Dai Ho Chun was a distinguished educator, military officer, and philanthropist whose career bridged Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific. Born in Waipiʻo in 1905, he earned a B.A. in science and mathematics and an M.A. in economics from the University of Hawai’i, followed by a Ph.D. in curriculum and philosophy from Ohio State University. He taught in Hawaiʻi’s public schools, served as principal of the Lab School, and became a professor of education at UH, while also helping lead international training and technical interchange programs through the East-West Center. During World War II, Chun was reputedly the first Asian American to command a large all-white U.S. Air Force squadron, the 18th Fighter Control Squadron. Through endowed scholarships and support for visiting scholars, he carried forward a lifelong commitment to education, leadership, innovation, and interdisciplinary exchange.