James Miller

James Miller is an Associate Professor in Urban and Environmental Planning & Policy at Western Washington University. A Kanaka Maoli scholar, architect, and urbanist, he runs the design lab 'Ike Honua, which centers Indigenous knowledge in building resilient communities through architectural and planning frameworks. His work focuses on climate change adaptation and the application of Indigenous Design Knowledge for culturally supportive environments, particularly in Hawai'i and the Pacific.

Dr. Miller holds the following degrees:

• Ph.D in Architecture, University of Oregon (2018)
• Master of Architecture, University of Oregon
• Bachelor of Architecture, University of Notre Dame (2009)

His research is centered in anti-colonial and Indigenous frameworks with an emphasis on social justice and urban inclusion. Primary areas include Indigenous placemaking, Indigenous architecture and spatial production, Pacific Islander Housing, place-based housing solutions, Oceanic perspectives of Spatial Relationality, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, and Post-disaster reconstruction. His scholarship provides critical space for Indigenous knowledge systems to be recognized within western-centric fields of architecture and urban planning.

Dr. Miller's publications (2018-2025) consistently explore Indigenous knowledge in architecture and urban planning, with a concentrated focus on climate resilience, decolonial approaches, and Oceanic perspectives. His work investigates Indigenous design applications in post-disaster recovery, housing crises, and the rights of nature, making significant contributions to Indigenous architecture and urbanism through Marshallese and Pacific-centered case studies.

Dr. Miller runs the design lab 'Ike Honua and is associated with research clusters including The Collaborative for Inclusive Urbanism (University of Oregon) and Va Moana (Auckland University of Technology).