A master of hula and Hawaiian music whose influence spans generations, Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of �鶹��ý.

The Board of Regents approved the honor at its April 16 meeting at , following a request from Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza. The degree will be formally conferred during Leeward CC’s fall convocation.

“I never really thought about this before, and to have it happen in such a truly beautiful, humbling—and even overwhelming—way, I’m grateful,” said Cazimero. “I’m really happy to be here.”

UH ties and cultural impact

Cazimero is widely recognized for his leadership of Hālau Nā Kamalei o Līlīlehua and his influence on generations of haumāna (students), as well as his celebrated career in Hawaiian music. His work has helped strengthen the continuity and global reach of Hawaiian cultural traditions.

Throughout his career, he has been a steadfast partner to UH, supporting its mission to nurture knowledge, improve cultural identity and inspire future generations. Across UH’s 10 campuses, he has shared his time and expertise through guest lectures, workshops, performances and mentorship rooted in a deep sense of kuleana (responsibility).

“His engagement with our campus community has provided students, faculty and staff with meaningful opportunities to learn directly from a master practitioner whose work bridges ancestral knowledge and contemporary expression,” said Keala Chock, a former student and Leeward CC vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Related story: Legendary musician Robert Cazimero opens exhibit with Windward CC students, January 2026

Cazimero’s engagement at Leeward CC reflects an enduring partnership in cultural learning and mentorship, helping to deepen students’ experiences with ʻike �鶹��ý (Hawaiian knowledge). He is also the featured artist in Ke Kilo Lani, an exhibition presented by Windward CC that highlights his life, legacy and contributions through immersive cultural storytelling.

During the meeting, Regent Neil Abercrombie shared an emotional memory of seeing Cazimero perform for the first time at UH ����ԴDz�’s Andrews Amphitheatre in the 1970s. Regent Diane Paloma also noted that she was among his students, reflecting his lasting impact as an educator and mentor.

The honorary doctorate recognizes individuals of national or international distinction whose contributions have had a significant impact in areas such as business, public service or scholarship.

For Lauro Delos-Santos Jr., graduating from Honolulu Community College in 2026 with an associate of arts degree in Hawaiian Studies is more than just an achievement—it’s a life-changing triumph he never imagined.

Before enrolling at Honolulu CC, Delos-Santos and his wife were living at the Keahou Emergency Homeless Shelter. In September of 2020, a team from Honolulu CC’s Hawaiian Center visited the shelter to teach Hawaiian studies. For 12 weeks, Delos-Santos engaged in Hawaiian history, mythology, navigation, biology, politics, hula and even taro growing. By the end of the program, he was invited to consider returning to school—with financial aid support.

‘You can do it’

Despite initial hesitation—Delos-Santos had been recently released from prison, was on probation, and had a history as a convicted felon—Niuhelewai Program Specialist Kapulani Tuifanu and Native Hawaiian Counselor Kahale Saito persisted. They kept telling him, “You can do it.” They guided him through financial aid applications, course selection and introduced him to computers—something Delos-Santos had never used before.

With financial aid and careful planning, Delos-Santos was able to save money, obtain a driver’s license, buy a car, secure an apartment, and obtain a GED. He got his identifications in order, registered to vote, and maintained sobriety—milestones he once thought impossible.

“Ever since I came to Honolulu CC, nothing but good things have happened,” he said. “Angelic forces definitely were involved here. I’m so grateful.”

Six months after Delos-Santos started at Honolulu CC, he was given early release from probation, and his felony convictions were exonerated due to good behavior.

Hawaiian Studies helped Delos-Santos find himself through learning about his Hawaiian culture—gaining confidence, engaging with the community, and exploring self-discovery and wellness. He continued to see his substance abuse counselor, whom he credits as one of the influential factors in his recovery.

Helping others

Delos-Santos’ commitment extends beyond academics. He serves as a peer mentor at the Hawaiian Center, seeking to aid other students. He also led the Honolulu CC Math Society as 2024 president, preparing fellow students for quizzes and exams.

“Now, I want to be the person who helps others, like how I’ve been helped,” he said.

Delos-Santos credits much of his success to the supportive culture at Honolulu CC.

“Anytime you need some help with anything, you can find it here. It’s just like home,” he said. “You can always come here, and you’ll be taken care of.”

Delos-Santos will attend the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� in fall 2026 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with a focus on child and family services. His goal is to earn a master’s degree and become a licensed social worker, giving back to the community that supported him.

