E aloha mai! I am a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) scholar, poet, artist, and mālama ‘āina advocate. I am an Associate Professor of Hawaiian literature, specializing in traditional Hawaiian literature (including folklore and mythology), Oceanic (Pacific) literature, and indigenous perspectives on literacy. My research interests focus on place-based literature, literacy and learning. I am also developing Native Hawaiian Literature Digital Humanities projects. I am a founding and current Chief Editor of ‘Ōiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal. I have published critical essays and creative writing in Hawai‘i and abroad (the U.S., the Pacific, and Europe). I am a former Ford Foundation Fellow (2001-2005) and Mellon Hawai'i Post-Doctoral Fellow (2009- E aloha mai! I am a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) scholar, poet, artist, and mālama ‘āina advocate. I am an Associate Professor of Hawaiian literature, specializing in traditional Hawaiian literature (including folklore and mythology), Oceanic (Pacific) literature, and indigenous perspectives on literacy. My research interests focus on place-based literature, literacy and learning. I am also developing Native Hawaiian Literature Digital Humanities projects. I am a founding and current Chief Editor of ‘Ōiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal. I have published critical essays and creative writing in Hawai‘i and abroad (the U.S., the Pacific, and Europe). I am a former Ford Foundation Fellow (2001-2005) and Mellon Hawai'i Post-Doctoral Fellow (2009-2010). My first book, Voices of Fire--Reweaving the Lei of Pele and Hi‘iaka Literature was published by the University of Minnesota Press in May 2014, and received an Honorable Mention in MLA's award for best in Native American Literatures, Cultures, and Languages. I am currently Director of Ka Ipu o Lono, a Native Hawaiian Digital Humanities project in conjunction with UH's DAHI (Digital Arts and Humanities Initiative) that began in 2015. ...more