Dr. Kamuela Yong, the first Native Hawaiian to earn a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu. He received the 2019 Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2020 University of Hawai‘i Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, recognizing his commitment to student success.

As co-founder of IndigenousMathematicians.org, Dr. Yong established the first global community for Indigenous mathematicians, uniting Pacific scholars to inspire and mentor future generations. This community has created vital spaces for connection, collaboration, and advocacy, amplifying Indigenous presence in mathematics worldwide.

Through his innovative curriculum, Dr. Yong blends ancestral voyaging traditions with modern mathematics, making the subject both culturally meaningful and academically rigorous. He authored the freely available textbook “Trigonometry Through Wayfinding and Navigation Across the Pacific”, which teaches mathematical concepts through Pacific navigation and wayfinding. By allowing students to see their heritage reflected in mathematics, his work fosters both academic achievement and cultural pride. He is currently expanding this approach through K–12 curriculum development that integrates mathematics and Pacific knowledge systems.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Yong’s research focused on mathematical modeling of biological, ecological, and epidemiological systems using diffusion.