Faculty
Brown Faculty
In January 2007 several Brown faculty and staff participated in the program and led lectures, discussions and field based activities:
Caroline Karp is a Senior Lecturer in Brown University's Center for Environmental Studies. She teaches the introductory course in environmental studies, upper level courses in domestic and international environmental policy, and a seminar on property rights in natural resources. She often uses service learning and distance learning techniques in these courses to engage students in research that involves and benefits the community. Her areas of interest are coastal and marine watershed management, water law and urban environmental policy. She has been working in southwest Madagascar since 1999 with Brown students and support from various Malagasy agencies to examine the effects of eco-tourism and market development on the village economy and the reef ecosystem.
Tom Webb is a recently retired professor of Geological Sciences. He trained as an undergraduate in Botany at Swarthmore College and then received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Atmospheric Sciences and Climatology. His interdisciplinary background prepared him to study climate and vegetation history by using fossilized pollen and other plant remains to trace the changing patterns of vegetation and thereby climates over North America. His main period of focus has been the last 21,000 years since the last ice age. During his research career, he teamed up with researchers around the world to map and model the changing global climates as the earth warmed, ice sheets retreated, and sea levels rose by over 100 m. His research contributes to better predicting future climates under global warming. Tom taught courses about weather, climate, fossils, statistics, and ecological change (Geo 135, 31, 230, 239) and served at the geology/biology concentration advisor. This past summer he twice rafted through the Grand Canyon and then in January learned about the environment, people, and volcanoes of the Big Island in Hawai’i.
Susan Lehner has been teaching science to interested people of all ages for 28 years. In 2004, Susan helped to create Brown’s first undergraduate program in Hawai’i. For the past 15 years, she has lived and taught on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She lives in North Kohala , the remote northern tip of the island, surrounded by lush greenery, outrageous landforms, and a turquoise sea. Susan holds a Master's Degree in Biochemistry from Vanderbilt Medical School in Nashville, Tennessee, and thinks Hawai'i is just about the best place to study science in the entire world. She will show you why—as she leads you through the fascinating landscapes of Hawai'i 's volcanoes, coral reefs, cloud forests, and other magical places.
Robin Rose is Brown's Director of Leadership Programs and former Dean of Student Life. Rose, a graduate of the College of Wooster (B.A., 1975), earned her graduate degrees in psychology at the University of Connecticut (M.A., 1978; Ph.D., 1981). She came to Brown in 1981 as director of outreach programs in the Office of Psychological Services, then served from 1991-2000 as Brown's chief student affairs officer.
Cornell Faculty
Two Cornell faculty who were on island also gave lectures and led discussions:
Chuck Greene, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell
• Lecture on pelagic fish
Lou Derry, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell
• Provided a lecture on climate patterns and the impact of Asian dust on Hawaiian soils
Local Hawaiian Experts
The group also interacted with over 20 local professors, teachers, researchers and artists who live and work on the island. Brief descriptions of these talented resource people are listed below:
Matthews Hamabata, Ph.D.
• Executive Director of The Kohala Center
• Discussed the mission of the Center and the political, social and economic challenges facing Hawaii.
Sara Peck-Sea Grant/Extension Officer for DLNR
• Conducted fish identification transect exercise
• Helped students to develop their survey skills
• Gave tour and explanation of Natural Energy Lab
Bill Panui
• Native Hawaiian, Resource teacher for the King Kamemeha Schools
• Discussed history and anthropology of Ke'ei site (where group stayed for first four days of program)-Bill is a life time resident of this village
Peter Van Dyke, Ph.D
•Director of Amy Greenwall Ethnobotanical Garden, Bishop Museum
• Lecture and tour of gardens
Ka'eo Duarte , Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Botany and Water Resources, UH Manoa
• Discussion of hydrology of the island, impact of water resources on the culture, history and politics of the island
Raylene Lancaster
- Director of a hula halau in North Kohala
- Demonstration, discussion of the importance and meaning of hula traditions, instructed group in hula, chants and role of these practices in the history and culture of the island
Senior Center of North Kohala
• Group met with 10 seniors who had worked on sugar plantations in North Kohala -oral histories and discussion
John and Hope Keawe
• Slack key guitar concert and hula performance
• John is an internationally acclaimed slack key guitar player. He and his wife Hope performed for the group and discussed the history and cultural significance of slack key guitar and hula
Chadd Paishon-Captain of the Makali'i
• The Makali'i is one of Hawaii 's great Polynesian voyaging canoes. Chad and his crew have sailed this canoe thousands of miles in the South Pacific, retracing the voyages of the ancient Polynesian ancestors who utilized non-instrument navigational practices to sail to Hawaii . Chad discussed the process of rediscovering and reclaiming this tradition and the educational programs they now sponsor.
Mau Piailug
• From a tiny atoll in Micronesia , Mau is credited with saving the Polynesian voyaging tradition. In the mid-1970's, Native Hawaiians realized that there were no Hawaiians left who knew how to sail non-instrument, long distance voyaging canoes. Mau was recruited to teach these traditions and has spent the last 30 years of his life helping the Native Hawaiians to reclaim this aspect of their cultural heritage. Mau met with the group to answer questions and share his experience.
John Kahiapo
• Ecologist, Division of Land and Natural Resources
• Discussion of fresh water ecology on island, hike to Akaka Falls , 450' waterfall on the east coast of the island
Kalani Flores, Ph.D.
• Professor at Hawaii Community College , Hawaiian Studies
• Discussion of Polynesian immigration to the Hawaiian Islands, language, ethnobotanical tour of Kalopa State Park
Linda Elliot
• Wildlife Biologist, Division of Land and Natural Resources
• Lecture and discussion on invasive species and threats to native wildlife
Ulumauahi Keali'ikanakaoleohaililani
• Staff member of the Kanaka'ole Foundation-organization committed to the preservation of Native Hawaiian culture.
• Gave blessings to group at rim of caldera, answered questions, discussed Native Hawaiian contemporary politics, demonstration of ancient, traditional chants and hula, shared stories and traditions related to Pele, goddess of the volcanoes.
Rob McGovern
• Education Coordinator, Volcano Arts Center
• Tour of restored rainforest
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