Dissertation on Hawaiian Higher Education Wins Top Honor

Professor Kekailoa Perry's work critiques the state of higher education in Hawai'i

Feb. 21, 2026 at 10:05am

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A dissertation by professor Kekailoa Perry at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa was recently selected as the best dissertation of the year 2026 by Division L of the American Educational Research Association. The dissertation, titled "Hulikua: Aloha 'Āina Theory, 'Ōiwi Guerrilla Praxis, and a Pedagogy of Refusal," critiques the state of higher education in Hawai'i.

Why it matters

The dissertation highlights concerns about how the University of Hawai'i has historically embraced Western knowledge systems while often marginalizing or co-opting traditional Hawaiian knowledge and values. This raises important questions about the role of higher education institutions in perpetuating or challenging colonial legacies.

The details

In 2011, when the University of Hawai'i was seeking reaccreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the university leadership recognized the need to establish the university as a "Hawaiian Place of Learning." This led to efforts to incorporate Hawaiian knowledge and values, but Professor Perry's dissertation argues that these efforts have often been superficial, with Hawaiian knowledge being modified and presented in ways that maintain the dominant status of Western academic norms.

  • In 2011, the University of Hawai'i sought reaccreditation from WASC.
  • In 2026, Professor Kekailoa Perry's dissertation was selected as the best of the year by the American Educational Research Association.

The players

Kekailoa Perry

A professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa whose dissertation critiquing the state of higher education in Hawai'i was selected as the best dissertation of the year 2026 by the American Educational Research Association.

University of Hawai'i

The public research university system in Hawai'i that has sought to establish itself as a "Hawaiian Place of Learning" but has faced criticism from Professor Perry's dissertation for not fully embracing and centering Hawaiian knowledge and values.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

The regional accrediting body for higher education institutions in the western United States, including Hawai'i, that evaluates and accredits the University of Hawai'i.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This dissertation highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges in higher education institutions like the University of Hawai'i as they navigate the complex task of honoring and centering indigenous Hawaiian knowledge, values, and practices while also operating within Western academic frameworks. The recognition of this work by the American Educational Research Association underscores the importance of these critical examinations of the role of higher education in perpetuating or dismantling colonial legacies.