Cristina Bacchilega

Cristina Bacchilega is a retired Professor and former Graduate Director in the Department of English at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, affiliated with the College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature. Her research focuses on fairy tales, folklore, and their intersections with gender, colonialism, and translation. She co-edited journals like Marvels & Tales and held roles such as Department Chair (2001-2007) and Acting Graduate Program Director. Her work includes books like Legendary Hawaiʻi and the Politics of Place and Postmodern Fairy Tales: Gender and Narrative Strategies.

Education: BA, University of Rome (Italy); MA and PhD, State University of New York at Binghamton.

Her research interests span fairy-tale studies, folklore, gender studies, and decolonial narratives. Recent projects explore Hawaiian mo‘olelo in translation and the cognitive potential of wonder in contemporary adaptations. She co-organized international conferences on storytelling in conflict zones and co-edited special journal issues on these topics.

Awards:

• Fulbright Fellowship (2016)
• IAFA Distinguished Scholarship Award (2016)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (2001)

Her advising and grants include SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship reviews and Fulbright applications. She collaborates on projects like An Ocean of Wonder (2024) and a forthcoming book on fairy tales and justice (2025). She also engages in Hawaiian language revitalization efforts.