HCC, UH-Hilo Faculty Awarded for Native Hawaiian Education

Two Hawai`i Community College professors and a UH Hilo executive are being awarded ‘Educators of the Year’ honors by the Native Hawaiian Education Association.

Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō, associate professor and chair of the humanities department at Hawaii Community College is being honored alongside  assistant professor of HCC’s Ola Haloa Hawai‘i Life Styles Program, Kekuhi Kanae Kanahele Keali‘ikanaka‘oleoHaililani.

UH-Hilo’s executive assistant to the chancellor, Gail Makuakāne-Lundin will also be honored at NHEA’s 14th Annual Convention, which takes place March 21 and 22 at the Big Island campus of Kamehameha Schools.

The educators were nominated and selected by their peers for the award.

Tangarō is also active in the arts, holding the rank of Kumu Hula (teacher of hula). Keali‘ikanaka‘oleoHaililani is also well-versed in traditional dance, heading Halau o Kekuhi and serving as the executive director of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation.