# Jake Muise

> Jake Muise is the Canadian-born co-founder and CEO of Maui Nui Venison, a Hawaii company that manages wild axis deer as both an ecological pressure and a local food resource. A former University of Hawaii Division I volleyball libero and longtime axis deer researcher, he helped devise a USDA-inspected field-harvest system, built a direct-to-consumer business with his wife Kuʻulani Muise, and made food-sharing a permanent part of the operation.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Maui Nui Venison
- **Organizations:** Maui Nui Venison, Axis Deer Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa men's volleyball
- **From:** Edmonton, Canada
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** BBA; studies in marketing and management, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- **Known for:** Co-created a USDA-inspected field-harvest system for wild axis deer on Maui., Served as executive director of the Axis Deer Institute for roughly 12 years., Helped locate and remove illegally introduced axis deer from Hawaii Island as part of a multi-year eradication effort.

## Career timeline

- **1982** — Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- **2000** — Graduated from Eastern Shore High School in Nova Scotia and joined the University of Hawaii men's volleyball program.
- **2003** — Started at libero for Hawaii, averaging a team-leading 2.31 digs per game and ranking 12th nationally in digs.
- **2005** — Completed a BBA at the University of Hawaii at Manoa after studying marketing and management; later played professional volleyball in Europe.
- **2005-2017** — Led the research-based Axis Deer Institute for roughly 12 years and worked on invasive ungulate management projects across Hawaii.
- **2017** — Co-founded Maui Nui Venison with Kuʻulani Muise and became CEO.
- **2020** — Helped launch Holo ʻAi as the pandemic disrupted restaurant sales, shifting venison toward food banks, local delivery and direct-to-consumer sales.
- **2021** — Jake and Kuʻulani Muise received the Hawaii Venture Capital Association Island Innovator of the Year award.
- **2023** — Maui Nui was named among Fast Company's 10 most innovative agriculture companies; after the Maui fires, the company directed 56,000 pounds of fresh venison to community distribution over roughly three months.
- **2025** — Maui Nui reported 15,514 deer harvested, 459,120 pounds of food produced and the first measurable deer-population reduction in its managed areas in more than 18 years.
- **2026** — Maui Nui reported that Holo ʻAi had surpassed one million meals shared since March 2020.

## Achievements

- Co-created a USDA-inspected field-harvest system for wild axis deer on Maui.
- Served as executive director of the Axis Deer Institute for roughly 12 years.
- Helped locate and remove illegally introduced axis deer from Hawaii Island as part of a multi-year eradication effort.
- Named Island Innovator of the Year with Kuʻulani Muise by the Hawaii Venture Capital Association in 2021.
- Led Maui Nui as it was recognized among Fast Company's 10 most innovative agriculture companies of 2023.
- Helped make Holo ʻAi a permanent community food-sharing program, which surpassed one million meals shared in 2026.
- Played NCAA Division I volleyball at Hawaii and later played professionally in Europe.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Maui Nui announced that its Holo ʻAi program had surpassed one million meals shared since March 2020.
- **2026-08** — Muise discussed Maui Nui's harvest system, wildlife data, community distribution and long-term balance on the Son of a Blitch podcast.
- **2026-03** — Muise explained Maui Nui's 14-day aged venison program and its effect on flavor and consistency in an interview with The Manual.
- **2026-01** — Maui Nui reported that 2025 harvests produced the first measurable decline in deer populations across its managed areas in more than 18 years.
- **2025-06** — Muise appeared on Something Different to discuss axis deer, nighttime harvesting, food systems and sustainable output.

## Links

- Website: https://mauinuivenison.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-muise-80aa3631
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mauinuivenison
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mauinuivenison
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauinuivenison/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mauinuivenison/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jake-muise
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25