About Us.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Ngoc Phan 
Assistant Professor of Political Science
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​Dr. Phan is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hawaii Pacific University in the Department of History and International Studies. She earned her Ph.D. from Rice University and specializes in human decision-making and collective action. She is an expert in the areas of American Politics, Political Behavior, Survey Research, Political Psychology, and Race and Ethnicity. 

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Our Kupuna

​​Dr. Lynette Cruz
Cultural Consultant

Our Kupuna is Dr. Lynette Cruz. She is an Hawaiian activist, scholar, and cultural practitioner. She is trained as an anthropologist and has wide-ranging experience as a respected cultural consultant. She makes sure everything we do is pono.

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Undergraduate Researchers

Laʻakea Dedrick
Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Laʻakea is a business and psychology major from Nuʻuanu, Oʻahu. She attended Kamehameha High School and is currently a sophomore at Hawai‘i Pacific University. ​She is involved in the Hawaiʻi Pacific Entrepreneur Club and the Student Government Association. ​

Catherine Jara
Undergraduate Research Assistant 

​Catherine Jara is an international studies major with a diplomacy & military studies minor from ‘Ewa Beach, O‘ahu. She attended Kamehameha High School and is currently a sophomore at Hawai‘i Pacific University. She is involved in the Student Government Association.

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Logo

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The logo is a customized ohia flower with petals that make up the different contours of Hawaiian identity. We wanted the ohia flower due to its importance in Hawaiian culture and wanted to increase awareness on the alarming rise of rapid ohia death. ​

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Financial Disclosure

Dr. Phan received a small grant ($2,900) from Hawai‘i Pacific University to collect surveys in Hilo, Hawaii.  When conducting this research, our research team is not affliated, working with, or agents of the federal, state, or local government, think tanks, media outlets, or any special interest groups.