Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2008 — Hawaiian scholars at UH Hilo [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian scholars at UH Hilo

Rūbert K. Lindsey. Jr. TrustEE. Hawai'i

4 Tū 'Oli" (Good News) I w'" always be the funi. i damental cornerstone of the columns I write to share with you. Our January eolumn was the first of two parts about four gifted, talented and very special Hawaiian scholars at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo (UHH): Trishann Bambico, Ryan Kanakaole, Oakalani MiyamotoRuddle and Pohai Patterson. Trishann, Ryan and Oakalani are Presidential Scholars. Pohai, the youngest of the UHH quartet is a Regents Scholar. Trishann Bambico was born in Honolulu, raised in Waipi'o Gentry and graduated from KamehamehaKapālama. Majoring in Marine Science with minors in Biology and Hawaiian Studies, she also plans to seek a certificate in the Marine Options Program and in time a master's degree from either UH-Mānoa or the University of San Diego. The driving forces in her life are her parents and 'ohana. "They have supported me and inspired me to do anything I put my mind to. They tell me they are proud of me and it pushes me through eaeh semester. I want to succeed, not only for myself, but also for my 'ohana. I love them very mueh, and I wouldn't be able to go through this without them. They have molded me into what I am today." Why did she decide on UH-Hilo? "I eame to the best university in the world because I wanted to pursue an education in both Marine Science and Hawaiian Studies. What better plaee than at UHH? There are small classes and all of my professors know me by name. The students and staff are so friendly and 'loeal' that I feel right at home. I don't think I ean get this type of experience anywhere else." Outside of school, "I love to go snorkeling and spend time near the oeean. ... I love the oeean and I want to protect

everything in it. It has been a passion for me and UHH has helped me to become a better marine scientist, and now it's becoming my lifestyle." Ryan Kanakaole was born in Honolulu, raised in Wai'ōhinu, Ka'ū, graduated from KamehamehaKāplama and is majoring in Political Science at UHH. After earning a B.A., he plans to attend UH-Mānoa's Richardson Law School. Like Trishann, he says, "The driving force in my life is my entire family. They are what keeps me determined, keeps me focused. They keep me rooted, keeping me from forgetting who I am and where I eame from. Family experiences taught me that the only measure of success is how hard you worked to achieve it. Family experience has also taught me that opportunity is rarely given and you are better off making your own opportunity. My family drives me in all that I do because I believe when I succeed, they succeed, and when I fail, they fail. And every success of mine opens up more opportunity to all the younger generations. I try to work very hard in everything that I do because I want them all to be proud of me. I want my parents, grandparents, everyone above me in my family to know that they raised me right and that I ean work hard for them." How did Ryan decide on UHH? "I initially went to Syracuse University for my first year of eollege. At Syracuse, I got a taste of the large school, large class environment, not to mention the extremely long dismal winter of the Northeast. During my summer back home, I decided to take a few classes to fill some requirements back at Syracuse. I soon realized that UH-Hilo was a better fit for me. The classes were mueh smaller and the professors know your name and are always willing to help you outside of class. It is this intimate atmosphere in whieh the student is given the opportunity to interact with the instructor that I believe is most conducive to learning; not sitting in a packed auditorium listening to a professor who hires assistants to take their attendance, a professor who will never recognize you outside of the

lecture hall." Ryan's interests outside of school have one thing in eommon. "If I had to say I had a hobby, the oeean would be it. Anything in the water is fair game diving, fishing, surfing, paddling." Ryan also serves as an OHA intern/volunteer. "I really like this new direction OHA is going by purchasing lands that are culturally beneficial to the Hawaiian people. Here are my suggestions for OHA: Buy more significant land like Punalu'u, Kāwā, maybe the entire Ka'ū coastline." Oakalani Miyamoto-Ruddle, born and raised in Hilo, graduated from Waiākea High School. Oaka is working on a double major, B.A.s in Philosophy and Political Science at UHH. His plan is to pursue a doctorate in Polhieal Philosophy and to teach at the university level. The driving forces in his life are "my family, friends and teachers who have motivated me to do the best I ean." Why did this young man who probably had a long list of universities to choose from choose UHH? "I decided to attend the University of Hawai'i at Hilo because it was close to home and eeonomieal." And after UHH? "I would like to remain on the Big Island, I love it here, but unfortunately, if I want to pursue a terminal degree in my area of study, I will have to leave." From Oaka's perspective, his eontribution to the future of our Hawaiian Nation will be in the academic arena. "As far as projects to benefit the Hawaiian people go, academic success is my project. If I do well in school then one day I might be in better position to bring about meaningful change." He has a very clear view on the blood quantum definition established in 1920 by the U.S. Congress where a Native Hawaiian is one who is able to demonstrate 50 percent koko. Oaka says this is "simply not right. There are only Hawaiians." Outside of academics, his interests are aikido, swimming, building and painting models and watching movies. And finally, Pohai Patterson, our UHH Regent Scholar, is the youngest of the group and in the second semester of her first year at UHH. Born in Hilo, raised in Waimea-Kohala Hema and graduated from KamehamehaKapālama in 2007, she decided to

attend UH-Hilo "because it was the closest university to home (Kawaihae) and I was tired of being away from home since I was a boarder since seventh grade at Kamehameha. However, I also liked the fact that the school had a Hawaiian Studies program. ... I'm currently undecided, but I want to major in something that will allow me to do conservation work like environment studies. No matter what I decide in that area I definitely will minor or major in Hawaiian Studies as well." Who has been a "nudging force" in her life? "I've been pushed and supported by many people in my life . . . but after some thought it's clear that my best friends were 'driving forces' in my life. The girls that I am closest to are the ones that I've lived with at Kamehameha for all the six years we were there. We all had that mindset instilled in us by our parents, and that was we must stick it out and graduate from Kamehameha for our families." Outside the classroom, "I enjoy horseback riding, running, hiking, anything else that includes being outside, and reading." As to the future, "I never want to move from this island. I plan to live the rest of my life here. I want to work outdoors in conservation probably for some kind of environment agency like DLNR, DOFAW (Division of Forestry and Wildlife) or the Nature Conservancy." Reflecting on her first semester at UHH, this is what she had to say: "I'm an intern with Kealoha STEM program and this past semester I worked in Geo-archaeology with Professor Peter Mills analyzing stone tools with an EDXRF spectrometer. The work I did simply added to the great deal of data Mr. Mills has already collected on adze-like trade patterns, and thus benefits the Hawaiian people in the sense that we are interpreting what Hawaiians left behind." I want to extend best wishes to Trishann, Ryan, Oaka and Pohai and our UHH 'ohana. I want to extend well wishes to all of our Hawaiian scholars wherever you may be: UHMānoa, HPU, BYU-Lā'ie, University of Washington, Kapi'olani Community College, Harvey Mudd, or a trade school to learn how to install dry wall or to service and repair transmissions. We wish all of you well in pursuit of your dreams. "May eaeh day of your life be a good day." □

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