He has advice for current and prospective students, “If you have doubts, remember these four words: ‘You can do it!’ The support you need is here.”

—By Iris Greges

This article by Native Hawaiian Initiative Alakaʻi (Coordinator) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� Kamakanaokealoha Aquino was first published in .

As we begin this new year, let us take a moment to reflect on 2025. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the University of �鶹��ý awarded 2,086 degrees and certificates to Native Hawaiians. As of fall 2025, there are 12,618 Native Hawaiians enrolled.

There are so many accomplishments by students, faculty, staff, and administrators, to programs, community outreach, and engagement to highlight. Here are a few:

• Hear from Native Hawaiian community college students fulfilling their kuleana: Cathryn Krueger, �鶹��ý CC; Kamananui Anderson, Honolulu CC; Melanie Camat, Kapiʻolani CC; Hiʻilani Cremer, Kauaʻi CC; Stevie Puna, Leeward CC; ʻAleʻa Kimokeo, UH Maui College; Kauakaweli Haili-Nakamoto, Windward CC.
• UH Hilo honored Mary Kawena Pukui with a panel that coincided with Women’s History Month and her posthumous selection as a 2025 honoree for the U.S. Mint’s Native American $1 coin.
• The Hawaiian collection at the UH Hilo Edwin H. Moʻokini Library was named the Edith Kanakaʻole Hawaiian Collection.
• UH West Oʻahu hosted a two-day ʻAha Hoʻoponopono with 300 haku hoʻoponopono, social sector professionals, aloha ʻ�徱�Բ� practitioners, and community members.
• UH ����ԴDz�’s Hawaiian Theatre program celebrated its 10th anniversary with its latest Hawaiian language production Puana, and an invitation to perform at the Kia Mau international Indigenous-led performing arts festival in Aotearoa.
• Windward CC extended its Hawaiian studies program to paʻahao incarcerated at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona, with 25 students enrolled in their first course.
• Haʻina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele a project by students from UH Maui College’s Institute of Hawaiian Music was named Compilation Album of the Year at the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.
• Honolulu Community College hosted a two-day Indigenous education symposium ʻAha Kūkalahale 2025, uplifting Hawaiian knowledge funded by the Kūkalahale Title III Grant and in partnership with Kanaeokana and Pacific Rim Concepts.
• UH ����ԴDz� Native Hawaiian Student Services’ Hawaiian Youths Abroad program Japan took a cohort of 13 students and 6 faculty/staff to explore Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while retracing connections between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan.
• Kuiokalani L. Gapero succeeded Ernie Kaʻaumoana Wilson Jr. to the UH Board of Regents for a 5-year term.
• Winners of the Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching included: Mapuana Antonio (public health associate professor, UH ����ԴDz�); Ashlee Kalauli (math instructor, �鶹��ý CC); Tracie Kuʻuipo Losch (Hawaiian studies professor, Leeward CC); Mehana Kaʻiama Makaʻinaʻi (Hawaiian studies instructor, UH ����ԴDz�); Peter Kalawaiʻa Moore (Hawaiian studies professor, Windward CC); and Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio (political science associate professor, UH ����ԴDz�).
• Kenny Kaʻaiakamanu-Quibilan received the UH ����ԴDz� Pākela Award for being an outstanding academic advisor.
• Shayla Spotkaeff, a business management major and undergraduate research assistant at the Center for Oral History received the UH ����ԴDz� Student Employee of the Year Award.
• Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at UH ����ԴDz� William S. Richardson School of Law celebrated 20 years.

For years, U.S. military bombs thundered across Kahoʻolawe, ripping into its red earth and poisoning its seas. For Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians), the damage cut deeper. Ancestors honored the island as a physical form of Kanaloa, the god of the ocean, navigation, marine life and deep ancestral knowledge. In 2026, fifty years after a daring landing helped stop the bombing, the (PKO) is marking an anniversary that reshaped �鶹��ý with the University of �鶹��ý serving as a key place where many movement leaders emerged.

Davianna McGregor, UH Mānoa professor emerita, remembers when the struggle for Kahoʻolawe first arrived on campus was urgent and deeply personal.

“One day, after the first landing on Kahoʻolawe, �鶹��ý musician George Helm and Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli showed up at my class in the George Hall auditorium and asked to speak to my students about Kahoʻolawe,” said McGregor who co-founded the university’s department. “Their powerful message resonated with my students and they were inspired to get involved in the movement to stop the bombing and military use of Kahoʻolawe.”

That moment helped ignite student activism across the UH Mānoa campus. Haumāna (students) circulated petitions in classes, set up educational tables at Campus Center, and organized rallies and concerts including one featuring the then-emerging Makaha Sons of Niʻihau and Helm.

Kahoʻolawe Nine

On January 4, 1976, Helm, Aluli and seven others had evaded a U.S. Coast Guard blockade to land at Kūheʻeia on Kahoʻolawe. Known as the Kahoʻolawe Nine, their act of bold defiance sparked the formation of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and the modern movement. Their courage led to tangible change. The bombing of Kahoʻolawe ended in 1990. In 1994, the island was returned to the State of �鶹��ý, held in trust under state law for a future sovereign Hawaiian entity, setting a precedent for halting military destruction of Indigenous lands.

“We formed an ʻohana to protect the island and to heal her wounds,” McGregor said, “and elevate the island once again into the sacred Hawaiian cultural center that it had been under our ancestors.”

The movement came at a devastating cost. Helm and Maui native Kimo Mitchell were lost at sea while carrying out efforts to support the occupation of Kahoʻolawe. Their disappearance deeply affected many in �鶹��ý and strengthened PKO‘s commitment to aloha ʻāina for generations.

Stewardship in action

That commitment also took root physically at at UH Mānoa, established largely by PKO members and ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language) practitioners. Guided by including Uncle Harry Mitchell of Keʻanae (Kimo Mitchell’s father), students learned that caring for land and caring for people are inseparable. Today, the continues to reinforce student learning in the realm of Hawaiian traditional practices of kalo (taro) farming.

That legacy also continues through ceremony and education on Kahoʻolawe. Kaliko Baker, associate professor at the UH Mānoa Center for Hawaiian Language, leads the annual ceremonies for the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, honoring Hawaiian deity Lono and maintaining the kapu of ceremony upheld to this day. Since 2014, Baker has also helped spearhead Kawaihuelani’s I Ola Kanaloa program, taking Hawaiian language students from UH Mānoa, Hilo and Maui to Kahoʻolawe each year.

“It’s important that UH students continue the pilgrimage to Kahoʻolawe and experience the kapu that has driven the movement to stop the bombing and reestablish Kānaka Maoli education and practice on island,” said Baker who first traveled to Kahoʻolawe as a student in McGregor’s ethnic studies course. “Student access to Kahoʻolawe invigorate the of each and every student who makes the journey, which in turn builds the mauli of the .”

Laʻa, Maʻa, Paʻa

As PKO marks its 50th anniversary, leaders are calling for Laʻa, Maʻa and Paʻa (to sanctify, sustain and solidify). The framework is both belief and action, guiding how Kahoʻolawe is protected and how future generations carry the work forward.

Half a century after the landing, the island no longer trembles with bombs. Where explosions once echoed, there are now footsteps, ceremony and learning.

—By Moanikeʻala Nabarro

A legacy of leadership in student affairs continues at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, as interim associate vice provost Erin Kahunawaikaʻala Wright joins a distinguished line of UH leaders recognized nationally as by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

Past UH ����ԴDz� recipients include Amy Agbayani, Doris Ching, Jan Javinar, Lori Ideta and Christine Quemuel, trailblazers whose work helped pave the way for generations of educators and student advocates.

Wright, who serves as interim associate VP for and Dean of Students, was honored this year for her sustained contributions to service, teaching, leadership and mentoring. She says the recognition is not just her own, but a reflection of the collective work of the UH community toward student success, especially those leaders also recognized as Pillars of the Profession.

“It’s a kind recognition of the work I’ve invested in student affairs and higher education…I’m proud, and honestly, very surprised to get it. It’s humbling to be recognized,” Wright expressed.

A journey of discovery

A fourth-generation kamaʻ�徱�Բ� (native) of Kalihi, and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Wright admits she was not a strong student growing up. She says her academic journey changed course when she discovered (Hawaiian language) and courses at UH ����ԴDz�.

“Once I got into nā mea �鶹��ý (all things Hawaiian), I felt like, ‘Oh, I could really do well,’ because it was something that I was interested in and I felt motivated by,” she said.

That experience reshaped how she viewed the power of education, and later inspired her to make higher education more accessible for Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented students (haumāna).

Dedicated to student success

Wright began her career at UH ����ԴDz� in 2008 as the founding director of and later served as an associate professor of in the . There, she taught courses and published on research design, research methodologies and Indigeneity in higher education. For her, the work she does at the university is deeply personal.

