Twenty two academic subjects at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 earned high marks in the 2025 , released on March 12.

Leading the way was linguistics, which earned a No. 11 ranking in the U.S. and No. 40 ranking in the world. Library and information management (No. 17 U.S., No. 51–100 world) and Earth and marine sciences (No. 20 U.S., No. 51–100 world) also placed within the top 100 in the world.

Eleven additional subjects placed in the world鈥檚 top 1% (within top 250 in the world out of ):

• Geophysics: No. 30 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Geology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Anthropology: No. 35 U.S., No. 101–170 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 34 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• English language and literature: No. 40 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Philosophy: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–225 world
• Geography: No. 34 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• History: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Politics: No. 43 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 45 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 57 U.S., No. 201–250 world

“These rankings reflect the outstanding scholarship and dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno said. “They reaffirm our university鈥檚 reputation for excellence and innovation, not just in Hawaiʻi, but on a global scale. For the communities we serve and the students considering 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, these rankings are a powerful endorsement of the exceptional education and opportunities we provide.”

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was ranked in four broad subject areas and 22 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (survey responses from academics), employer reputation (survey responses from graduate employers worldwide), research citations per paper (citations data sourced from鈥疎lsevier Scopus), H-index (measures most cited papers and the number of citations) and international research network (reflects ability to diversify the geography of their international research network).

The 2025 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 also received these notable rankings:

• 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 earns highest national research designation, February 20, 2025
• 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 23, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, September 24, 2024

Five University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members earned Fulbright U.S. Scholar fellowships for the 2024–25 academic year. scholars are expected to engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for future partnerships between institutions.

“These Fulbright fellowships awarded to our 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members are a testament to their exceptional scholarship and dedication to global collaboration,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno said. “Their groundbreaking research will not only advance their fields but also strengthen international academic partnerships.”

Fulbright U.S. Scholars from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in 2024–25

• Jan Brunson, an associate professor of in the , will study cesarean sections in Nepal. Collaborating with Suman Raj Tamrakar, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Dhulikhel Hospital, Brunson aims to understand the social, economic and systemic factors influencing c-sections. Her research focuses on balancing the life-saving potential and risks of c-sections by examining the experiences of women and healthcare practitioners. Brunson hopes to enhance reproductive knowledge and agency among women, ultimately improving maternal health outcomes.
• Peter Fuleky, a professor of economics and research economist with the in the College of Social Sciences, will head to Budapest, Hungary to develop forecasting infrastructure for large-scale econometric models in the R statistical computing environment. In a user guide, he will describe best practices for time series data manipulation. He also plans to quantify the economic impacts of extreme weather events and use simulations to predict the impacts of climate change on economic conditions in the future. Fuleky hopes that his research will inform decision makers about the cost of taking no action, a baseline against which planned interventions can be evaluated.
• Bruce Howe, a professor in the in the , will head to Portugal to advance the SMART seafloor cable system linking Portugal with the Madeira and Azores archipelagoes. SMART systems integrate sensors into telecommunications cables to monitor climate change, earthquakes and tsunamis. In addition to the Portuguese Atlantic CAM, he will work on the New-Caledonia-Vanuatu Tamtam SMART cable system, and collaborate with UN agencies and global partners to develop similar systems. His efforts aim to enhance disaster risk reduction and support sustainable coastal infrastructure, ultimately saving lives.
• Monica Smith, an associate professor in the , will work as a visiting scholar at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, supporting faculty in primary and secondary education. Smith will collaborate with Chilean scholar Malba Barahona Dur谩n on a study examining pedagogies and lesson feedback in multilingual classrooms. She will also co-teach courses on teaching English to primary students and guiding doctoral research. This opportunity will enhance her understanding of promoting multilingualism and allow her to build a professional network between Hawaiʻi and Chile.
• Joseph Tanke, a professor of in the , will travel to Budapest, Hungary to work on his fellowship “The American Scholar in the Age of AI,” which studies artificial intelligence from the vantage point of critical social philosophy and involves teaching American philosophy and art at Károli Gáspár University. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “The American Scholar,” the project aims to explore how technologies like ChatGPT impact human thought and action, emphasizing the significance of philosophical inquiry for understanding AI‘s role in today’s world.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and non-profit sectors. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government.

The Fulbright Scholar Program is supported at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 through Fulbright program advisors William Chapman, interim dean of the ; Kristen Connors, fellowships, scholarships and professional development coordinator; and Betsy Gilliland, Department of Second Language Studies associate professor. For more information about the Fulbright Program at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, visit the .

student Dave Ian Domingo Sebastian will earn a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in philosophy on May 4, the day after his birthday. He will also be one of two student speakers at the .

“I hope that the graduates will remember all those who shared their light with them and be empowered to use their degrees to be a light in the world,” he said.

Sebastian, who graduated from Waipahu High School, earned an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Leeward Community College in spring 2020. He enrolled in 东精影业 West Oʻahu in fall 2020, and began working as a peer writing tutor in summer 2021 at the Noʻeau Center, where he still works today.

After graduation, Sebastian鈥檚 goal is to become a Catholic priest.

“It was evident to me then (when he was a first-year student), as it is to me now, that Dave is a person of great compassion and conviction,” said Professor Li-Hsiang Lisa Rosenlee. “I am confident that Dave’s spiritual calling鈥ill not only help uplift the community of faith, but also provide much needed compassionate care to our west-side community at large.”

Sebastian said 东精影业 West Oʻahu has prepared him for his next chapter in life by allowing him to learn from many different world views and perspectives鈥攖hrough his philosophy studies and tutoring a diverse student body.

Check out more stories of our 东精影业 spring graduates

“So I feel like since I have been able to meet and learn from so many people who think or understand the world differently from me, I can use that knowledge to connect with others,” he said. “The hope is that a connection can be made from a place of understanding and that we can bridge the gaps between different communities and foster a sense of reconciliation.”

• Read more about Jahnna-Marie Kehaulani Kahele-Madali, who was also selected to be a student commencement speaker.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The traumatic effects of colonization, particularly the forced disconnection from Hawaiʻi鈥檚 abundant ʻāina, which has led to complex, interconnected, health disparities seen today in Native Hawaiian communities and especially in the ʻōpio (youth), is the focus of new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 .

was published in a special October issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health called Mental Health of Indigenous Peoples.

Led by Lorinda M.N.M. Riley, associate professor of public health, the study builds upon prior work where Native Hawaiians articulated a collective feeling of kaumaha (heavy, oppressive sadness) resulting from mass land dispossession, overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, cultural loss and early loss of loved ones.

Historical trauma research is critical to improving the wellbeing and future success of the next generation of Native Hawaiians.
—Lorinda M.N.M. Riley

“Historical trauma research is critical to improving the wellbeing and future success of the next generation of Native Hawaiians. Unfortunately, little work has been done exploring this issue among Native Hawaiians. I am very proud of our partnerships with the community as well as with other Indigenous scholars who were able to breathe life into our themes using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language),” said Riley.

Using Indigenous methods in the design and implementation of this study allowed the researchers to better understand how Native Hawaiian ʻōpio experience and understand historical trauma. The researchers utilized community partners as co-collectors of ʻōpio perspectives and stories through 34 talk-story sessions that were conducted virtually.

The key findings indicate that Native Hawaiian ʻōpio experience historical trauma in a variety of ways, including through strong emotions that are difficult for ʻōpio to control; engaging in escapism; feeling ʻāina related harms; being caught up in messy systems; experiencing internal family, and community conflict; and feeling like certain things are not meant for them.

Participants included 19 Native Hawaiian ʻōpio between the ages of 15 to 24, all of whom either interacted with the juvenile justice system or experienced symptoms of poverty, periodic sadness, anger, anxiety, distrust of the intentions of those in power, used controlled substances or had family members with substance dependency. Participants also included lawelawe (service providers), such as school psychologists and counselors, correctional facility staff, child welfare service investigators, judiciary and juvenile probation staff and social workers who work directly with Native Hawaiian ʻōpio, as well as two Hawaiʻi state legislators.

“Understanding historical trauma is the first step to healing this trauma and improving wellbeing for our Native Hawaiian youth,” said Riley.

Exploring future studies

Despite the significant impacts that historical trauma has on Native Hawaiian Hawaiʻi, many expressed pride in their identity and provided multiple hopeful statements about their future. Suggestions for future studies include exploring Native Hawaiian experiences with historical trauma across the lifespan, creating a scale to measure Native Hawaiian historical trauma and curriculum that incorporates Hawaiian cultural practices, healing to build pride and fluency for all Hawaiʻi, including non-Hawaiians.

Additional findings include providing ʻōpio with support through their communities and trauma-informed policies that incorporate healing historical trauma can help them grow over time into sustainable, productive and nurturing beings. This research adds to the growing literature and 鈥渃alls on the Legislature to support efforts to mitigate the effects of historical trauma.”

Co-authors on the paper included other faculty from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补: Anamalia Suʻesuʻe from the , Kristina Hulama from the , Scott Kaua Neumann from the and Jane Chung-Do from the .

A pair of students will receive professional development, mentoring, networking and research support opportunities after being selected to a national leadership program in the field of humanities. Nominated by faculty in the , Azlynn Brandenburg and MacAlasdair Uchimura are among 17 students from eight states to serve on the inaugural .

Hosted by the National Humanities Center, members will participate in various interactive experiences in the 2021–22 academic year that explore the importance of humanistic perspectives to address the concerns of contemporary society. Activities may also include a focus on specific projects and engagement at their home institutions.

According to the center, by bringing together a diverse group of students with shared passions and professional goals, “the council aims to facilitate creative and ambitious inter-institutional collaborations that help students prepare for a wide range of careers.”

Brandenburg, a senior triple majoring in , , and , hopes to attend graduate school and looks forward to the experience to grow as a researcher and academic.

“In participating in this council, we have all been encouraged to think about any research or community outreach projects that we would like to explore and seek collaboration on,” Brandenburg said. “As of right now, I am leaning towards a digital humanities project that would center around education reform and combating the spread of misinformation.”

Uchimura, a junior major, hopes to engage with experts in the humanities field and mentors who will assist in the transition from undergraduate to graduate level courses.

“I engage with literature (specifically classical literature) in ways that aren’t the average double-spaced paper, and I’m hoping that I can work with the resources from the council as well as my peers in order to figure out how I can make a significant contribution to the field of Classics through my work,” Uchimura said.

This program is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Following the death of University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Emerita Haunani-Kay Trask in July 2021, the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 issued condolences and a public apology for an incident in 1990 widely covered in the media.

Members of the department called for Trask鈥檚 termination in a very public dispute over the use of the word “haole” (loosely translated to foreigner), It started after a student editorial in school鈥檚 Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi newspaper said 鈥渉aole鈥� was equivalent to the N-word. In response, Trask authored an editorial defending the use of the word while highlighting Hawaiʻi‘s colonial history and suggested the student could leave Hawaiʻi if they did not like it.

At the time, there was push from some 东精影业 faculty to remove Trask, but a formal decision was made to retain her.

“The Department began to revisit the 1990/91 events in fall 2020 when a Native Hawaiian with a PhD from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 College of Education asked to submit a proposal for a course on Hawaiian Philosophy,” explained Tamara Albertini, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Philosophy chair and professor. “In that context we found out that the clash from 30 years ago had left lasting wounds among Native Hawaiian faculty and students. We instantly knew that we had a moral obligation to reach out. The passing of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask did not prompt the apology. It was already in the making. However, we understood that we could not postpone making it public.”

The posthumous apology stated:

• “Professor Trask鈥檚 work has been crucial in foregrounding the systemic injustices that have plagued the practice of our discipline. We should have listened to her when she tried to teach us that these injustices had their roots in the history and power dynamics of colonial oppression both within the University of Hawaiʻi and outside of it.鈥�

The full apology is below. Jon Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio, the dean of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈苍耻颈腻办别补 School of Hawaiian Knowledge said the gesture was appreciated.

“The acknowledgement of Professor Trask鈥檚 immense legacy and the apology from the Department of Philosophy was poignant and graceful and delivered as much to the spirit of our departed sister as well as to the Hawaiian people,” said Osorio. “贬补飞补颈ʻ颈苍耻颈腻办别补 commits to working with Philosophy and with all departments and colleges to help the university articulate ‘Hawaiian values and ways of inquiry.’”

Department of Philosophy鈥檚 apology

“The Department of Philosophy at 惭腻苍辞补 is saddened by the news of the passing of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, Professor Emerita and co-founder of the 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈苍耻颈腻办别补 School of Hawaiian Knowledge. The Department recognizes her trail-blazing scholarship and visionary leadership and apologizes sincerely for the attacks she suffered from philosophers at 惭腻苍辞补 in the past.

Professor Trask鈥檚 work has been crucial in foregrounding the systemic injustices that have plagued the practice of our discipline. We should have listened to her when she tried to teach us that these injustices had their roots in the history and power dynamics of colonial oppression both within the University of Hawaiʻi and outside of it. That is a history the Department of Philosophy is prepared to study and confront. Also, it understands the need to bring down barriers preventing Indigenous research from receiving academic recognition.

We acknowledge that our apology is long overdue and regret we did not convey it to Professor Trask in person while there was time. We are aware that our shortcomings have also affected the wider community of K膩naka ʻ艑iwi faculty and students. This apology is therefore also addressed to them.

Today, the Department of Philosophy is eager to pursue philosophy self-critically and explore the rich and complex sources of Hawaiian Knowledge in our classrooms and research in comparative philosophy. We are also committed to seeking partnerships with the School of Hawaiian Knowledge and supporting Native Hawaiian projects aiming at articulating Hawaiian values and ways of inquiry as philosophy. Finally, we are not forgetting that the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 was erected on Hawaiian land. We acknowledge the need to respect our host culture.”

He Mihi i Mua o N膩 K膩naka a Pau

—Unuhi ʻia e Scott Kaua Neumann

“Luʻuluʻu kaumaha ka Māhele Kālaimanaʻo o Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa i ka hele hoʻi ʻole ʻana mai o Ke Kauka Haunani Kay-Trask, Polopeka Welo, kekahi mea hoʻokahua hoʻi nāna i hoʻokumu iā Hawaiʻinuiākea, Ke Kula ʻIke Hawaiʻi. Ua ʻike ʻia a ua mahalo ʻia hoʻi i kāna waele mua ʻana i ke ala ʻimi naʻauao ma ke kulanui me kāna alakaʻi ʻana ma loko o ia māhele, a ke mihi minamina nei me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo a me ka ʻehaʻeha no ka hana ʻino ʻia ona e nā kumu kālaimanaʻo ma Mānoa i kona wā e noho polopeka ana ma Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa.

Ua huʻe ʻia a maka ka hana hoʻokae pono ʻole a ka māhele kālaimanaʻo e ua Polopeka Trask nei ma o kāna hana koʻikoʻi. ʻO ka pololei a me ka pono, he lohe mai nō kā ka māhele kālaimanaʻo i ke aʻo āna no ia mau hana hoʻokae i hele a laha i loko o ka moʻolelo o kona lāhui Hawaiʻi ponoʻī a me ka hoʻomāhuahua ʻia o ia mau hana hoʻokae hoʻokolonaio ma loko a ma waho hoʻi o ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi. ʻO ia aku nei ke ʻano o ka hana a ka Māhele Kālaimanaʻo e hoʻoponopono ai. Eia hou, ua ʻike ʻia iho hoʻi ke kuleana e wāwahi i nā ālaina o ka ʻimi naʻauao ʻana ma ke ʻano e kūpono ai no ka poʻe ʻōiwi a e mahalo ʻia nō hoʻi e ke Kulanui.

Ua hala loa akula ka manawa i pono ai kēia mihi ʻana me ka minamina ʻana ʻaʻole i waiho ʻia nei mihi i mua pono ona nāna hoʻokahi wale nō e huikala mai i kona wā e noho honua ana. Ua ʻike nō hoʻi mākou i ka hoʻohemahema ʻia o nā kumu ʻōiwi kanaka a pēlā pū hoʻi nā haumāna ʻōiwi kanaka e mākou. Iā lākou hoʻi kēia mihi. E huikala mai.

