History of the Honolulu Chapter

Supporting Hawai‘i Science Since 1974

Cynthia Hunter, Laurence Kolonel, Alan Teramura talkingHonolulu celebrated ARCS Foundation, Inc.'s 50th anniversary with a luncheon at College Hill, traditional home of the University of Hawai‘i president, in 2008. Chapter president Cynthia Hunter, an ARCS Scholar alumna, visited with UH representatives Laurence Kolonel, 2005 ARC Honolulu Scientist of the Year, and College of Natural Sciences Dean Alan Teramura.

Incorporated on Dec. 27, 1974, Honolulu is the foundation’s fourth-oldest chapter.

Founding Officers

Mrs. Charles M. Floyd II, President
Mrs. Dean C. Macho, 1st Vice President
Mrs. Robert C. Hogan, 2nd Vice President
Mrs. Cyril J. Mockridge, 3rd Vice President
Mrs. Peter G. Weelon, 4th Vice President
Mrs. Darrell Nordwall, 5th Vice President
Mrs. Don Van Dyke, Recording Secretary
Mrs. L. Bob Berger, Corresponding Secretary
Mrs. George Reed, Treasurer

Inaugural Board of Directors
Mrs. Delphia Cupp, Parliamentarian
Mrs. Melvin G. Frailey, Jewelry and Special Awards
Mrs. James G. Lathrop, ARCScoops
Mrs. Alice Wheelon, Telephone
Mrs. Robert Maxey, Historian
Mrs. Phyllis Spalding, Advisor
Mrs. Lloyd Martin
Mrs. Adrian Perry
Mrs. Don Swan
Mrs. Carlyle Nelson (Hilo Hattie)
Mrs. King-Lit Ching
Mrs. W. Donald Castle
Mrs. E. Gordon Dickie
Past Presidents

1974–76 Allene Floyd *
1976–78Margaret (Peg) Hogan *
1978–79 Anne Swan *
1979–80 Marjorie (Marge) Garmhausen *
1980–81 Marion Fox *
1981–82 Laurie Siegfried *
1982–84 Penny Anderson *
1984–86 Virginia (Betti) Starbuck *
1986–87 Gladys Minchin *
1987–88 Pat Hufford *
1988–90 Shelagh Kresser *
1990–92 Mary Ezar
1992–94 Timmie Richards
1994–96 Margaret (Peg) Hogan *
1996–98 Sydney Kenny *
1998–00 Jackie Takeshita
2000–02 Patricia Cooper
2002–04 Helena Sena
2004–05 Barbara Wong
2005–06 Cheryl Ernst
2006–08 Patricia (Patty) Lee
2008–10 Cynthia Hunter
2010–12 Susan Lampe
2012–15 Cheryl Ernst
2015–19 Patricia (Patty) Lee
2019–21 Sui-Lan Ellsworth and Cheryl Ernst
2021–2023 Jacqueline (Jacquie) Maly and Cheryl Ernst
2023– Wendy Lagareta and Cheryl Ernst
* deceased

Honolulu Scholar Recognized for Work on Selenium and Psychiatric Disorders

Alexandru Sasuclark headshot“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

Scholar Matsuda Wins Prestigious Coral Conservation Fellowship

Shayle Matsuda at ocean overlook“The increasing frequency and severity of global coral bleaching events, the devastation to reef ecosystems and the communities who rely on them led to my dedication to coral reef conservation.”

As a University of Hawai‘i at Manoa doctoral candidate, 2019 Honolulu ARCS Scholar Shayle Matsuda pioneered new molecular techniques to study symbioses between coral, algae and bacteria. He continues that work as part of an international coral reef restoration project under a 2021 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship—a premier postdoctoral program in conservation science that supports early-career scientists and seeks solutions to the most pressing conservation challenges.

Dr. Mark Hixon on ARCS Scientist Honor

Dr. Mark Hixon, Photo by Chris Pala

"I am especially grateful that ARCS Honolulu appreciates the mentoring of graduate students, who are society’s future scientists during an era when science is increasingly under attack."

ARCS Honolulu Chapter named marine ecologist Dr. Mark Hixon its 2021 ARCS Scientist of the Year for his remarkable record of research, mentorship and public outreach. He is the Sidney and Erika Hsiao Endowed Chair in Marine Biology and chairs the Zoology Graduate Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Photo by Chris Pala