Dr. Albie Miles Receives $154,000 grant from Kamehameha Schools

Agroecologist and UH West Oʻahu Assistant Professor of Sustainable Community Food Systems Albie Miles received a $154,000 grant from Kamehameha Schools. The grant funds research and promotional activities relating to the advancement of sustainable community food systems in Hawai‘i.

UH West Oʻahu’s Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Sustainable Community Food Systems (BAS-SCFS) prepares students for jobs in the sustainable food and agriculture sector in Hawai‘i and beyond. The BAS-SCFS is a multi-disciplinary, experiential and applied education program about key ecological and social issues in food and agricultural systems. It incorporates problem-based and hands-on learning to develop food system professionals capable of solving real-world problems and transitioning Hawai‘i agriculture toward greater ecological sustainability and social equity. BAS-SCFS courses are offered in person at the UHWO campus.

The grant will support an indigenous natural resources management junior specialist in UH West Oʻahu’s Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Sustainable Community Food Systems (SCFS), a role filled by Dr. Daniel “Bubba” Lipe. Dr. Lipe conducts research and teaching at the intersection of traditional ecological knowledge and western science. He is responsible for developing the indigenous natural resources management branch of the SCFS program, including development of a wide range of courses on traditional food and agricultural systems of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Kamehameha Schools received a record 150 proposals requesting more than $60 million in funding. Dr. Miles and the SCFS program previously received $169,861 from Kamehameha Schools as part of an ʻAina Ulu grant to manage agricultural and conservation lands and provide culture-based and place-based learning opportunities.