Baron Horiuchi, a horticulturist at the Big Island's Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, has been named Refuge Employee of the year by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Horiuch, of Hilo, was honored last night at a conference in Arlington, Va. More than 500 people attended the ceremony.

Horiuchi has spent the last 13 years successfully developing and implementing propagation and planting methods for endangered Hawaiian plants.

He has created a unique program that engages hundreds of conservation partners and volunteer groups in the management of the Hakalau Forest greenhouse operation.

Horiuchi was credited with aiding in the recovery of seven species of endangered plants, including two species with fewer than three individuals remaining in the wild.

One species is a native Hawaiian mint, Phyllostegia brevidens, which was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered on non-refuge lands. Today, more than 400 individuals of this mint have been produced because of Baron's innovative germination and propagation techniques.

"Baron has a wonderful ability to engage all age groups, with a special talent for interpreting the conservation challenge of the greenhouse and planting operation, and getting people involved in the recovery effort," said Jim Kraus, refuge manager. "Thanks to Baron's work, Hakalau serves as an inspiring model for federal, state and NGO land managers for how the restoration of Hawaiian forest plants may prevent many Hawaiian bird species from becoming extinct."