Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1988 — From Hakalau to Vice Provost at Washington [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

From Hakalau to Vice Provost at Washington

Believed to be First Hawaiian Appointed

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A former Hakalau, Hawai'i resident who was born and raised in the little village of Peleau, is the new vice provost of the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. Dr. Herman Damien Leilehua Lujan assumed his new duties July 1. The position is believed to be the third highest administrative role on the UW campus and the first time a part Hawaiian has been appointed. He is one of two sons and a daughter of Samuel Ho'olohe Kamohoali'i and Aliee I. Lujan, both deceased. His father was a well-known Hawai'i rancher, conservationist and independent eane planter while his mother was a school teacher and speech specialist in the old Department of Public Instruction (known today as Department of Education). Dr. Lujan's brother, Kenneth, is a retired rancher and a sister, Aliee Leilani Quiocho, Ph.D., is an administrator in the Santee School District near San Diego. He is a product of the John M. Ross Elementary School in Ninole and later attended the old St. Mary's Elementary and current St. Joseph's High School in Hilo, graduating in 1953. Dr. Lujan, who served the last 10 years as vice president for minority affairs at UW, now becomes responsible for matters relating to undergraduate education and minority faculty recruitment. He will work with various faculty groups, including the Faculty Council on Academic Standards and the Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs. He also assumes some of the responsibilities of vice provost Donna Kerr who is conducting a needs assessment for the second UW campus in the Puget Sound region. "Herman Lujan has performed admirably in strengthening the University's commitment to undergraduate minority and disadvantaged students," said UW President William P. Gerberding in a news release reaching the desk of Ka Wai Ola OOHA.

In addition to his administrative duties, Dr. Lujan will continue to teach in the Department of Political Science where he specializes in state government and public policy. A search committee will be seeking a replacement in minority affairs. Minority undergraduate enrollment at UW was 11.9 percent of the total student population when Lujan became head of minority affairs. It is now 18 percent overall and 21.7 at the undergraduate level. The program in 1978 devoted a little less than $250,000 to its study skills programs compared to $837,000 it now spends annually in offering aeademic help to minority students. Lujan created the Early Identification Program whieh identifies undergraduate minority studeqts of promise and helps them prepare for graduate and professional studies. As for being named new vice provost, Lujan had this to say: "After 10 years in minority affairs, it's time for new energy and new ideas. In my new position, I hope to eonhnue to help the University get poised for its role in America's third century." Following graduation from St. Joseph's, Lujan spent one year at St. Stephen's Seminary on O'ahu then went to St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., where he received his bachelor's degree in 1958. Then followed a Master's from the University of California, Berkeley in 1960 and a doctorate from the University of Idaho in 1964. He was at the University of Kansas from 1964 to 1977 where he held a variety of academic and administrative positions. He was_the first director of the Division of State Planning and Research for the state of Kansas in 1974. His academic, professional, administrative and organizational credentials are numerous and he has published a number of books, monographs and articles. His current research and teaching includes a just completed book length manuscript entitled

Nana Pono, a study of traditional Hawaiian values in modern life whieh is now under review. Dr. Lujan, who also taught at St. Louis School 1960-62, has remained in touch with Hawai'i through his years in higher education. He worked with Alu Like ine. and its then director, Winona Ellis Rubin. In 1979 he participated in an Adminis-

tration for Native American Needs Assessment Study and was co-chair with Mrs. Rubin of the Hawaiian Leaders National Panel. He also lectured as a guest of the Hawaiian Studies Program at the University of Hawai'i Manoa and worked both as a teacher and friend with former director Abraham Pi'ianai'a.

One of his sons, Mark, manages a restaurant in the Bay Area and another son, Timothy, lives in Peleau with his wife, Dana, and son, Timothy Leilehua, and is caring for the family kuleana. Dr. Lujan and Tim are ranching on the kuleana, rebuilding the family ranch started by Samuel Lujan and known as the Lujan Farm and Ranch. A daughter, Laura, and two grandchildren, Miehael Keaohou and Andrea Molehu, live in Poulsbo, Wash. Dr. Lujan's unele, retired paniolo John Purdy, is a well-known kama'aina in ranching circles. A cousin, Susannah Purdy Okamura, lives at Pepe'ekeo. Lujan and his wife, the former Carla W. Williams of Berkeley, reside on Bainbridge Island. She is currently Director of Emergency Services for Kitsap Mental Health Services, the provider of such services to Kitsap County in Washington. She works out of Bremerton. Mrs. Lujan is a 1982 UW graduate with a bachelor's in social work. She got her Master's in the same field in 1984 from the Seattle campus. Mrs. Lujan had returned to school after first raising her family. Dr. Lujan proudly notes that "whatever I have accomplished has been inspired by my parents, Samuel and Aliee Lujan."

Dr. Herman Damien Leilehua Lujan