Points of Contact
Hosted by Marlene Booth, Points of Contact: Stories from the University of Hawai‘i features projects and people from across the University of Hawai‘i System.
Program topics range from computer science to nursing to Islamic studies in China, from the ways in which tsunami research benefits our understanding of global warming to a look at a program aimed at enrolling students who will be the first individual in their family to graduate from college.
The shows included here were originally broadcast March 30 – June 17, 2005 on Hawai‘i Public Radio, each is a minute-and-a-half long in mp3 format.
Return to the main UH Radio page.
Archive
Training native Hawaiian researchers Kathryn Braun, professor of public health at Manoa mentors native Hawaiian students interested in doing research work in a program that raises awareness about cancer.
The language documentation project Manoa linguistics professor Valerie Guerin helps trains native speakers of undocumented languages in the techniques of description and documentation.
Promise and complexity of HIV research Cecilia Shikuma, director of the Hawai‘i AIDS Clinical Research Program, shares some recent advances in disease prevention and cure.
The pre-admission program Associate Professor Chris Iijima of Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law directs the pre-admission program which creates opportunties for students who have overcome adversity to study law.
One year practicum program Dean Raymond Yeh of Manoa’s School of Architecture explains the international mentoring program in which students of the doctoral program participate.
Hawaiian music Associate Professor Kanalu Young of the Center for Hawaiian Studies at Manoa, explains how some consider indigenous musical styles to be a last bastion of unique Hawaiian identity.
Using optical engineering to help people live longer Audra Bullock, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Manoa, uses non-invasive lasers to read glucose levels and other critical body functions.
Language learning through storytelling Dina Yoshimi, associate professor of Japanese at Manoa, takes a novel approach to helping students learn a new language.
Helping families deal with cancer Noreen Mokuau, professor of social work at Manoa, created the ‘Ohana Intervention to help Native Hawaiian women and their families deal with cancer.
The origin of the universe Manoa astronomy professor Brent Tully shares current thinking on what might’ve happened at the very beginning of the universe.
Studying mummies to learn about life expectancy & disease Robert Littman, professor of classics at Manoa opens a window into the past by using modern technology to scan ancient mummies.
The role of the anti-oxidant selenium in preventing disease Marla Berry, professor of cell & molecular biology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at Manoa, works to help prevent debilitating diseases like alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Stories in people’s lives Local storyteller Nyla Fujii-Babb works through Manoa’s Outreach College to bring stories, the wisdom of mankind, to the community.
Calcium consumption, decreased body fat, lower weight Rachel Novotny, professor of human nutrition at Manoa, is concerned with how to build bone to prevent osteoporosis but not increase the risk of cancer; she found eating dairy helps in more ways than one.
Distance learning Hae Okimoto, director of Academic Technology Services of the UH System, explains opportunities for distance learning via cable access TV, 2-way video and the internet.
Wood carving and self discovery Wood-carver Tonu Shane Eagleton teaches students at Windward Community College how to redirect their energy into wood that would otherwise be scrapped.
Training aviation mechanics and commercial pilots Ralph Hiatt, director of the Pacific Aerospace Training Center at Honolulu Community College, trains students to be either aviation mechanics or commercial pilots.
Oral health to prevent disease Nurse Nancy Johnson, chair of the Allied Health unit at Maui Community College, exposes the link between various health problems and good oral health.
Performing Indonesian randai theatre Associate professor Kristin Pauka of the Manoa theatre department coordinated the visit of Indonesian dance masters to teach students in the intensive Asian Theatre Program.
Environmental awareness with high school students Dave Krupp, associate professor of marine and biological sciences at Windward, teaches high school juniors and seniors how they can make a difference in caring for the land and the sea.
The Common Book Project Windward Librarian Brian Richardson explains how school and community activities based around the shared reading of one book helps people to engage the world.
Building community through a voyaging canoe Marshall Mock, professor of physics at Kaua‘i Community College, joins others at the school to discover sciences of the past by building a tradional canoe.
Teaching writing Writer Eric Chock, instructor in the humanities division of UH West O‘ahu, helps students get the stories they have inside of them, on to paper.
Preparing for disability and end of life Jim Pietsch, director of the Elder Law Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Manoa helps people prepare for incapacity and the end of life.
Native Hawaiian students in the Sciences Assistant Professor of Science Sally Irwin makes sure Hawaiian students at Maui Community College have the support they need to pursue studies in the sciences.
Understanding People with Disabilities Jean Johnson, interim director of the Center on Disability Studies at the UH Manoa College of Education works to improve life for people with disabilities.
Learning from the open ocean Manoa Professor of Oceanography David Karl explains the work he and other scientists do in studying the ocean over a long-term period to better understand our world.
Kaho‘olawe and Hawaiian studies Hawaiian studies instructor Dennis Chun’s trips with Kaua‘i Community College students to the island of Kaho‘olawe bring Hawaiian studies alive.
Motivational interviewing with substance abuse clients Lee Stein, instructor of human services at Maui Community College treats substance abusers with dignity and gives them hope for the future.
Electrical engineering from Leeward to Manoa Krystina Tabangcura is an engineering student at UH Manoa who explains how she started her student career at Leeward Community College and continues to learn.
