University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin today announced the appointment of Dr. Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs following the posting of her appointment on the July 20, 2023 UH Board of Regents agenda. Kawaiʻaeʻa’s appointment will begin August 14, 2023. She replaces Dr. Kris Roney, who resigned.
Kawaiʻaeʻa is currently the Director of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, a position she has held since 2013. She is also an associate professor of Hawaiian Studies, Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Education, and Graduate Courses.
Kawaiʻaeʻa joined UH Hilo in 1992 as an educational specialist. From 1998-2012, she served as founding director of the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program, and Director of Hale Kuamoʻo Hawaiian Language and Culture Center from 1995 – 2008 and 2015-2018. She is also a founding partner of Ulukau, Hawaiʻi’s Digital Electronic Library.
She is the principal investigator or co-investigator of numerous grant awards and contracts, an active participant in state, national, international, and Indigenous professional activities and services, lead author and co-author of research and artistic publications, and the recipient of professional honors, recognitions, and awards.
Kawaiʻaeʻa received her Ph.D. from Union Institute and University (Cincinnati, OH) in Interdisciplinary Studies with a specialization in Indigenous Education, Professional Diploma in Education from Chaminade University (Honolulu, HI), and M.Ed and BA from UH Manoa (Honolulu, HI).
“As a senior faculty member with a stellar record and numerous ties to the community, Dr. Kawaiʻaeʻa is well prepared to lead academic affairs at this pivotal moment in the history of our campus,” Irwin said. “I look forward to working with her in this new capacity.”