I kēia au naʻe e holo nei, ke hoʻoikaika nei a ke hoʻoulu nei mākou, ka Māhele Kālaimanaʻo, i ke kālaimanaʻo ma ka hikaloi ʻana iho me ka ʻimi ʻana aku i loko o ka lehu a me ka mano o nā kumu ʻike Hawaiʻi, a pēlā hoʻi ke kālailai hoʻokūkū a me ka hoʻohālikelike ma loko o kā mākou aʻo ʻana a me kā mākou noiʻi ʻana. E hoʻopaʻa ana nō hoʻi mākou i ke kuʻikahi me ka hoʻolōkahi aku me Hawaiʻinuiākea—Ke Kula ʻIke Hawaiʻi—ma nā hana e ulu ai ka Hawaiʻi ma ke kālaimanaʻo. ʻAʻole nō hoʻi mākou e hoʻopoina i ke kūkulu ʻia o ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa ma luna o ka ʻāina o nā Hawaiʻi no lākou nō ke kuleana. Ke ʻike maopopo iho nei mākou i ko mākou kuleana e hōʻihiʻihi a e hoʻoponopono me nā Hawaiʻi.”

—The Department of Philosophy at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补
Tamara Albertini (Poʻo), Arindam Chakrabarti, Chung-ying Cheng, Vrinda Dalmiya, Jonathan Fine, Masato Ishida, Thomas Jackson, Steve Odin, Franklin Perkins, Sean Smith, Joseph Tanke, George Tsai

Affiliate Faculty and Lecturers
David Falgout
Sharon Rowe

东精影业 West Oʻahu
Lisa Rosenlee

Kapiʻolani Community College
Kuang-Hung Chen
Kyle Takaki

Leeward Community College
Steven W. Laycock

Related Ka Wai Ola Article:

A University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 professor has been awarded China鈥檚 highest honor given to foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s drive toward modernization. Professor Emeritus Roger T. Ames was presented the Chinese Government Friendship Award in Beijing on September 30, by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as part of China鈥檚 National Day celebration.

Ames is an expert on Chinese and Western comparative philosophy. He is currently humanities chair professor at Peking University, president of the World Consortium for Research in Confucian Cultures and vice president of the International Federation of Confucian Studies.

“In China, as in our host Hawaiian culture, good friends become part of the family. I have always felt this way at Peking University in my classroom and among my colleagues,” Ames said.

Ames has won several other international awards, including the John Dewey Society Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Huilin Culture Award from Beijing Normal University in 2016 and Confucius Culture Prize in 2013.

He retired from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in 2016 after serving as a faculty member since 1978. His campus awards include a 2012 Regent鈥檚 Medal for Excellence in Research, a 2010 College of Arts and Humanities Excellence in Scholarship Award and a 1990 Regents鈥� Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Ames earned his BA from the University of British Columbia, master鈥檚 degrees from National Taiwan University and the University of British Columbia, and PhD from the University of London.

This work is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Artists with ties to the are participating in an exhibition exploring “Art and Anarchy.” The show is being held in conjunction with the 2021 Pacific Association for the Continental Tradition philosophy conference, which was hosted by 东精影业 Hilo at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in early September.

The art exhibit, sponsored by the 东精影业 Hilo and departments, in collaboration with the Volcano Art Center where the show is being held, will run through October 1, both online and in person.

Faculty showing their work at the exhibit include Professor of Art Michael Marshall; Associate Professor of Art Jon Goebel, 东精影业 Hilo art department chair; and art lecturer Kevin Diminyatz.

The show will also feature work by Monica Mann, a ceramics instructor at Hawaiʻi Community College and former visiting artist at 东精影业 Hilo.

Also participating is current 东精影业 Hilo student Jennifer Ko, and alumni, Hawaiʻi CC lecturer Tobias Brill (1994) and Ezra Rose (2020).

