Loved ones, colleagues, and students gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi College Hill president’s house on May 3 to celebrate the retirement of Barbara and Leonard Andaya, two esteemed Asian studies and history professors at UH Mānoa. Known for their exemplary research, the couple has been a powerhouse in Southeast Asian studies, writing extensively on the history of Indonesia and Malaysia for many decades. Leonard started his career at UH Mānoa in 1993, and Barbara followed in 1994.
“A lifetime of scholarship and dedication to educating students have been Barbara and Leonard Andaya’s gifts to Southeast Asian studies,” said Miriam Stark, director of the UH Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS). “Our friends and colleagues will also miss their passion for their fields and enthusiasm for people, which enriched our university and helped us all become better people.”
A scholarly odyssey
Barbara Watson Andaya, affectionately known as “Barb,” hails from Sydney, Australia. With an academic father and a microbiologist mother, she was inspired to pursue education early on. She earned a BA and a Diploma of Education in history and English from the University of Sydney, then taught high school social studies. A curriculum change led her to UH Mānoa, where she completed her MA in Southeast Asian history as an East-West Center fellow. She joined the faculty at UH Mānoa as an associate professor in Asian studies. In 1996, she became a professor and also served as editor for the UH Press SHAPS translation series until 1999. Her area of expertise is the western Malay-Indonesian Archipelago. Since 2014, she has authored no fewer than 34 publications, including The Flaming Womb, recognized as an outstanding academic book. Professor Andaya also directed the UH CSEAS from 2000 to 2006.
From Maui to global influence
Born and raised on Maui to Ilocano-speaking immigrant parents, Leonard Andaya was naturally drawn to Southeast Asia. He studied at Yale University and, inspired by his professors, pursued Southeast Asian studies. He continued his studies in the Netherlands and at Cornell University, then planted his roots at UH Mānoa. During his career at the university, he published influential books such as Leaves of the Same Tree and A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia, co-authored with Barbara. Leonard directed the UH CSEAS from 1991 to 1997.
The symposium honoring their enduring legacy was jointly organized by the Department of History, Department of Asian Studies and Center for Southeast Asian Studies at UH Mānoa.