“The reward is knowing higher education can change lives,” she explained. “Not just for the individual, but for that student’s entire family and community.”

Two alumnae have earned the state’s highest accolades for teaching. J. Elise Hannigan was named the state’s teacher of the year, and Claire Ann Kalaunuola Domingo was named the state’s charter school teacher of the year. Both were recognized at a ceremony at Washington Place on September 19.

Teacher of the Year: J. Elise Hannigan

Keaaʻau High School educator J. Elise Hannigan (UH Hilo, teaching certificate ‘13 and MEd ‘21) was named the 2026 �鶹��ý State Department of Education’s (DOE) Teacher of the Year, earning top recognition amongst more than 13,000 educators statewide.

“Little-kid me would never have believed this was possible,” Hannigan said. “More than anything, it shows that with hard work—and the support of people around you—amazing things are possible.”

Hannigan has spent 13 years at Keaaʻau High, first as an English teacher and now as the freshman academy coordinator. DOE officials and colleagues said her leadership has transformed the campus experience—reviving the school’s Summer Bridge program, mentoring seniors who guide incoming students and helping Keaaʻau earn national certification as a Model Academy.

“With teaching, of course, there are good days and bad days—but there is never a time when I feel like I’m in the wrong place or doing the wrong thing,” said Hannigan, who made the switch from a career in ophthalmology.

Charter School Teacher of the Year: Claire Ann Kalaunuola Domingo

Claire Ann Kalaunuola Domingo (UH Hilo, BA Hawaiian studies ‘97 and teaching certificate from the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program ‘99) was honored as the 2026 �鶹��ý Charter School Teacher of the Year. Domingo has worked at Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau LPCS for the past 25 years. She said the school’s nuʻukia or vision—“E mālama ʻia ana ka mauli ola o kākou mai kēlā hanauna a i kēia hanauna (Our spirit of being is nurtured from generation to generation)”—guides her teaching practice.

Each day begins with kilo (careful observation of the natural world) as students count lehua blossoms or feed the school’s goats—a practice she says helps her kindergarteners recognize their own development.

“I would like my students to love learning—in school, with their families, everywhere,” said Domingo.

UH Hilo’s lasting impact

Both Hannigan and Domingo credit UH Hilo’s unique combination of offering a world-class education with personal connections that provide ongoing support for their success.

“All the beautiful relationships I made at UH Hilo have continued throughout my career wherever I have gone,” described Domingo.

Hannigan agreed, saying the strong foundation she built at UH Hilo has empowered her to serve her school and community.

“One of the things that I love about UH is that the connections last forever. We still talk, we still check in with each other, we have each other’s resources available to our students,” said Hannigan. “I’m really appreciative of that.”

Hannigan will represent �鶹��ý in the National Teacher of the Year program in Washington, D.C., next spring.

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Powerful ea (sovereignty, life, breath) activations (interactive exhibits) honoring Hawaiian history, resilience and culture are transforming the libraries at Honolulu, Kapiʻolani and Windward Community Colleges this fall.

“The word ‘activations’ is deliberate, chosen as a call to activate—to activate ea, ʻike (knowledge), ʻōlelo �鶹��ý, community, consciousness, each other,” said Erica T. Dias, Kapiʻolani CC �鶹��ý-Pacific resources librarian. “Rather than viewing as static displays, the ea activations are designed to stir reflection, dialogue and engagement.”

Cindy Texeira, �鶹��ý specialist librarian at Windward CC, added, “By sharing these activations in our libraries, we hope to bring ʻŌiwi voices to the forefront while deepening the sense of place that guides our work.”

The series features three major works that rotate through the campuses:

Luka Keʻelikōlani

Honors Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani, who embodied unwavering commitment to ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language), tradition, and her people.

• Honolulu CC: September 15–October 10
• Windward CC: October 13–November 6

���� Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Hawaiian Restoration Day)

A journey centered on Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, and his vision of an independent lāhui (nation).

• Kapiʻolani CC: September 15–October 10
• Honolulu CC: October 13–November 6

Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele

Explores Lahaina’s sacred history and cultural resilience.

• Windward CC: September 15–October 10
• Kapiʻolani CC: October 13–November 6

A ‘call to action’

“This is more than just a display with the powerful moʻolelo (stories) and imagery, it hit me as a call to action,” said Honolulu CC student Hanalei Chai. “Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani stood firm for our identity, and her courage awakened me to do the same.”

