Stephen “Steve” Prokop, a 30-year National Park Service veteran, is Kalaupapa National Historical Park's new superintendent, Pacific West Regional Director Jonathan Jarvis announced Feb. 22.

Prokop will transfer from his post as chief ranger of Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts. He and his wife, Cristina, plan to arrive on Kalaupapa Peninsula, which is located on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, by mid-April.

“I am impressed with Steve’s ability to work with park communities, private residences, tribal members and interest groups,” Jarvis said. “He has a strong working ethic of bringing people together.”

Since arriving in Cape Cod National Seashore in 2004, Prokop has managed that park’s programs for law enforcement and natural- and cultural-resource protection. He has also managed its business operations. As chief ranger, he has worked with the park’s Citizens Advisory Commission and the Off Road Vehicle Subcommittee, as well as the Mashpee Tribal Council, Wampanoag Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and state and local governments.

Prokop began his career in 1976 as a seasonal lifeguard at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in northern New Jersey. He worked as a seasonal lifeguard at Golden Gate NRA in San Francisco for two seasons, obtaining permanent status as a park ranger there in 1979. Prokop advanced to supervisory protection ranger at Golden Gate in 1992 and served in acting assignments as its assistant chief ranger and emergency medical services coordinator.

In 2001, the National Park Service promoted Prokop to chief ranger at Whiskeytown NRA in northern California. The Service selected him as chief ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore in 2004

“I am honored to be selected as superintendent at Kalaupapa NHS and to have the opportunity to team up with park staff to work with the settlement patients and surrounding community," Prokop said. “I look forward to promoting a spirit of cooperation with all park partners to protect the dazzling beauty of the natural and cultural resources at Kalaupapa.”

Prokop has a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and a master's degree in public administration from San Francisco State University.