lived in Honolulu for several years. Prior to moving to Hawai’i, he worked at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Statewide Marine Protected Areas Management Program. Will grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and developed an interest in the ocean and marine conservation through family trips to the Georgia coast growing up. He has a BA in history and marine science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a graduate certificate in protected areas management from James Cook University, and an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Wil tremendously helped Local I'a over the years, but has since moved back to the mainland.
Rodel Agony
Master Cutter/Fish processor
Rodel has cut fish for a major processing and distribution company for over 16 yrs. We are blessed and lucky to have him on our team for 6 years now! He cuts faster than we can provide trays for the fish!
We proudly source local, in-season seafood and distribute it directly to consumers islandwide.
Visit our kitchen in Kaimuki on Saturdays or our farmers' market booth on Sundays in Mililani. You can also enjoy our fish prepared by a select few chefs and restaurants on Oahu!
