Supporting Hawai‘i Science Since 1974
Honolulu is the fourth oldest of 15 ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientsts) Foundation chapters across the United States. It was proposed in a meeting of Hawai‘i women hosted by Los Angeles ARCS member Barbara Pauley at the family compound on Coconut Island in Kane‘ohe Bay. Formally chartered in December 1974, the Honolulu Chapter has provided more than $3 million in ARCS Scholar Award funding to 700+ outstanding U.S. graduate students. Recipients are the best and brightest emerging researchers in STEM PhD programs at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
In 2008, Honolulu celebrated ARCS National's 50th anniversary with a luncheon at College Hill, traditional home of the University of Hawai‘i president. Chapter President Cynthia Hunter, an ARCS Scholar alumna (right) welcomed UH representatives Laurence Kolonel, 2005 ARC Honolulu Scientist of the Year, and College of Natural Sciences Dean Alan Teramura.
In 2013, Immediate Past Chapter President Susan Lampe was instrumental in organizing the ARCS National Annual General Meeting in Honolulu, with cultural and scientific and events and tours for ARCS members from across the United States.
Forced to meet virtually when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Honolulu Board found the new technology useful for regular meetings, but was relieved to return to in-person Pau Hana talks and scholar events, beginning with recognition of three years worth of scholars in 2022.
Returning to Honolulu for its January 2024 meeting, the National Board helped celebrate the chapterʻs 50th anniversary. Tours included visits to campus laboratories and a return to Moku O Lo‘e.
Founding OfficersMrs. Charles M. Floyd II, President Inaugural Board of DirectorsMrs. Delphia Cupp, Parliamentarian | .Past Presidents1974–76 Allene Floyd * |
Scholar Update: Indigenous Scientist Haunani Kane
“Climate issues are large global issues, but the solutions are really going to need to be locally based, driven by communities: community needs, and their vision for the future, as well as looking at our native people and the way that they have sustainably managed lands and their coastal resources,”
2017 Toby Lee ARCS Scholar Dr. Haunani Kane combines indigenous knowledge and modern scientific techniques in her work as Univrsity of Hawai‘i at Manoa assistant professor of earth sciences. Read more
To Quote a Scholar: Julia Douglas
"The generous support of the ARCS award facilitates both the completion of my PhD program and the establishment a long-term research component of my future career."
2024 Sarah Ann Martin ARCS Scholar Julia Douglas scales trees in Hawai‘i an Mexico to study endangered epiphytes growing in the canopies as part of her doctoral research in botany at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
To Quote a Scholar: Alexandru Sasuclark
“My research, if successful, would add a new diagnostic toolset for medical professionals to assess risk for those already at a high risk for developing neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Honolulu ARCS Scholar Alexandru Sasuclark received Best Poster Presentation at the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s 2021 Annual Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium. The George and Virginia Starbuck ARCS Award receipient studies the role of selenium in development of particular neurons in the brain and the perineuronal net structures that surround them. Disruption in their development is characteristic of many neurodevelopmental diseases. A University of Hawai‘i at Manoa PhD candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology, Alexandru aspires to a career in industry pursuing treatments for neurological ailments.
Read about his inspiration or watch his video