Manuwai Peters, facilitator of Kanaeokana, a network of more than 170 schools and organizations dedicated to excellence in Hawaiian education, said, “We echo our excitement with this new usage of the activations at our community college libraries.”

Windward CC Cohort & Online Programs Counselor Māhiehie Garrett added, “In a time where being Hawaiian is being challenged (again), it is empowering to walk around campus and be engulfed in experiences where being Hawaiian is not only appreciated but celebrated. We cannot control how our students feel about themselves as Hawaiians off-campus, but we can ensure that the interactions they have on campus make them proud of who they are and of their lāhui (people, nation).”

The initiative began at a (culture-based professional development) training, where Windward CC librarians reflected on ways to indigenize library spaces. Guidance from Kanaeokana facilitator Makana Garma helped shape the direction of the ea activations, which are scheduled to proceed to additional UH campuses in spring 2026.

Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio has worn many pāpale (hats)—historian, award-winning musician, advocate, kumu (teacher) and dean. After nearly a decade guiding the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, he is stepping away from administration and back into the classroom, where his career began more than 30 years ago.

“I consider the last eight years maybe the most blessed time of my life. The things I learned, about how a university operates, how to work with people around me that didn’t see eye to eye with what we were trying to do, how to be persuasive, all of those things were really amazing to me,” said Osorio.

The kānaka ʻō���ɾ� (Native Hawaiian) scholar became dean in 2017 at age 68, following years of service as a professor and director of the . During his tenure, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ���Գܾ����� strengthened its reputation as the nation’s only college of Indigenous knowledge at a Research I university.

In 2024, the school earned a 10-year renewal of accreditation from the , a testament to its role in preserving and revitalizing Hawaiian language, culture and values.

Related UH News stories:

• Indigenous educators engage in ʻ�徱�Բ�, ʻike at UH ����ԴDz�, October 1, 2024
• UH haumāna explore Kalākaua and Hawaiian Kingdom’s legacy in Japan, May 27, 2025

Full circle return

While proud of these milestones, Osorio expressed his heart has always been in teaching.

“It’s time to go back to teaching and let a younger, more vigorous and eager person take this job on. And I know it will be a blessing to that person whoever it is.”

Osorio, born and raised in Hilo, �鶹��ý, began teaching in 1991 as an instructor at . He joined UH ����ԴDz� in 1994 and advanced from assistant to full professor of Hawaiian studies. His scholarship has shaped the field of 19th-century Hawaiian political and social history, while his music, recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the �鶹��ý Academy of Recording Arts in 2019, remains beloved across the islands.

A search committee has been formed to find Osorio’s successor, and the position is expected to be filled by August 2026. The committee will be chaired by Kapā Oliveira, UH ����ԴDz� interim vice provost for , and a former professor at �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ���Գܾ�����

The Kumulipo, a 2,102-line genealogy oli (chant) rarely heard in its entirety, will echo across the grounds of ʻIolani Palace for the first time in decades. Among the many voices bringing the oli to life is Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, a lecturer at �鶹��ý Community College–Pālamanui. The highly anticipated on September 14, is free and open to the public and part of festivities this Kepakemapa (September), co-sponsored by the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�.

Nuʻuhiwa, a respected scholar of Kaulana Mahina (Hawaiian lunar calendar), explained that the Kumulipo is a pule hoʻolaʻa aliʻi (prayer to sanctify aliʻi). It links Native Hawaiians of today to more than 100 generations of their ancestors, reaching back to the time of source darkness, the birth of the universe. The Maui native and her haumāna (students) are among 66 chanters joining nā kumu hula (masters of hula) Kamuela Chun, Kalani Akana, Mehanaokalā Hind and Kaponoai Molitau. The last time the Kumulipo was recited in full was in 1999.

Echoes of resilience

The chant, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at dusk, will honor Queen Liliʻuokalani, who translated the Kumulipo while imprisoned inside the Palace.

“I think at that time she was probably depressed and trying to find answers for what happened to her and looking into the Kumulipo for hints of overcoming some of those challenges,” said Nuʻuhiwa. “She probably also wanted to help Hawaiians remember who they were, who they are and who they can become.”

More than 500 people are expected to gather for the historic performance, presented in collaboration with The Friends of ʻIolani Palace.

