University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa’s appointed of its first female captain, Alberta J.K. Pukahi. She is a 25-year veteran of the university’s security office, where for the last eight years Pukahi served as a sergeant and investigated cases of the most sensitive and complex nature, including sexual assaults.
Capt. Pukahi’s immediate focus is on training, operations and rebuilding a team dedicated to service. She oversees a security staff of approximately 40, about 25 percent of them women.
Pukahi came to UH Mānoa in 1987 as a security professional from the private sector and, inspired by the first UH Mānoa commencement ceremony she witnessed, made the commitment to pursue a college degree. “While at Kahuku High School, I was not the most serious student, but the tuition waivers available to university employees gave me the opportunity to go back to school,” says Pukahi.
She earned an associate degree in administration of justice from in 2000, and a bachelor’s in public administration from in 2010.
Pukahi was also recognized as one of .
Read the to learn more about Pukahi.