David Boynton was called "a voice for the Hawaiian wilderness," a "Guardian of the Koke'e Forest," and as an educator, "the window through which thousands of Hawai'i students learned about Hawaiian birds, plants, marine creatures, climate and much more." He inspired Hawaiian school children in the traditional Hawaiian values of kuleana, malama, kokua, laulima, ho'ihi, lokahi, and pono, which translate roughly as rights and responsibilities to the land, the appropriateness of serving nature, helping others, cooperation, respect, peace and unity, and duty to do what is right. David Boynton was born and raised on Oahu. He attended the University of California-Santa Barbara before returning home to Hawaii after graduation. He was a leading expert on the natural history of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, especially on the Koke'e Forest and the Alakai Swamp and its wildlife.