Department of Ethnic Studies Faculty
Our faculty offers expertise on local, national, and global political and economic trends, conflicts, and the intersection of these trends with the dynamics of race, class, indigeneity, ethnicity, and gender. We advise, mentor, and train a new generation of critical thinkers and compassionate community leaders.
Ethan Caldwell
Assistant Professor
Office: George Hall 304
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-5354
Email: ethanlc@hawaii.edu
African American Studies, Militarism, Diaspora
Mary Kunmi Yu Danico
Director, Center for Oral History
Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies
Office: George Hall 338
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-6963
Email: myu@hawaii.edu
Asian Diaspora, Oral History, Social Justice
Monisha Das Gupta
Professor, Academic Advisor
Office: George Hall 306
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-2914
Email: dasgupta@hawaii.edu
Migration, Social Movements, Asian Americans

Ulla Hasager
Associate Specialist, Dir. of Civic Engagement
Office: Dean Hall 5-7
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-4218
Email: ulla@hawaii.edu
Civic Engagement, Service Learning
Kyle Kajihiro
Assistant Professor
Office: George Hall 305
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-3484
Email: kkajihir@hawaii.edu
Imperialism, Militarization, Social Movements
Roderick N. Labrador
Professor, Department Chair
Office: George Hall 341
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-6915
Email: labrador@hawaii.edu
Filipino Culture, History, Politics, Hip Hop
Richard C. Rath
Associate Professor
Office: George Hall 303
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-7139
Email: rrath@hawaii.edu
Sound Studies, New Media, Atlantic World
Ty P. Kāwika Tengan
Professor
Office: George Hall 308
Telephone: 1 (808) 956-5144
Email: ttengan@hawaii.edu
Indigeneity, Masculinities, Military, Hawaiʻi
Emeritus/Retired Faculty
Ibrahim G. Aoude
Professor Emeritus
Email: aoude@hawaii.edu
Hawai‘i Political Economy, the Middle East
Noel Kent
Professor Emeritus
Email: noelk@hawaii.edu
Race/Ethnic Conflict, Identity, Social Justice
Jonathan Y. Okamura
Professor Emeritus
Email: okamuraj@hawaii.edu
Race/Ethnicity, Ethnic Identity, Asian Americans
Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor
Professor, Retired
Email: davianna@hawaii.edu
Hawaiian, Land, Culture, Governance, Nature
Affiliate Faculty
- Ellen-Rae Cachola - Information Studies (militarism in the Pacific/Asia/U.S., settler colonialism, decolonization)
- Anthony Castanha - Political Science (Indigenous Cultures)
- Jennifer Darrah - Sociology (race and ethnicity, urban sociology)
- Sue P. Haglund - Political Science (Latin American studies, Indigenous studies, international and domestic public policy)
- Ruth Hsu - English (Asian American and Asian diaspora literary and cultural studies, race and ethnicity)
- Willy Kauai - Political Science (race, law, and the political history of Hawai‘i)
- Liana Petranek - Political Science (Political Economy)
- Christine Quemel - Educational Administration (student affairs in higher education, Asian American and Pinay studies, sexual assault and domestic violence in Asian American and Pacific Island communities)
- John Rosa - History (20th-century Hawai‘i, Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.)