May 3, 2001
Contributed by Kekoa Paulsen
The National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is sponsored by the research branches of the US Army, Navy and Air Force, and is administered by the Academy of Applied Sciences in Concord, NH. "Kiani is the first student from Hawai?i to place first in this prestigious national competition," said her teacher and mentor Dr. Lawrence Mordan, "and, obviously, the first Native Hawaiian to do so. She will also be the first Native Hawaiian to represent the country at the International Youth Science Forum in London."
Kiani's award-winning research ñ "Hala and Hela: The Inhibitory Effect of the Pandanus odoratissimus on the Growth of Human Cervical Cancer Cells" ñ on the anticancer properties of the aerial root tips of hala (Pandanus), combines traditional Hawaiian medicinal plant usage ñ la'au lapa'au ñ with Western techniques of scientific inquiry to produce work considered to be on the cutting-edge of biomedical research.
"Kiani is one of only eight high school students named to represent the nation at the London symposium," said Dr. Mordan. "And, in addition to the all-expense-paid trip, she won $16,000 in scholarships to the college of her choice which she will have to wait two years to collect because she is only a sophomore."
"Our Kamehameha students have done exceptionally well in science competitions this year," said Dr. Mordan, "and their success can certainly be credited to the environment Kamehameha has created. These kids are able to do high quality research because the school has invested in exceptional physical and intellectual resources that make it all possible. We have extraordinarily well-equipped labs; and a science faculty with research backgrounds that makes a tremendous difference in our ability to guide these kids."
Besides Dr. Mordan's background in biomedical research, teacher Nathan Nishimura, an ethnobotanist with solid research background, is assigned to the Honors Science Research Program. "There are also members of our science staff who have given heavily of their own time to mentor our students," said Dr. Mordan. Gail Ishimoto, Joel Truesdell and I teach Kamehameha Summer Science Institute (SSI) and SSI is very much at the heart of these high-achieving students who go on to research. Physicist Peter Grach gives freely of his own time and has encouraged and supported our students who are interested and challenged by research.
"We are very proud of Kiani Arkus and of the leadership our science program has provided these students," said KS CEO Dr. Hamilton I. McCubbin. "Congratulations must also go to Acting Chief Education Officer Dr. Michael Chun and Principal Tony Ramos for providing the environment for such advancements in our education program. Kiani is a role model for Native Hawaiian students, as well as a positive reflection of the quality of our science program."
In February, Kiani Arkus placed first at the Pacific Symposium for Science and Sustainability ñ where Kamehameha students captured both first and second spots ñ sponsored by the Hawaiian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Applied Sciences among others. In that competition, she won a $4,000 scholarship and the opportunity to represent Hawai'i at the national symposium in Orlando.
That same month, at the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools Science & Engineering Fair ñ from a field of 25 schools, 383 research projects, and 405 student participants ñ KS science students swept the senior research division, and received four "Best in Category" honors in the junior research division. Kiani received "Best in Category (Biochemistry)" in that competition.
In April, Kiani received the Second Place Grand Award at the 44th Hawai'i State Science & Engineering Fair.
Kiani, along with Kamehameha students Marisa Kellett, Aaron Cates, Kawika Mortensen, Kaliko Hurley and Nicole Shishido, will leave this Saturday for the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair competition in California. Of the 14 high school students representing Hawai'i at the Intel competition, six are Kamehameha Schools students.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
