EDUCATION:
2007 PhD, Geography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dissertation: “Re-Placing Hawaiians: Sense of Place and Identity in Wai‘anae.”
2007 Graduate Certificate, Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
2005 Graduate Certificate, Cultural Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
1999 MS, Geography, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Thesis: “Running in a Tongan Way”: Tongan Culture, Tongan Cultural Landscape, and Transnationalism.
1997 BA, Brigham Young University, Lā‘ie, Hawai‘i
Majors: History and Pacific Islands Studies
CURRENT POSITION:
August 2009 to present – Associate Professor, Hawaiian and Pacific Studies, Brigham
Young University – Hawai‘i (Continuing Faculty Status 2012, Associate
Professor 2015)
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS:
2018-2023 Lecturer, Windward Community College/Kahuku High School Early College Program
2007-2009 Assistant Professor, Geography, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
2005-2007 Lecturer, Honolulu Community College
2006 Curriculum Development Specialist, Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
2005 Lecturer, Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawaii at Mānoa
2003-2005 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Department of Geography, Funded by the Native Hawaiian Leadership Project
2004 Lecturer, Leeward Community College, Wai‘anae Campus
2002-2003 Graduate Research Assistant, Departments of Urban and Regional Planning and Geography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
1999-2002 Graduate Teaching Assistant/Instructor, Geography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
1998 Research Assistant, Brigham Young University Geography Department
SCHOLARLY ACTIVITES:
Publications
2023 “An Emergent Genealogy of Kahuku’s Red Raider Mascot.” Pacific Studies, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, 46(2):123-159.
2013 “Rocking the Boat: Indigenous Geography at Home in Hawai‘i.” Chapter in Deeper Sense of Place: New Geographies of Indigenous-Academic Collaboration, Johnson, Jay and Soren Larsen eds., Oregon State University, 10324.
2012 “Re-Placing Hawaiians in ‘Dis’ Place We Call Home.” Hūlili: Multidisciplinary Research on Hawaiian Well Being, Kamehameha Schools, 8: 97-131.
2007 “Between the Hui and Da Hui Inc.: Incorporating N-oceans of Native Hawaiian Resistance in Oceanic Cultural Studies” in Indigenous Encounters: Reflections on Relations between People in the Pacific, edited by Katerina Teaiwa, Center for Pacific Islands Studies Occasional Paper 43, University of Hawai‘i, 85-99.
2004 “Staying on PAR and the Home/Field Advantage in Wai‘anae, Hawai‘i” Regeneration 4(2):2-4 Summer/Fall 2004. Focus article for the newsletter of the US Community Forestry Research Fellowship Program. Article based on a presentation made at the US Community Forestry Annual Workshop held in Neshkoro, Wisconsin September 9-12, 2004.
Presentations
2024 (Panelist) “Hawaiian Culture and Learning from the Ocean.” International Academic Forum International Conference on Education, January 3-7 in Honolulu.
2023 “Re-Creational History: Re-Membering Polynesia at the Cultural Center in Lā‘ie, Hawai‘i.” Pacific History Association Conference, Oct 31-Nov 4 in Warrnambool, Australia.
2023 “Native Mascots Hawaiian Style: the Kahuku Red Raider Mascot Controversy.” Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference, May 11-13 in Toronto, Canada.
2022 “Re-Visionist History of the McKay Mosaic: Kanaka Maoli Perspectives.” Mormon History Association Conference, June 2-5 in Logan, Utah.
2019 (Panelist) “Trans-indigeneity Roundtable.” Native American Indigenous Studies Association Conference, June 26-29 in Hamilton, New Zealand.
2016 “Red Raiders for (Eternal) Life.” Mormon Media Studies Conference, November 3-4 at BYU–Hawaii.
2016 “Re-creational Regionalism: Polynesia at the Cultural Center in Hawaiՙi.” Association of Pacific Coast Geographers Conference, October 5-8 in Portland Oregon.
2016 “Next Man Up: Polynesian Masculinity and Passing on Traditional Old School
Football on Oahu’s North Shore.” Pacific History Association Conference, May 19-21 in Guam.
2014 “The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Online Classes,” Symposium on Learning and Teaching, Center for Learning and Teaching, BYUH February 27-28.
2012 “The Changing Landscape of American Gridiron: Routes and Roots of Polynesians in the National Football League.” New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, December 3-6 in Napier, New Zealand.
2012 “Teaching Business Communications to the Pacific Islander Student.” Presentation with Dr. Ban Phung of BYUH Business Dept., Annual Association of Business Communications Conference, October 24-27 in Honolulu.
2012 “Rooting for Islanders in the NFL: Tracing the Routes of Polynesian Athletes Through Kahuku, Hawaii.” Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, Annual Meeting, October 3-6 in Olympia, Washington.
2010 “Community Connections: Opportunities and Challenges for Pacific Studies” panelist, Center for Pacific Islands Studies Conference: Celebrating Connections, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, November 4-6.
2009 “Participatory Research and the Home-Field Advantage: Re-Placing Hawaiians and Re-Presenting Indigenous Knowledge in Waianae.” Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 22-27.
2009 “Re-Placing Hawaiians: Empowering Sense of Place and Identity in Waianae” Kohala Center Puana Ka ‘Ike Lecture Series, UH Hilo February 20; Keauhou Kona, February 23.
2005 “Re-Placing Indigenous Hawaiian Epistemology and Geography,” Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Denver, Colorado, April 5-9.
Professional Development
2014 Transformational Leadership Seminar participant. Lead by Visiting Professor Dr. Robert E. Quinn, Center for Learning and Teaching, BYU–Hawaii, Winter Semester.
2012 English For Academics Seminar participant. Lead by Dr. Mark Wolfersberger and Dr. Robb McCollum, BYUH, Fall Semester.
2008-2009 Uluakea Faculty Development Participant, Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.
2008 Summer Leadership Institute on Disability and Diversity, Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, July 29-31.
2008 Geography Faculty Development Alliance Workshop participant. University of Colorado at Boulder, June 15-21.
University Service
Hawaiian Studies Program Review Self Study contributor (Fall 2023-Winter 2024) Panelist/Discussant for Dr. Tevita Kaʻili’s David O. McKay Lecture (Winter 2024)
University Research Conference Moderator (Winter 2023)
Communication, Media, Culture Program Review Team - internal member (Fall 2022)
Search Committee - Pacific Studies faculty (Fall 2021 - Winter 2022)
Culture, Language, and Performing Arts Promotion & Review Committee (Fall 2021)
Iosepa Council Member/Convener (2017-2021)
Program Coordinator Hawaiian & Pacific Studies (Fall 2016-2021)
EIL Program Review Team Member - internal member (Spring 2019)
Faculty Diversity Committee (2017-2019)
University Housing Advisory Committee (2017-2019)
Search Committee - Computer Science faculty (Sept 2017-18)
Search Committee - Communications faculty (Sept 2017)
Faculty Advisory Committee member (Fall 2014-Spring 2017)
Hiring Committee (University Communications – August 2016)
IWORK Task Force (May-October 2016)
Local Communities Class Development Committee member (GE pilot class 2014) University Assessment Committee member (2012-2014)
Devotional Speaker: “The Right Place at the Right Time” (October 1, 2013)
Library Program Review Team - Internal Reviewer (July 2013)
International Cultural Studies Program Review Team - Internal Reviewer (October 2011)
Hiring Committee (Physical Geographer), UH-Hilo Department of Geography (2009)
Co-coordinator of the Pacific Islands Studies Program, UH Hilo (2008-2009)
LDS Student Association Faculty Advisor, UH Hilo (2008-2009)
Professional Memberships
Association of American Geographers (2001)
Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (2005)
Mormon Pacific Historical Society (2009)
Pacific History Association (2012)
Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (2012)
Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (2013)
Mormon History Association (2022)
AWARDS AND GRANTS:
Travel Awards (national, regional, & international conferences), Jonathan Napela Center & College of Language, Culture and Arts, 2012-present.
Faculty Appreciation Award, BYU-H College of Language, Culture and Arts, 2014.
Faculty Appreciation Award, BYU-H College of Language, Culture and Arts, 2011.
Native Hawaiian Leadership Project Research Assistantship, 2003-2005.
US Community Forestry Dissertation Research Fellowship, 2003-2004.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (various lay leadership and volunteer positions) Lā‘ie Hawai‘i 2009-present.
Oahu Island Burial Council, Ko‘olauloa Moku (District) Representative 2012-2020. Head Coach, Police Athletic League youth baseball, 2019 & 2013.
Head Coach, Police Athletic League youth basketball 2016.
Assistant Coach, Police Athletic League youth basketball, 2011.
Assistant Coach, American Youth Soccer Organization, 2009-2010 Member/Parent, Na Leo Kako‘o o Ko‘olauloa, Kula Kaiapuni o Hau‘ula (Hau‘ula Elementary Hawaiian Language support organization), 2009.
CV Last Revised June 12, 2024
