Arlene Holmes-Henderson

AAC Member

Arlene is Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University. She held the Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar Award in 2013/14 as a Visiting Professor at the University of Hawai’i. She researched the resurgence of the Hawaiian language in schools and communities with the aim of returning to Scotland to make recommendations for Gaelic education in policy and practice. During her cultural and educational exchange, she met academics, policymakers, teachers, community elders and activists both in Hawai’i and on the mainland. Living in Honolulu provided her many memorable Fulbright moments: walking along Waikiki beach at sunset, watching professional hula dancing, visiting the Maunakea astronomical research observatories, seeing active volcanoes, speaking to families from the ‘forgotten’ island of Ni’ihau and attending a Hawaiian birthday luau with 350 people. The Hawaiians say that you don't have to live in Hawaii – or even be Hawaiian – to embrace the Aloha Spirit. Aloha is what remains with Arlene from her Fulbright experience, as well as a love for volleyball and tropical flora!