On April 20, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents recently honored Edith Kanaka'ole, a prominent Native Hawaiian figure, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Kanaka'ole was recognized for her remarkable contributions towards the preservation and revitalization of the Hawaiian language and culture.
According to University of Hawaii at Hilo, as a renowned kumu hula (master teacher of the art of hula) and composer, Kanaka'ole taught at Hawaii Community College and UH Hilo from 1971 to 1979. Her teachings included a wide range of subjects, such as Hawaiian language, ethnobotany, Polynesian history, genealogy and Hawaiian chant and mythology. Her lasting impact on the preservation of Hawaiian culture and language earned her recognition as one of the honorees of the American Women Quarters Program, with a commemorative quarter minted in her honor by the U.S. Mint in March 2023.
“Aunty Edith was a kumu hula, a master instructor for hula, and an academic researcher, developing her own chants for cultural preservation and academic work,” the recommendation letter stated. “Her contributions extend to the work of environmental scientists and Hawaiian universities that teach her philosophies and scientific methods and position Hawaii and the United States in the global conversation on climate resilience.”
Kanaka'ole's family will accept the honorary doctorate on her behalf during the UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College spring commencement exercises. The community is invited to honor her life and legacy on Saturday, May 6, at UH Hilo.
UH Hilo is recognized as a comprehensive regional university that prioritizes high-quality undergraduate education and offers limited postgraduate education. While faculty members and students engage in scholarship and research, the primary focus remains on delivering exceptional baccalaureate education.
UH Hilo actively seeks out students from Hawaii Island, but its programs also draw interest from potential students residing on other Hawaiian islands, the mainland U.S. and around the world. Ten of the 14 world climate zones exist on the Big Island, making it a “living laboratory” for students studying volcanoes, astronomy, agriculture, marine science and other natural sciences.