“We (The Friends of ʻIolani Palace) are so proud to kōkua the venue for this amazing event,” said Paula Akana, executive director of The Friends of ʻIolani Palace. “Queen Liliʻuokalani translated the Kumulipo into English while she was imprisoned here. It is a remarkable work that not only speaks to our Queen’s knowledge; but also to the brilliance of Indigenous knowledge.“

Stirring the naʻau (inner knowing)

Among the sections of the Kumulipo Nuʻuhiwa and her haumāna will present is the portion recounting the creation of stars and planets. She hopes the full journey of the oli experience will stir something deep in those who listen.

“Maybe inspiration to do something they’ve been thinking about doing. Just kind of dropping the barrier and going for it and moving forward with your own personal growth and then collective growth is what I hope happens.”

Nuʻuhiwa noted that the Kumulipo event falls under the Hawaiian moon phase ʻOlepau, one of the Kanaloa moons. In Hawaiian tradition, these moons are believed to strengthen connections to ancestors and reopen the foundations that ground and guide us.

Event highlights (All events are free and open to the public.)

• September 17 and 19—Kahiki: Native Hawaiians Abroad
  September 17: Virtual program from San Diego, CA
  September 19: Live and virtual program from Iosepa, Utah
• September 26—Holoholo Honolulu: Historic Health Sites Tour
  Ride through Honolulu on a double-decker bus and discover stories of health, community and aloha.
• September 27—Hoʻōla: History of Hawaiian Health, Virtual Presentation
  Explore �鶹��ý’s historic health responses and resilience.

For the full schedule, visit .

This article by Native Hawaiian Engagement Director at the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo Pelehonuamea Harman was first published in .

This summer, University of �鶹��ý at Hilo served as a cultural and intellectual bridge between the New Directions in the Humanities international conference and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

These two global events—centered on Indigenous knowledge, language revitalization, and the role of youth in shaping culture—highlighted UH Hilo’s leadership at the intersection of scholarship, ʻike kupuna, and community.

Held at UH Hilo and chaired by Dr. Patsy Y. Iwasaki, the New Directions in the Humanities conference marked the first time this prestigious gathering was hosted in �鶹��ý. Previous locations included Paris and Rome, with Lisbon, Portugal, set to host next.

The conference opened with a kīpaepae welcome ceremony, grounding guests in the spirit of the land and people of �鶹��ý.

Under the theme “Oceanic Journeys,” scholars, students, and cultural practitioners explored the humanities through a Pacific lens. Presentations spanned topics from language reclamation and Indigenous storytelling to cultural continuity and place-based education. A field trip to the luapele—the volcanic landscape sacred to Pele—provided an experiential learning opportunity rooted in Hawaiian ways of knowing and deepened participants’ understanding of the connection between land, language, and identity.

UH Hilo faculty, staff, and students played central roles sharing research, performing mele and oli, and engaging in cross-cultural dialogue. The conference affirmed UH Hilo’s strength as an Indigenous-serving institution committed to community-centered and place-based education.

Weeks later, UH Hilo’s voice resonated from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where university representatives participated in the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Under the theme “Youth and the Future of Culture,” the �鶹��ý delegation led the Language Reclamation Program. Representatives from UH Hilo leadership, , , Ke Kula ʻo ����ɲ���ī�ǰ첹�����Ծ�ʻō���ʻ��, and the National Native American Language Resource Center shared mele, oli, hula, and strategies for revitalizing ʻōlelo �鶹��ý.

A key facilitator for the folklife festival was UH Hilo alumnus Hālena Kapuni-Reynolds who serves as a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. His leadership helped ensure that Indigenous voices from �鶹��ý were highlighted with respect and authenticity on this national stage.

Visitors to the �鶹��ý tent participated in intergenerational dialogue and hands-on activities, learning how language restoration is deeply tied to land, education, and cultural identity. In a powerful gesture of continuity, several “Oceanic Journeys” attendees visited the �鶹��ý tent to thank the UH Hilo delegation for extending the spirit and ʻike of the conference to the nation’s capital.

Whether we are hosting a conference as kamaʻ�徱�Բ� at our own university or attending as malihini at a national gathering, our relationship to �鶹��ý remains central to who we are and how we engage. In every setting, we carry this ʻike (knowledge), aloha, and the values rooted in this ʻāina with us.

These gatherings affirmed a shared vision: that the humanities are most powerful when grounded in place, lived experience, and Indigenous knowledge systems. UH Hilo’s presence at both events underscored its commitment to cultivating future cultural leaders—those who carry tradition forward while envisioning and shaping a resilient future.