Pauline Sato ’81

Congratulations to Pauline on being selected as the UH Mānoa College of Education 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winner:

It is our privilege to announce the winner of the 2025 University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa College of Education Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award. This year, we had incredible nominees who have dedicated their careers to making a profound impact in their fields, their communities, and for our state of Hawaiʻi. All are deserving of this honor, and embody the spirit of excellence we strive for in our alumni.

This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award is Pauline Sato. 

Pauline’s leadership and dedication to the advancement of education, environmental conservation, and community development have truly set her apart. As the Executive and Program Director of the Mālama Learning Center, she has played a pivotal role in the growing ʻĀina-Based Education movement here in Hawaiʻi, where she has empowered students and educators alike to connect deeply with the land and their heritage. Her leadership has extended to the Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi, where she has been instrumental in leading public awareness initiatives, outreach, and education that have reached many individuals across the state.

Pauline’s community connections run deep. She has served on numerous boards and councils, including the Hawai‘i Environmental Education Association, Mālama Hawai‘i, and the Hawai‘i Academy of Science, among many others. She also helped form the Wai Huihia Kumu Network, a vital resource for teachers to share knowledge and support one another in their mission to bring ʻĀina-Based Education to life in classrooms across Hawaiʻi.

Her commitment to advancing education is unparalleled. Pauline has secured funding for programs that give students hands-on experiences with nature, from restoration site visits to initiatives ensuring that students from the Leeward Coast have access to transformative educational experiences. She has been a tireless advocate for the integration of conservation, problem-based learning, and inquiry-based teaching into both formal and non-formal education. Through her efforts, she has ensured that ʻĀina-Based Learning continues to thrive, inspiring future generations to care for the land and make a living while loving and preserving it.

Her alignment with the vision and mission of the College of Education is evident in the way she brings educational presentations to schools, teaching students about malama ʻāina, native Hawaiian plants, and place-based learning in the communities of Waianae and Nanakuli. Her actions speak volumes, from securing funding for climate change initiatives to planting trees on campuses and creating fire breaks on the Leeward Coast, to her work as the host of the TV show Outside Hawaiʻi, where she showcases the beauty and importance of community conservation.

Pauline’s work not only embodies the values we hold dear but also exemplifies the very heart of what it means to be a Distinguished Alumni—a leader, a mentor, a changemaker, and an inspiration to all who have the privilege of working with her. Congratulations, Pauline, on this well-deserved honor!