{"id":239998,"date":"2026-09-01T15:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T01:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239998"},"modified":"2026-09-01T15:10:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T01:10:00","slug":"kelly-luis-marine-science-uh-hilo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/01\/kelly-luis-marine-science-uh-hilo\/","title":{"rendered":"From NASA<\/abbr> to the Pacific: Kelly Luis is reimagining marine science at 糖心视频<\/abbr> Hilo"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
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Luis in the control room of a research vessel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Luis volunteered to support the H\u014dk\u016bleʻa M\u0101lama Honua<\/span> Worldwide Voyage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coming home was never just a career move for Kelly Luis, it was a mission. After leaving NASA<\/abbr>\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to join the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Hilo, she is now redefining marine science by uniting satellite-level precision with the deep wisdom of the Hawaiian creation chant, Kumulipo<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For Luis, a Kamehameha Schools Maui graduate, Columbia University alumnus, and former NASA<\/abbr> researcher, 糖心视频<\/abbr> Hilo offered something no other institution could match.<\/p>\n

“I never dreamed of going to NASA<\/abbr>. The thing I dreamed about is coming home to serve,” Luis said. “To return home for this type of mission is so humbling, and I feel very grateful.”<\/p>\n

Biocultural vision<\/h2>\n
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Luis during a dive in the Carribean Sea off the Cayman Islands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At 糖心视频<\/abbr> Hilo, Luis is a new marine science assistant professor at the College of Natural and Health Sciences<\/a> helping connect advanced marine science with ancestral Hawaiian knowledge. Her experience includes using satellites and NASA<\/abbr> research to map coral reefs and study coastal water quality.<\/p>\n

“Kelly brings a unique expertise that will help us connect emerging technologies with place-based knowledge,” said Marine Science Chair John H. R. Burns.<\/p>\n

In her Hawaiian coral reefs course, Luis pairs scientific classifications with the Kumulipo creation chant, helping students understand the ocean through multiple perspectives.<\/p>\n

“I hope I\u2019m opening the doors for many others to follow,” Luis said.<\/p>\n

Read more in K\u016bkala N\u016bhou<\/em> about Luis\u2019 journey from NASA<\/abbr> to 糖心视频<\/abbr> Hilo and how her work is shaping marine science education.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New assistant professor Kelly Luis brings experience using satellite technology and NASA research to map coral reefs and monitor coastal water quality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":240008,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[262,14],"class_list":["post-239998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-marine-science","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t