Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 2, 1 February 1992 — Hawaiian is named university president [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian is named university president

Herman D. Lujan, a Native Hawaiian, became the ninth president of the University of Northern Colorado in December 1991. Herman Damien Leilehua Lujan was born in Peleau-Hakalau, Hawai'i, North Hilo District in 1936. The son of kama'aina Samuel Kamohoali'i and Aliee I. Lujan (both deceased), he grew up on the family kuleana and attended John M. Ross School, St. Mary's School for Boys and graduated from St. Joseph High School, Hilo in 1953.

His father was a timekeeper for Hakalau Plantation and an independent eane grower and rancher, who was also well-known for his work in soiI conservation on the Big Island. His mother was a school teacher and field assistant in speech education for the Superintendent for Public Instruction on the Island.

Lujan graduated from St. Mary's College of California in 1958 and completed a masters degree in 1960 at the University of California, Berkeley with a thesis on the "Group Composition of Political Parties in Hawai'i." He returned to Hawai'i to assist in the family ranch operations and taught at St. Louis High School in Honolulu from 1960 to 1962.

Upon eomplehon of his Ph.D. in 1964 at the University of Idaho, Lujan taught at the University of Kansas (KU) where he was chair of the Department of Political Science and then director of the Institute for Social and Environmental Studies. He worked with students from Hawaii who were attending KU and directed the masters thesis of Bina Mossman Chun now at the UH-Manoa. It was a study of interest group politics in Hawaii. In 1978, Lujan was appointed vice president for minority affairs at the University of Washington where he administered programs for

many ethnic groups, including Native Hawaiians. Among them were Ralph Aona of Honolulu and Glenn Kalena Silva of the University of Hawaii, Hilo. Promoted to vice provost in 1988, he coordinated undergraduated studies and minority faculty recruitment until his recent

appointment as president of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). UNC is well-known in Hawai'i for its teacher education program and many students from Hawai'i are currently enrolled at the Greeley, Colorado campus. Lujan has remained active in Hawaiian affairs. He served from 1979-81 as co-chair of the Hawaiian Leaders National Panel in the Administration for Native Americans Needs Assessment Study. He has worked collaboratively with scholar-kupuna Abraham Piianaia, formerly of the Hawaiian Studies Program at UH-Manoa. He also has many friends from the St. Joseph Class of '53 residing on O'ahu and the Island of Hawai'i.

Lujan is married to Carla Williams Lujan, an active mental healih professionaI, who managed Burwell House in Bremerton, Wash., a residential facility for the chronically mentally ill. The Lujans live on Bainbridge Island and have a daughter, Laura, and grandchildren Miehael Keaohou Lujan and Andrea Molehu Colette in Bremerton. A son, Mark, and wife Linda live in San Jose, Calif., with a new grandchild, Ashley Hokuao. Son Timothy Lujan resides at the family kuleana in Peleau with his wife Dana and mo'opuna T.J. Lehua and Cody Kahikolu. Tim

manages the family ranch operation begun years ago by kupuna Sam Lujan. Tim is active in eommunity affairs among Hawaii Island ranchers. Lujan's sister, Dr. Aliee Leilani Quiocho, is a pnneipal in Alpine, Calif., near San Diego. His cousin Susannah Purdy Okamura is the wife of Kenso Okamura of Pepeekeo. Both are retired

and active among the senior citizens group in Hilo, a group well-known in Hilo for its song and dance programs. A kumu hula, Susannah is the daughter of the renowned paniolo, Unele John Purdy (deceased). Lujan assumed the presidency of the University of Northern Colorado on Dec. 11, 1991.

Herman Lujan