Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Lesley Iaukea

Honolulu

Summary

Dr. Iaukea is a seasoned specialist offering over a decade of comprehensive experience interpreting and implementing quality assurance standards by incorporating traditional Hawaiian knowledge with modern geospatial science. She is known for her culture-based curriculum residential camps that focus on STEM through climate change, Sea Level Rise, shoreline erosion, and flooding (to name a few).

As a dependable professional, she is committed to improving overall business processes and has a track record of success in field and leadership, attention to detail, and a proactive mindset. She is excellent problem solving and has analytical skills paired with strong knowledge of terms, tools and methodologies, and is the reason why she currently serves on the advisory board to the Administrator of NOAA.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

Oahu Burial Sites Specialist

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
Kapolei
02.2020 - Current
  • Facilitate the Oahu Island Burial Council.
  • Review Cultural and Lineal Descendancy Applications.
  • Review Draft Burial Treatment Plans.
  • Create and Teach Culture-base Curriculum for Iwi kūpuna.

TA Administrator

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
Kapolei
05.2024 - 09.2024
  • Created a budget for the three divisions at SHPD.
  • Create bills and testimony for SHPD during the 2025 Legislative Session.
  • Contributed innovative ideas and solutions to enhance team performance and outcomes.
  • Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals for the reconstruction of Lahaina.
  • Implemented research efforts on historical sites and their significance to local culture.

TA History and Culture Branch Chief

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
Kapolei
01.2024 - 06.2024
  • Managed the History and Culture Branch at SHPD on four islands.
  • Led preservation initiatives for historic sites in alignment with state regulations.
  • Developed training materials for staff on preservation best practices and methodologies.
  • Oversaw compliance assessments of historic properties to ensure regulatory adherence.
  • Manage the Burial Sites Program for the State of Hawaii.
  • Create Standing Order Protocols to ensure compliance with the 6E laws and HAR 13-300 rules that govern the protection of native Hawaiian human skeletal remains.

Director

Livelihood Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN)
Honolulu
09.2018 - 06.2024
  • I created a culture-base curriculum for my residential 4-week program called The Indigenous Knowledge & Earth and Environmental Convergent Science Program.
  • Developed a model and management plan to better identify weather disturbances in Sea Level Rise, shoreline erosion, and flooding on Oahu.
  • Program held at the East-West Center at the UH Manoa campus.
  • focus of incorporating Indigenous knowledge with modern science in understanding the ocean and shorelines.
  • Co-PI for NSF grant award 2103843; Five-year duration with a Twenty million dollar fund.

Content Creator and Teacher

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
Honolulu
03.2015 - 08.2022
  • Created and taught a STEM + Culture-based curriculum for a residential program; 6 x 1 week camps.
  • The students were 11 years old with a total of 2,000 + students in the program.
  • Crash course on Hawaiian culture, with half the class working in the classroom and the other half in the environment, experiencing the science of Hawaiian knowledge.
  • Collaborated with faculty to create multimedia presentations
  • Developed engaging digital content for educational program.

Director and Creator

VP Office for Academic Planning & Policy at UHM
Manoa
05.2017 - 08.2019
  • Created a K-12 scientific-based curriculum for the fisheries. I started two camps for the public school students to attend UH Manoa in the summer for a residential program focusing on voyaging philosophies, fisheries management, and Indigenous knowledge.
  • Managed project timelines for academic planning initiatives effectively.
  • Created detailed plans outlining timelines, goals, budgets, staffing needs and other requirements for projects.

Education

Ph.D. - Geospatial Science Through Indigenous Knowledge

University of Hawaii Manoa
Manoa
05-2021

Graduate Certificate Program - Culture-based Curriculum on Hokulea

University of Hawaii
Manoa
08-2020

Master of Arts - Culture-based Curriculum

University of Hawaii
Manoa
05-2020

Master of Arts - Oceania Culture-based Curriculum

University of Hawaii
Manoa
05-2014

Bachelor of Arts - Sea Level Rise Secondary To Climate Change

University of Hawaii
Manoa
05-2012

Skills

  • Cultural preservation
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Budget management
  • Curriculum development
  • Historical research
  • Project management
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Team leadership
  • Training development
  • Community outreach
  • Policy writing
  • Effective communication
  • Data analysis
  • Team collaboration

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

TA Administrator

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
05.2024 - 09.2024

TA History and Culture Branch Chief

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
01.2024 - 06.2024

Oahu Burial Sites Specialist

State Historic Preservation Division of DLNR
02.2020 - Current

Director

Livelihood Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN)
09.2018 - 06.2024

Director and Creator

VP Office for Academic Planning & Policy at UHM
05.2017 - 08.2019

Content Creator and Teacher

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
03.2015 - 08.2022

Ph.D. - Geospatial Science Through Indigenous Knowledge

University of Hawaii Manoa

Graduate Certificate Program - Culture-based Curriculum on Hokulea

University of Hawaii

Master of Arts - Culture-based Curriculum

University of Hawaii

Master of Arts - Oceania Culture-based Curriculum

University of Hawaii

Bachelor of Arts - Sea Level Rise Secondary To Climate Change

University of Hawaii
Lesley Iaukea