James “Jim” Kauahikaua, the first Native Hawaiian scientist to lead the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, has died at 72.
His family told Hawaii News Now that the scientist died Sunday morning.
Kauahikaua was born in Honolulu, Kauahikaua graduated from Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama in Honolulu in 1969, Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports. He moved to California for his undergraduate studies, earning his bachelor’s degree in geology from Pomona College in 1973. He also earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in geophysics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1976 and 1982, respectively.
While working on his master’s, Kauahikaua began interning for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). He later began working for the USGS full-time as a non-seismic geophysicist, Hawaii News Now reports. His focus was on studying Hawaiian volcanos and their lava flows.
From 2004 to 2015, he was the scientist-in-charge at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, the first Native Hawaiian to hold the position. Jeri Gertz, Kauahikaua’s wife of 35 years, told Hawaii Tribune-Herald that he was passionate about his work.
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“He never cared that he was first. He never even cared that he was Dr. Jim Kauahikaua,” Gertz said. “All he knew was his passion for his work, understanding volcanoes, and looking to the past so we could better understand the present and the future.”
According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Kauahikaua is survived by his wife; his daughter, Lilinoe Kauahikaua; brother, David (Malia) Kauahikaua; brother-in-law, Mike Gertz; nieces, Ruthie and Sarah Gertz; nephews, Liko and Kai Kauahikaua; and cousins
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