Celebrating Women's History Month: Dr. Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a
In honor of Women's History Month, which begins March 1, we want to recognize Dr. Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a, the current interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. Dr. Kawai‘ae‘a is a distinguished scholar and recipient of the Dr. Henrietta Mann Leadership Award in 2015, an award presented annually to Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to native students, advancing indigenous communities, and fostering the development of future leaders.
Dr. Kawai‘ae‘a is the director of Ka Hala ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language and an associate professor of Hawaiian and Hawaiian studies. She has been at the College of Hawaiian Language for over 20 years and has been instrumental in creating a digital archive of Hawaiian language materials. Her vast experience as a teacher in Hawaiian Language Immersion P–12 and tertiary education has enabled her to critically think about and actuate teaching and learning processes that are grounded in Hawaiian epistemology, ontology, and axiology. She has advocated for and participated in policy development, research, and programming that have enabled Hawaiians and other Native communities worldwide to exercise their right to educate their young in Indigenous ways.
Dr. Kawai‘ae‘a’s contributions to the field of Hawaiian language and culture are invaluable, and her leadership and dedication to native students and Indigenous communities are truly inspiring. We are proud to have her as a recipient of the Dr. Henrietta Mann Leadership Award and as the interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.