Advanced technology training to diversify Hawai‘i’s economy Don Bourassa, director of PCATT—The Pacific Center for Advanced Technology and Training—housed at Honolulu Community College explains how advanced technology training supports local businesses.
Promoting democracy through service learning Bob Franco, Director of Planning & Grants at Kapi‘olani Community College works to make meaningful service in the community a lifelong endeavor.
Native Hawaiian nutrition and lifestyle program Leeward Community College Nursing Student Corinne Ulgaran shares her knowledge about nutrition with local high school students.
Teaching botany Hawai‘i style Brian Yamamoto, associate professor of natural science at Kaua‘i Community College, uses rare and endangered native and tropical plants to teach botany.
Hawai‘i construction trades Jon Blumhardt, dean for transportation and trades technologies at Honolulu Community College, explains the Hawai‘i Construction Academy that he helped establish.
Substance abuse and addiction counseling program Associate Professor Susan Pelowski heads the certificate program in Substance Abuse and Addiction Studies at West O‘ahu where students are taught new ways to help treat addiction.
Predicting the course of lava flows Ken Hon, assistant professor of geology at Hilo, studies the way lava moves so people and property can be protected in case of an eruption.
Buddhism in Hawai‘i Manoa Professor of Religion George Tanabe on how Hawai‘i Buddhism can be transformed into a more American religion.
Learning sign Jan Fried, associate professor and coordinator for the American Sign Language and Interpreter Education Program at Kapi‘olani Community College, explains how learning to sign is like stepping in to another culture.
Sustainable tourism Pauline Sheldon, professor of tourism at Manoa’s School of Travel Industry Management, works to balance the hopes of tourists with the needs of residents.
Finding direction through the Hawaiian lifestyles program Student and single mother Chelsea Smith on how the Hawaiian Lifestyles Program at Hawai‘i Community College helped her find her purpose in life.
Possibilities of the Web Steve Itoga, professor of information and computer sciences, explains how technology trends play out in Hawai‘i business and industry.
The Forest Team Program Fred Stone and Ken Boche at Hawai‘i Community College train students to work and run businesses in natural resouce management.
TsunamisTsunami expert Professor Walter Dudley of the Hilo oceanography department talks about warning systems and education programs to hopefully prevent loss of life when the next tsunami happens.
Business and health care Professor of Marketing Dana Alden at the Manoa College of Business works to bring together the business and health care sectors.
Lifelong learning Rebecca Goodman, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Center at Manoa, explains how members 50 years old and better enhance their lives through campus learning programs.
The role of diet in cancerProfessor Laurence Kolonel of the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i works to alleviate the estimated one third of cancer cases that are related to diet.
The role of hula in changing lives Dr. Taupouri Tangaro of Hawai‘i Community College, explains the benefits of the Hawaiian Lifestyles program, where hula is the foundation of the learning.
Program in indigenous politics Jon Goldberg-Hiller, chair of the Manoa political science department, on the indigenous politics concentration, the first of its kind in the country.
Plants in people’s lives and cultures Will McClatchey, associate professor of botany at Manoa, on what culture tells us about plants, and vice versa.
Being a composer Manoa music Professor Byron Yasui is a composer of classical and jazz music, plays several instruments, and finds inspiration in the details of local life.
Standards-based testing Manoa College of Education Professor Kathy Au teaches teachers to raise both test scores and excellent leaders.
The role of the professor in the community Kathy Ferguson, director of Manoa’s women’s studies program, teachers her students to challenge and question the status quo.
Hawaiian intellectual property rights Danielle Conway-Jones, associate professor at Manoa’s Richardson School of Law, explains how the ways Hawaiian artists protect traditional cultural creations can influence modern legal practice.
From dropout to college professor West O‘ahu psychology instructor Kanoa Meriwether describes how he overcame an educational hurdle to become a teacher, giving back to the West O‘ahu community.
Culinary apprenticeships Kapi‘olani Culinary Arts Department Chairman Ron Takahashi on how students become well-prepared to work at the top levels of restaurant operations.
Muslim life in China today Manoa Asian Studies Professor Dru Gladney shares history and insight about Muslim communities in China and how they might impact the West.
Making Hawaiian language viable Kalena Silva, director of Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani, Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language, on the use of Hawaiian as a language of business, government and scholarship.
Reviving Hawaiian language Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani, Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language, Director Kalena Silva explains why the use of Hawaiian language is a responsibility of everyone in Hawai‘i.
Values clarification in living with diabetes Professor Jillian Inouye of the Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene helps Type-2 diabetes sufferers live longer, happier lives.
Trade outside the ahupua‘a Hilo professor and anthropologist Peter Mills studies rock tools to better understand ancient Hawaiian voyaging and trade.
Hawaiian visual culture Hawaiian studies assistant professor Maile Andrade on a new program at Manoa that explores the aesthetic traditions of Hawaiian art.
Organic environmental cleanup, or bioremediation Doctors Charles Kinoshita and Traci Sylva from Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources work to cleanup the environment using plants and microscopic organisms.
Life as an older, returning student Lisa Garcia shares her experience as a non-traditional student at the Leeward Community College Wai‘anae campus.
Neutrinos, a building block of natureManoa physics professor John Learned explains how neutrinos help shape our world, from the Big Bang to Homeland Security.