History of the Honolulu Chapter

Supporting Hawai‘i Science Since 1974

Cynthia Hunter, Laurence Kolonel, Alan Teramura talking Honolulu celebrated ARCS Foundation, Inc.'s 50th anniversary with a luncheon at College Hill, traditional home of the University of Hawai‘i president, in 2008. Chapter president Cynthia Hunter, an ARCS Scholar alumna, visited with UH representatives Laurence Kolonel, 2005 ARC Honolulu Scientist of the Year, and College of Natural Sciences Dean Alan Teramura.

Incorporated on Dec. 27, 1974, Honolulu is the foundation’s fourth-oldest chapter.

Founding Officers

Mrs. Charles M. Floyd II, President
Mrs. Dean C. Macho, 1st Vice President
Mrs. Robert C. Hogan, 2nd Vice President
Mrs. Cyril J. Mockridge, 3rd Vice President
Mrs. Peter G. Weelon, 4th Vice President
Mrs. Darrell Nordwall, 5th Vice President
Mrs. Don Van Dyke, Recording Secretary
Mrs. L. Bob Berger, Corresponding Secretary
Mrs. George Reed, Treasurer

Inaugural Board of Directors

Mrs. Delphia Cupp, Parliamentarian
Mrs. Melvin G. Frailey, Jewelry and Special Awards
Mrs. James G. Lathrop, ARCScoops
Mrs. Alice Wheelon, Telephone
Mrs. Robert Maxey, Historian
Mrs. Phyllis Spalding, Advisor
Mrs. Lloyd Martin
Mrs. Adrian Perry
Mrs. Don Swan
Mrs. Carlyle Nelson (Hilo Hattie)
Mrs. King-Lit Ching
Mrs. W. Donald Castle
Mrs. E. Gordon Dickie

Past Presidents

1974–76 Allene Floyd *
1976–78Margaret (Peg) Hogan *
1978–79 Anne Swan *
1979–80 Marjorie (Marge) Garmhausen *
1980–81 Marion Fox *
1981–82 Laurie Siegfried *
1982–84 Penny Anderson *
1984–86 Virginia (Betti) Starbuck *
1986–87 Gladys Minchin *
1987–88 Pat Hufford *
1988–90 Shelagh Kresser *
1990–92 Mary Ezar
1992–94 Timmie Richards
1994–96 Margaret (Peg) Hogan *
1996–98 Sydney Kenny *
1998–00 Jackie Takeshita
2000–02 Patricia Cooper
2002–04 Helena Sena
2004–05 Barbara Wong
2005–06 Cheryl Ernst
2006–08 Patricia (Patty) Lee
2008–10 Cynthia Hunter
2010–12 Susan Lampe
2012–15 Cheryl Ernst
2015–19 Patricia (Patty) Lee
2019–21 Sui-Lan Ellsworth and Cheryl Ernst
2021–2023 Jacqueline (Jacquie) Maly and Cheryl Ernst
2023– Wendy Lagareta and Cheryl Ernst
* deceased

Science Communicator Christie Wilcox Tells it Like It Is

Christie Wilcox, PhD, on her Honolulu ARCS Scholar Award: "The life of a graduate student is not enviable… For me, it was essential. It was what I needed, the kind of funding to pursue these curiosities that I had. And I was grateful for it.” Read more about the the award winning science communicator.

Dr. Mark Hixon on ARCS Scientist Honor

"I am especially grateful that ARCS Honolulu appreciates the mentoring of graduate students, who are society’s future scientists during an era when science is increasingly under attack."

ARCS Honolulu Chapter named marine ecologist Dr. Mark Hixon its 2021 ARCS Scientist of the Year for his remarkable record of research, mentorship and public outreach. He is the Sidney and Erika Hsiao Endowed Chair in Marine Biology and chairs the Zoology Graduate Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Photo by Chris Pala

Scholar Update: Indigenous Scientist Haunani Kane

“Climate issues are large global issues, but the solutions are really going to need to be locally based, driven by communities: community needs, and their vision for the future, as well as looking at our native people and the way that they have sustainably managed lands and their coastal resources,”

2017 Toby Lee ARCS Scholar Dr. Haunani Kane combines indigenous knowledge and modern scientific techniques in her work as Univrsity of Hawai‘i at Manoa assistant professor of earth sciences. Read more