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 * |
To Quote a Scholar: Lucas Ellison
"The grant will cover travel to one or two conferences that I would not be able to attend otherwise."
2024 Toby Lee ARCS Scholar Lucas Ellison uses data from past droughts to analyze the performance of climate simulation models to better predict the impact of climate change.
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.
Scholar Update: Oceanographer Amy Baco-Taylor
“Because most species in the deep sea are slow growing and long-lived, deep-sea species are actually more vulnerable to human impacts than many shallow-water ecosystems.”
– 1999 Honolulu ARCS Scholar Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor, explaining the importance of her research on deep sea ecosystems in a Q&A on the Florida State University website where she is now a professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science. Read the profile