Samantha Keaulana-Scott, PhD
Assistant Professor
Academic Degrees
- PhD (Community-Based and Translational Research), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
- MSW( Health and Native Hawaiian Social Work), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
- BS (Family Resources and Sociology), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Research Interests
Dr. Samantha Keaulana-Scott’s research program focuses on experiences of historical and contemporary colonial violenceand health outcomes among marginalized racial and gendered groups, especially Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians) and Wāhine (Native Hawaiian women). This work encompasses measuring the health impacts of structural and interpersonal forms of racism, sexism, and overall colonial violence. Her pursuit of this work is motivated by centering and contextualizing the societal factors that shape the ability of Kānaka ʻŌiwi to thrive and grow old, but most importantly to facilitate efforts to create and reimagine a society where the undue and persistent inequities no longer plague Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina (the Hawaiian Kingdom) and her people. Dr. Keaulana-Scott has worked on various research topics to improve Kānaka ʻŌiwi health, including culturally-grounded health programs focused on healthy lifestyles and promoting cultural practices, food sovereignty, resilience, and ʻāina connection. Dr. Keaulana-Scott has a deep interest in communicating and translating ʻōiwi-centric research and health solutions from the community level to the systems level, and developing such solutions alongside grassroots communities in a pono (just/righteous) way.
Selected Publications
Antonio MCK, Keaulana S, Keli‘iholokai L, Felipe K, Vegas JK, Pono Research Hui W, Limu Hui W, Ke Ola O Ka ‘Āina Research Team and Thought Partners, Ho-Lastimosa I. A Report on the Ke Ola O Ka ‘Āina: ‘Āina Connectedness Scale. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(4):3302. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043302
Chung-Do J.J., Keaulana Scott, S., Ho-Lastimosa, I., Deitschman, K., Vegas, J. K., Keliʻiholokai, L., Rogerson, I., Radovich, T., Ho, Jr. K., Ho, A. H., Antonio, M. C. K. (2022). Waimānalo Pono Research: Indigenizing Community-Engaged Research with a Native Hawaiian Community. Genealogy, 6(4), 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy6040090.
Antonio, M. C., Makua, K. L., Keaulana, S., Keliiholokai, L., Vegas, J. K., & Ho-Lastimosa, H. I. (2021). The study of life and food systems for Native Hawaiians based on their environment. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples. https://doi.org/10.1177/11771801211038263
Keaulana S., Kahili-Heede M., Riley L., Park M.L.N., Laka Makua K., Vegas J.K., Antonio M.C.K. (2021). A scoping review of nature, land, and environmental connectedness and relatedness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 5897.
Keli‘iholokai L, Keaulana S, Antonio MCK, Rogerson I, Deitschman K, Kamai JA, Albinio L, Wilson K, Kepa D, Makua KL, Kahaulahilahi Vegas JK, Chung-Do JJ, Ho Jr. K, Ho-Lastimosa, HI. (2020). Reclaiming ʻāina health in Waimānalo. Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 5066.
Antonio, M., Keaulana, S., Chung-Do, J., Ho-Lastimosa, I. (2020). (Re)constructing Conceptualizations of Health and Resilience among Native Hawaiians. Genealogy, 4(8), 1-11.
Chung-Do, J. J., Ho-Lastimosa, H. I., Keaulana, S., Jr. Ho, K., Hwang, P., Radovich, T., Albinio, L., Rogerson, I., Keli‘iholokai, Deitschman, K., & Spencer, M. S.. (2019). Waimānalo Pono Research: promoting Native Hawaiian wellness through culturally-grounded and community-driven research and programming. American Journal of Community Psychology on Community, Psychology, and Indigenous Peoples, 0, 1-11.
Ho-Lastimosa, H. I., Chung-Do, J.J., Hwang, P., Radovich, T., Rogerson, I., Ho, K., Keaulana, S., Kaholokula, J. K., Spencer, M. S. (2019). Integrating Native Hawaiian tradition with the modern technology of aquaponics. Global Health Promotion, 26(Supp 3), 87-92.
Keaulana, S., Chung-Do, J. J., Ho-Lastimosa, I., Hwang, P. H., Ho, K., Radovich, T., Spencer, M. S., Albinio, L., Rogerson, I., Keliʻiholokai, L., Deitschman, K. (2019). Waimānalo Pono Research Hui: Establishing protocols and rules of engagement to promote community-driven and culturally-grounded research with a Native Hawaiian community. British Journal of Social Work, 49,1023-1040.