PhD Candidate, UH Mānoa Botany
Katie Leimomi Kamelamela holds a BA & MA in Botany, as well as a BA in Hawaiian Studies, from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Her research is concerned with the collection of Non-Timber Forest Products throughout Hawaii in order to support the formation of Community Based Sustainable Forestry Areas. Her dissertation focuses on historical and contemporary plant gathering practices in the Hawaiian Islands with case study highlights of imu (underground ovens) lifestyle ways, a preliminary assessment of economic and cultural value of plants gathered in State managed Forest Reserves with understandings of online and physical market values for native and other gathered plant resources from our forests. Other projects include contributions to the Kapapala Koa Canoe Forest Cultural working group as well as supporting the Hui Malama Ola Na Iwi Native Hawaiian Healing project as a consortium member on Hawaii Island.
Biocultural Initiative of the Pacific
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa