Crystal Hafoka, who is completing her PhD in the College of Education Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (KRS), received the Larry Locke Graduate Student Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The award is given to the highest scored graduate student-led paper in the AERA Special Interest Group (SIG 93) for Research on Teaching and Learning in Physical Education.
Hafoka’s paper, Examining Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth Attitudes Towards Physical Activity and Physical Education, was recognized during the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado in April.
“Crystal’s research is so important and is a part of our work in the I Pa’a Ka Huewai Pawehe grant,” said KRS Professor Erin Centeio who serves as Hafoka’s dissertation chair. “She is really interested in learning how to help Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students be more active and live active and healthy lifestyles. We are extremely proud of her, especially because she is the first Pacific Islander student to be given this award.”
In her research, Hafoka finds that the trend of limited physical activity (PA) is disproportionately identified for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) both in the youth and adult populations. The growing number of chronic and preventable diseases may be related to a lack of PA and/or early adoption of PA in life.
“Positive PA attitudes are strongly associated with both PA intention and behavior, so there is a critical need to preserve the positive PA attitudes exhibited by NHPI youth, as doing so may help sustain active lifestyles into adulthood,” Hafoka said. “Still, the same critical question remains: when and why do NHPI youth begin to develop negative PA attitudes? Addressing this gap is vital for future research.”
Since earning her MS degree from KRS, Hafoka has been working as a graduate research assistant with Centeio. Hafoka has also taught KRS classes and works as a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines.
“I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Erin Centeio, whose guidance has been instrumental in helping me reach this point and accomplish the ambitious goals I set for myself,” Hafoka said. “Most significantly, she supported my desire to study a topic and population I am truly passionate about, and even helped shape a PhD program tailored to my unique interests—an incredible and unexpected opportunity for which I am especially thankful.”
Acknowledgements:
In addition to Dr. Centeio, I extend heartfelt thanks to my co-authors—Dr. Kelly Simonton (University of Wyoming), Dr. A. Ku‘ulei Serna (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa), and Dr. Kevin Mercier (Adelphi University)—who have supported me in this research study and greatly enriched my learning. I am also grateful to my master’s advisor and current committee member, Dr. Chuck Morgan, whose belief in my potential and encouragement to pursue doctoral studies played a pivotal role in this journey, as well as to Dr. Stickley, from whom I’ve gained valuable insight into the inner workings of the PhD program and the field of academia through our seminar class each semester.
