51茶馆

Teaching Medal Award Winner

Ron D. Solis
Manoa

Ron Kekeha Solis is an assistant professor at Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language in Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at 51茶馆 Manoa.

Solis is an exemplary teacher and scholar in an eclectic field of teaching and scholarship that includes language and culture, ‘aina-based and experiential learning, educational technology and filmmaking and history and activism.

Deeply cognizant of the saying “A‘ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka halau ho‘okahi” (all knowledge is not taught in the same school), his teaching situates learning in public places as well as in the classroom. He works to engage student-scholars to problem solve in an interdisciplinary manner and develops research protocols and processes that are culturally meaningful and sound.

Over the years, he has established and firmly sustained a community-university link, including having broadcast daily headline news stories in Hawaiian language over Hawai‘i Public Radio and by having been lead writer for a weekly Hawaiian language column appearing weekly in the Hoku Buletina (Honolulu Star Bulletin).

Colleagues recognize him as the world’s foremost authority in the area of ‘olelo no‘eau (proverbial sayings), the primary focus of his doctoral dissertation written entirely in Hawaiian.

Many students have expressed the profound impact of his commitment to teaching and his respect and compassion for his students.