The University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu’s Institute for Research & Engaged Scholarship (IRES) presents the 1st annual Research & Engaged Scholarship Conference, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, in C-225.
The conference’s purpose is to provide a venue and forum for faculty teaching and research, and community engagement, and to build the public’s awareness about how diverse research and teaching can be in Hawai’i, said IRES Director Lea Kinikini.
“We know that many of our faculty are adjuncts and hold other positions in their applied fields, so it’s also an opportunity to hear about faculty working in various fields,” Kinikini said. “These faculty contribute so much to student experience that it’s important their expertise be made available to our campus community and the community at large.”
UH West O‘ahu has some of the hardest working faculty and staff who are passionate about their research and teaching, as well as publishing, so its also a chance to “test drive” a paper or creative work before taking it to a national or international conference and before it gets to the publications stage, Kinikini noted.
“It’s also simply a chance to celebrate each other’s hard work and dedication to our students and our West O‘ahu communities,” she said.
Research papers and teaching presentations, including film and creative works, will be shared by faculty. Here is a tentative schedule:
- 12:30 to 12:50 p.m.: “Kalaeloa Heritage Park: A Community-Based Participatory Research Project” presented by Kirsten Vacca, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Historical Archaeology
- 12:50 to 1:10 p.m.: “Kinohi ʻōʻūholowai: Meaningful Watershed Research Experiences and Engaged Scholarship Pilot Program” presented by J. Lelemia Irvine, Assistant Professor of Physics
- 1:10 to 1:30 p.m.: “Japanese Poems, Inscriptions and Messages at Angel Island, 1910-1946” presented by Janine Fujioka, English Lecturer
- 1:35 to 1:55 p.m.: “The making and doing of Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi” presented by Vera Zambonelli
- 1:55 to 2:15 p.m.: “Polynesian Lowriders: The Immortal Legacy of Kita Lealao and the USO Family Car Club” presented by Lea Lani Kinikini, Specialist Faculty, Director Institute for Research & Engaged Scholarship
- 2:15 to 2:35 p.m.: “Pop Medievalism in Video Games, White Supremacy, and the Pushback” presented by Kelly Guo, Lecturer in History, Early College
- 2:35 to 2:55 p.m.: “Women’s Leadership in Alternative Food Networks in Hawai‘i and Aotearoa” presented by Monique Mironesco, Professor of Political Science
- 3 to 3:20 p.m.: “High Impact Practices In Underserved Communities: Linking Open Educational Resources And Local Non-Profit In Business Communications Course Design” presented by Leslie M. Rush, Assistant Professor of Business & Hospitality Tourism
- 3:20 to 3:40 p.m.: “Unmarked Burials at a Moloka‘i Cemetery: Building and Broadening Community Engaged Research Methods, Faculty Networks, and Students STEM Opportunities” presented by Christina Mello, Associate Professor of Applied Cultural Anthropology
- 3:40 to 4 p.m.: “Teaching Active Courses in Multimodalities” presented by Katie Landgraf, Assistant Professor of Accounting
- 4 to 4:20 p.m.: “Syllabi Redesign: For Equity and Engagement” presented by Lynette Williamson, Assistant Professor and Program Director HIM
The research conference also includes a special follow-up event, ‘Awa and Talanoa Keynote Speakers, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at the Nāulu Center. The event is co-hosted by the Nālimakui Council.
Three guests will share their knowledge over ‘awa on various scholarly topics:
- 2:10 to 2:30 p.m.: “He Au Puni Palapala: Critical Analysis of the Influences of Christo-Colonization and American English Language Teaching Methods on ʻŌiwi Kanaka and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi” presented by Cyrus Pōkiʻi Seto, Hoʻopūliko Kumu Hou Project Specialist at UH West Oʻahu
- 2:30 to 2:50 p.m.: “Disobedient Natives: Parihaka and the Mau” presented by Kealani Cook, Associate Professor of History at UH West Oʻahu
- 2:50 to 3:10 p.m.: “Pukepuke Fonua: Kava, Fonua, and Solidarity amongst Tongans and Hawaiians in Koʻolauloa”presented by Sione Ulise Funaki, Ph.D. Candidate, UH Mānoa
Both events are free and open to all UH West O‘ahu students, faculty, and staff, and the general public. For more information about the events, email kinikini@hawaii.edu.