A legacy of leadership in student affairs continues at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, as interim associate vice provost Erin Kahunawaikaʻala Wright joins a distinguished line of UH leaders recognized nationally as Pillars of the Profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Past UH Mānoa recipients include Amy Agbayani, Doris Ching, Jan Javinar, Lori Ideta and Christine Quemuel, trailblazers whose work helped pave the way for generations of educators and student advocates.
Wright, who serves as interim associate VP for Student Success and Dean of Students, was honored this year for her sustained contributions to service, teaching, leadership and mentoring. She says the recognition is not just her own, but a reflection of the collective work of the UH community toward student success, especially those leaders also recognized as Pillars of the Profession.
“It’s a kind recognition of the work I’ve invested in student affairs and higher education…I’m proud, and honestly, very surprised to get it. It’s humbling to be recognized,” Wright expressed.
A journey of discovery
A fourth-generation kamaʻāina (native) of Kalihi, and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Wright admits she was not a strong student growing up. She says her academic journey changed course when she discovered ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and Hawaiian studies courses at UH Mānoa.
“Once I got into nā mea Hawaiʻi (all things Hawaiian), I felt like, ‘Oh, I could really do well,’ because it was something that I was interested in and I felt motivated by,” she said.
That experience reshaped how she viewed the power of education, and later inspired her to make higher education more accessible for Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented students (haumāna).
Dedicated to student success
Wright began her career at UH Mānoa in 2008 as the founding director of Native Hawaiian Student Services and later served as an associate professor of educational administration in the College of Education. There, she taught courses and published on research design, research methodologies and Indigeneity in higher education. For her, the work she does at the university is deeply personal.
“The reward is knowing higher education can change lives,” she explained. “Not just for the individual, but for that student’s entire family and community.”
