Ku‘ulei has been working at the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology’s Coral Reef Ecology Lab since 1992 under the direction of Drs. Paul Jokiel and Fenny Cox, as an HIMB faculty member since 2005 and as the Principal Investigator of the Coral Reef Ecology Lab since 2016. Over 100 articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals, published reports, and conference proceedings. She was in the top five most read PeerJ journal articles in 2017. Since 2005, she has provided graduate advising, mentoring, and training for 15 graduate students, 40 undergraduates, interns, and technicians, and 2 post-docs. Ku’ulei has been heavily involved as PI, co-PI, or research assistant on 25 funded projects since her appointment, conducting research at sites on every island. She has secured funding through grants of over $3.5 million assisting in student support and research needs. Many of her research projects are of an interdisciplinary nature involving close collaborations with over 20 UH researchers from the oceanography, engineering, and zoology departments and over 50 cooperative relationships with managers and scientists from federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private industry. Her research has been widely disseminated through extensive media coverage with well over 200 documented local television news interviews, newspaper articles, and media events, global webcast video coverage, national and international newspaper and web articles and radio interviews. Ku’ulei was one of the co-founders along with Dr. Paul Jokiel, Dr. Eric Brown, and Will Smith of the ongoing Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program established in 1999 and continues to serve as PI along with the State Division of Aquatic Resources.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Dr. Ku'ulei Rodgers provides a deep insight into the importance of coral reefs in the Hawaiian ecosystem and culture, as well as the efforts being made to conserve them. Dr. Rodgers discusses the ancient Hawaiian creation chant, Kumulipo, which emphasizes the significance of the coral polyp as the first organism brought forth in the creation story. This, she explains, is a testament to the integral role of coral reefs in the Hawaiian ecosystem, providing shelter and food for various marine organisms. Dr. Rodgers also highlights the importance of inclusivity and diversity in conservation efforts. She mentions a high school program that aims to involve students from all walks of life in coral reef conservation. Despite its popularity, the program can only accommodate a limited number of students, necessitating a careful selection process to ensure diversity. Furthermore, Dr. Rodgers discusses the resurgence of the Hawaiian language and the establishment of Hawaiian immersion schools. She mentions a project involving the creation of Hawaiian Culture-Based Science Readers for students in kindergarten through third grade. This initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate cultural knowledge and language learning, thereby fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian culture and its relationship with the natural environment.