Margaret Maaka

Margaret Maaka is a Professor in Curriculum Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's College of Education, with a distinguished career spanning Indigenous educational psychology, leadership, and policy development. Her work centers on decolonizing educational frameworks and advancing Indigenous knowledge systems.

Her academic credentials include a PhD in Educational Psychology (1992) from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a Master of Education (Honors) with English Literature focus (1978) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, a Diploma of Teaching in Elementary and Secondary Education (1978) from New Zealand's Department of Education, and a Bachelor of Education (Honors) with English Literature specialization (1977) from the University of Waikato.

Maaka's research explores Indigenous leadership complexities, multiliteracies, and cognitive development within Māori and Hawaiian contexts. She investigates how language revitalization intersects with educational policy to foster Indigenous advancement, emphasizing place-based pedagogies and self-determination in schooling systems. Her scholarship consistently challenges Western epistemological dominance in education.

Her publications since 2009 reveal a trajectory prioritizing Indigenous research sovereignty, with recurring themes of decolonization, community-led leadership models, and culturally grounded curriculum design. Key contributions examine contested spaces in Indigenous schooling and the politics of knowledge production.

Her teaching excellence has been recognized through:

• Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching (1998)
• Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching (1996)
• Graduate Student Organization Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award (1991)

While specific advising details are not documented, Maaka's mentorship is reflected in her collaborative publications with emerging Indigenous scholars. Her work demonstrates sustained commitment to transforming educational paradigms through Indigenous epistemologies.