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PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Devin Makizuru Devin first participated in HHD as a volunteer judge while a university student. In 2019, he joined the program as HHD Assistant Coordinator, and since 2024, has served as HHD Director. Devin oversees all aspects of Hawaiʻi History Day, including developing and sustaining relationships with teachers, schools, and community partners; working with National History Day, the Core Team, and Historian Consultants to provide needed curriculum and resources each year; planning and managing 8 competitions at the district and state levels; and managing data collection and assessment. Devin holds an MA of Education in Teaching and a BA in Geography from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and taught psychology and sociology at Kapolei High School. He enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering. |
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VOLUNTEER PROGRAM & CURRICULUM SPECIALIST
Dorian "Dorie" Langi Dorie taught at Kahuku Elementary School for 27 years, where in 1999, she began to use the History Day model to teach language arts and history to students. Many of her students have won awards at History Day district, state, and national competitions. Since retiring, she has served as a key HHD volunteer. Since 2010, she has trained teachers and students statewide in the History Day research model, and since 2014, she has served as a National History Day Ambassador. As an invaluable HHD volunteer, Dorie provides program outreach and classroom support and teacher training/coaching. During the competition season, her responsibilities include event support and troubleshooting, including interfacing the NHD’s online competition system to facilitate registration. |
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LEAD HISTORIAN CONSULTANT - WINDWARD DISTRICT & STATE
Ryan Koo, Windward Community College Ryan received his BA and MA in history from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and began his career as a lecturer at KCC and Hawaii Tokai International College in 2019. In 2012, he joined Windward Community College as a full-time tenure track Instructor, and in 2021, was promoted to Associate Professor. Courses he has taught include Asian Civilizations, and Cartoons, Comics, and Graphic Novels in History. Ryan first participated in HHD in 2010 as a volunteer judge. In 2013, he took on the role of Historian Consultant for the Windward District, and in 2024, took on greater responsibility as Lead Historian Consultant, which includes overseeing the State Competition. For both events, Ryan coordinates the participation of Windward Community College as the venue. |
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KAUA'I DISTRICT
Mark Ombrello, PhD, Kaua'i Community College An Assistant Professor of History at the Kaua'i Community College, Mark specializes in Pacific and Asian history with a concentration in Japanese colonialism in Micronesia. He first served as a volunteer judge as a graduate student at UH Mānoa, and has been a Historian Consultant for 8 years. Mark also serves on the HCH Board of Directors. |
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CENTRAL-LEEWARD DISTRICT AND HONOLULU DISTRICT
Mieko Matsumoto, Honolulu Community College A Historian Consultant since 2014, Ms. Matsumoto is a tenured Associate Professor of History at Honolulu Community College, where she has taught since 2011. She has an MA in history from the University of Washington at Seattle, and her fields of study were Asian American History and the History of the American West, with a focus on identity formation within the second-generation Japanese community during the interwar period. She holds a BA in History (honors) and International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound. |
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MAUI DISTRICT
Liana Horowitz, University of Hawaiʻi Maui College A History Day judge for over 10 years, Ms. Horowitz has served as a Historian Consultant since 2018. She is an Assistant Professor of History and Liberal Arts Program Coordinator at UH Maui College, where she has been teaching for 20 years. Ms. Horowitz’s courses include World History, American History, American Women’s History, and Interdisciplinary Studies. She also leads short-term study abroad trips for UH Maui College students, most recently to Peru. She is a lifelong student of hula and oli, and a member of Hālau Nā Hanona Kūlike O Piʻilani. |
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HAWAIʻI DISTRICT
Michael Skinner, PhD, Hawaiʻi Community College An instructor of History at Hawaiʻi Community College, Mike has connected the Big Island community to the Hawaiʻi Island District competitions by inviting groups such as the League of Women Voters of Hawaiʻi County and the Museum of Science and Technology to offer interactive activities, and musicians from the Liliʻuokalani Trust to perform during the lunch break. Mike also serves as the Chair of HCC’s International Education Committee and a Consultant for the University of Sydney’s Gandhāran Buddhist Texts Project. He received his MA in History at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and his PhD in Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Washington. Mike has 20 years’ experience teaching world history courses, and his areas of interest include Early Historical South Asia, Silk Road Studies, Early Buddhism, and Indian Epigraphy. |
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HAWAIʻI DISTRICT - UH HILO LIAISON
Line-Noue Kruse, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Line's participation with Hawaiʻi History Day was due to her daughter's wonderful experiences with the program. When her daughter won at the State competition, Line was inspired to become involved in Hawai’i History Day and their ecosystem-driven, humanities-centered programs across the Pae ‘Āina. Line serves as an Assistant Professor of Pacific History at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She has a deep passion for the humanities, which led her to serve on the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities board of directors, Friends of the Library Kahuku board of directors, Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania board of directors (Chair), and Heritage Samoa board of directors. As the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo liaison for Hawaiʻi History Day, Line coordinates with Historian Consultants and Hawaiʻi Island teachers, and collaborates with the HHD staff. |
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Bruce Torres Fischer
Bruce was instrumental in initiating HHD’s ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi program in 2019, and helped build the program as our first ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Historian Consultant. He coordinates judges statewide and provides expertise on programmatic decisions. Bruce is PhD student in the Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization Program at UH Hilo, where he also serves as Digital Hawaiian Medium Platforms Manager at UH Hilo’s Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. |
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William (Miki) Cook
Miki joined HHD in 2024 to support the program’s continued statewide growth. A Hawaiian Studies Instructor at Windward Community College, Miki holds a BA and an MA in Hawaiian Language from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. He served as HHD Judge Captain (Hawaiian language) and as Hawaiian Language Competition Judge at Nā Leo Hiehie o Ke Koʻolau in 2024. |
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Aiko Yamashiro Aiko first participated in Hawaiʻi History Day as a student at King Intermediate and Castle High School in Windward Oʻahu, and will always cherish the time spent interviewing her grandpa and seeing old photos from his time in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. She received her PhD from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, studying Hawaiʻi literature & community change, and interviewing many mentors and friends. Aiko has overseen and supported the HHD program and competitions – including serving as a judge, emcee, and event staff – since joining HCH in her current position in 2019. She provides overall program, administrative, and financial oversight of the program, and works with the Community Partnerships Director on partner and supporter cultivation and HCH communications. |
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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR
Michele Mitsumori Michele first participated in the Hawaiʻi District Fair in 2021 by coordinating an interactive lunchtime activity on elections, a voter education table, and a student award for an outstanding project on democracy or voter education as a member of the League of Women Voters of Hawaiʻi County. Michele is responsible for engaging community award sponsors, corporate sponsors, and other funding, coordinating student project showcases at district and state competitions to help current and potential supporters and educators experience HHD student achievement firsthand, and supporting the HHD Team on evaluation, reporting, and communications. |
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Hawaiʻi History Day is a program of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, an independent non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 corporation. Established in 1973, our mission is to enrich lives, broaden perspectives, and strengthen communities through the public humanities.
EIN 99-0153704. 3599 Waiʻalae Ave., Suite 26, Honolulu, HI 96816 P: 808.732-5402 E: [email protected] (History Day) | [email protected] (Hawai'i Council)
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