
A deep-rooted passion for Earth science, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and education is guiding one University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduate student toward a meaningful career that bridges culture and science. Born and raised in Hauʻula, Koʻolauloa on the north shore of Oʻahu, Cheyanne Kapulelehua Greene has found ways to connect her interests throughout her educational journey.
“I have a strong interest in learning more about the environment and the geological processes that created the Earth we know today,” said Greene, who is a student in both the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. “I’m also truly passionate about teaching and integrating ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into what I share with others.”

Supporting education in Hawaiʻi
Greene has pursued a variety of opportunities to educate youth and promote education in Hawaiʻi. For the past two years, she worked as an assistant for the Earth Planets ʻIke Kuleana summer program, a one-week experience for high school students and teachers that provides exposure to the geosciences, careers pathways and the importance of geoscience within the community. Additionally, Greene works as an educational assistant at Lyon Arboretum in Mānoa Valley, where she teaches K–12 students through environmental science-based lessons.
“Our mission is to promote sustainability, conservation, and Hawaiian culture through indoor and outdoor activities,” Greene shared regarding her work at Lyon Arboretum. “I also lead students on hikes and garden work around the arboretum. It’s incredibly fulfilling to watch students discover new perspectives on the environment.”
On the UH Mānoa campus, Greene also serves as a Teach for America Hawaiʻi campus ambassador. She promotes the organization’s mission of addressing educational inequity and expanding educational opportunities for all students.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Earth science
As a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama campus, Greene gained a solid foundation in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. In the SOEST Department of Earth Sciences, she is putting those skills to use. As a research assistant with faculty member Alyssa Kamanu, Greene helps develop geology resources in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. This past summer, she was also a teaching assistant for an undergraduate Earth sciences course Moʻolelo Honua, which was the first Earth science course at UH Mānoa taught entirely in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
“Kapulelehua’s excellent work on this project helped provide opportunities for local students to engage in geoscience education grounded in Hawaiian language, knowledge, and culture,” said Kamanu.
For more information, see SOEST’s website.
—By Marcie Grabowski