Kahakuloa Scholar Awarded Mellon-Hawai‘i Fellowship

Katrina-Ann R. Kapā‘anaokalāokeola Oliveira, PhD. Photo courtesy of UH.

By Sonia Isotov

Maui resident Katrina-Ann R. Kapā‘anaokalāokeola Oliveira, PhD, is one of three native Hawaiian scholars who were recently awarded Mellon-Hawai‘i Fellowships to advance their academic careers.

Oliveira holds a PhD and MA in Geography and BA degrees in Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies, all from UH Mānoa. Her hometown is Kahakuloa; Oliveira now lives in Waiohuli, Kula.

Oliveira’s book, Naming Maui: Mai Kekahi Kapa a Kekahi Kapa Aku, will address the importance of place and street names on the island of Maui to Hawaiian history, including the impact of the Hawaiian monarchy era and colonization on naming practices. Oliveira is mentored by Dr. Noenoe K. Silva, Department of Political Science, UH Mānoa.

“My life goal is to increase the number of Hawaiian language speakers,” Oliveira said. “I am hopeful that my work on Hawaiian street names will appeal to the general public as a means of increasing awareness of the meanings of Hawaiian words, and increase understanding of and interest in Hawaiian history.”

Marie Alohalani Brown, doctoral candidate in English at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa), and Kaipo Perez III, doctoral candidate in zoology with a focus in marine ecology at UH Mānoa, received doctoral fellowships.

Now in its fifth year, the Mellon-Hawaiʻi Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers financial support to emerging intellectual leaders from Hawai‘i who are committed to the advancement of knowledge about the Hawaiian natural and cultural environment, Hawaiian history, politics, and society.

The awards provide doctoral fellows with support to complete their dissertations before accepting their first academic posts, and provide postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to publish original research early in their academic careers. Doctoral fellows receive $40,000 each, and postdoctoral fellows receive $50,000 each.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and The Kohala Center, with the support of Kamehameha Schools, established the fellowship program in 2008. The Kahiau Foundation joined the effort in 2010 and returns to support the program for the 2012-2013 academic year.