Born and raised in Hilo, Â鶹´«Ã½, Jaydee Ah Sing’s decision to attend the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo wasn’t just a choice—it was a calling. A proud graduate of °Â²¹¾±¨¡°ì±ð²¹ High School, Ah Sing is deeply rooted in her community.
“I only applied to UH Hilo,” she shared with a laugh. “I love it here in Â鶹´«Ã½, and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”
This spring, Ah Sing crosses the stage as a Chancellor Scholar, graduating with a bachelor of arts in and an certificate. Her journey demonstrates the profound impact of UH Hilo’s close-knit academic environment, where local students can flourish and give back to the very islands that raised them.
Turning point
Ah Sing’s path shifted from pediatric medicine to education after discovering she was uneasy around blood. Her mentors, professors Kerri Inglis and Michele Ebersole, helped guide her to her true passion. She ultimately pursued history, leaning into her deep love for the subject.
Her dedication has led to remarkable achievements. Ah Sing recently won the Best Undergraduate Paper Prize at the Phi Alpha Theta regional conference in Â鶹´«Ã½. Her senior thesis challenged established narratives about the iconic Kalaupapa Lighthouse. After a profound field study experience in Kalaupapa with Inglis, Ah Sing discovered moʻolelo (stories) of µþ´Ç°ì¾±°ì¨±³¾²¹²Ô´Ç³¾²¹²Ô´Ç, a shape-shifting dog protector of the peninsula.
“There was this entire history that people of Molokaʻi seem to know about, but others don’t get to experience because it had been displaced by this western form of historiography, which is history written by historians,” explained Ah Sing, who went to Kalaupapa over Spring Break and discovered evidence of the remnants of a heiau honoring Boki.
Service driven
Ah Sing’s passion for Hawaiian history and education translates directly into her career goals. Since high school, she has worked as a paraprofessional tutor at Keaʻau Elementary School, serving underprivileged students.
“I want to be the kind of teacher who goes above and beyond for my students,” she said.
She won’t have to wait long to achieve that dream. This July, Ah Sing will begin the at UH Hilo.
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