Tim Freeman, an assistant professor of philosophy at 东精影业 Hilo who creates pit-fired clay vessels, helped organize the Art and Anarchy show.

“Although anarchism is still popularly associated with a descent into chaos and violence, as a political philosophy it was never about bringing about disorder and chaos, but rather the liberation of humanity from oppressive order,” Freeman explained. “What the anarchist philosophers were advocating was a new kind of order, different from the authoritarian order that enforced such great inequities in society. The main goal of anarchism as a political philosophy was the maximation of both liberty and equality,” he adds.

The show may be viewed in person Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center鈥檚 Niaulani Campus. .

For more information, go to .

—By Susan Enright

“The task of ethics within the context of civil disobedience is to open up the realm of thinking about one鈥檚 values and viewpoints,” said Associate Professor of Philosophy Celia Bardwell-Jones.

东精影业 Hilo philosophy and business faculty held a public symposium in September titled, “Do We Have an Obligation to Obey the Law?: Civil Disobedience in a Global Context.”

Brief talks were presented by philosophy professors Bardwell-Jones, Chris Lauer and Tim Freeman, as well as Benjamin Zenk, instructor of business management and ethics. The catalyst for the discussion was the ongoing protests of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Maunakea. Speakers addressed the history and ethical dimensions of civil disobedience and other nonviolent practices.

“The ethical question we are going to attempt to answer today is, ‘Do we have a moral obligation to obey the law?’” said Bardwell-Jones. “If we don鈥檛 get an answer, we hope that we leave you with more questions that we hope that you can then reflect on later. The task of ethics within the context of civil disobedience is to open up the realm of thinking about one鈥檚 values and viewpoints. Civil disobedience encourages us to reflect on standards of justice that we may take for granted. Just because it is the law, is it moral?”

She added, “I would like to first acknowledge and recognize the efforts of civil disobedience that are occurring on the mauna currently. We believe that this is the perfect practice and expression of civil disobedience that is happening right now so close to home. As a department we have little epistemic authority or credibility to speak about the ethics of civil disobedience compared to the rich knowledge that is happening on the mauna. We would like to recognize that knowledge production.”

History of civil disobedience

Freeman, who has visited the mauna several times during the protest, spoke on the history of civil disobedience and on the Hawaiian concept of kapu aloha, a code of conduct demanding restraint, empathy and respect. He contrasted his experiences at the tumultuous 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle with his time at Maunakea. “I am impressed by what is going on up at the mauna,” he said. “Whatever you think of the issue, I think we all have to say their commitment to kapu aloha and nonviolence training sessions are impressive.”

Freeman explained that the point of nonviolent civil disobedience is to draw the public鈥檚 attention to an issue. He cited Henry David Thoreau鈥檚 1848 essay on civil disobedience, which argues that an individual has the duty to disobey unjust laws. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter from a Birmingham jail, argued that civil disobedience should be nonviolent, and those who engage in it should be willing to pay the penalty of disobeying the law and going to jail. Doing this shows respect for the law without agreeing with the law.

“The whole point of civil disobedience is not to overthrow the state but to raise awareness about the issue to the public so the issue can be addressed,” said Freeman. “What has been going on up at the mauna has made people really think more deeply and reexamine the issue, which I think is broader or bigger than just science versus religion. It is about our whole way of being now that we are facing the crisis of our time with climate change and our relationship to the earth.”

Jimmy Naniʻole, one of the 38 k奴puna who were arrested for blocking the road at the initial protests, spoke during the question and answer period and thanked the speakers for participating. “I want to thank all of you for sharing the philosophical basis for why the mauna is so important not only to Hawaiʻi it is important to every Indigenous and native people of the world,“ says Naniʻole. “I don鈥檛 think there is a person in this room who doesn鈥檛 have an indigenous or native connection. Whether you are from Ireland or Africa. We are all one and the same.”

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Mokaulele Program, the chancellor鈥檚 offices and at , the Hawaiʻi Island Philosophy Club, the and the .

—By Leah Sherwood, a 东精影业 Hilo tropical conservation biology and environmental science graduate student