Celebrating Magnificence: Krista Hiser – Acclaimed Climate Activist & Nia Black Belt 1st degree

Krista has been integrally involved at Still & Moving Center since its inception, and first suggested that we open classes to children, especially at times when their parents could also take classes. Her daughters have populated our classes, Easter, Merry & Bright and Diwali event ever since. Krista has taught Nia here since we opened in 2011, while also being a full Professor of English Composition at Kapi’olani Community College.

Krista actually earned her Nia Black Belt and her PhD in Educational Administration during the same year, 2012. She increasingly devoted her attention to climate change.

That same Krista Hiser has just been selected to serve on two national academic organizations: the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) and Advisory Council for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)!  It’s a high honor. Read more. 

Says Don Straney, University of Hawaiʻi vice president for academic planning and policy, “Professor Krista Hiser’s contributions and dedication to sustainability and the efforts to educate our students have proven invaluable to our campuses. It is fitting to have her recognized by national organizations for her contributions.”

Her academic career has taken her into a leadership position  as the Sustainability Curriculum Coordinator for the University of Hawaii Office of Sustainability. She supports faculty to design, update and transform courses to integrate sustainability across the entire university system.

She is currently conducting a focus group study of college students on each of the UH system campuses to better understand what they know, think, feel, and do about sustainability and climate change.  

Krista explains, “One of the findings came from coding over two hundred statements describing emotions students have around climate change. They clustered into five areas:  fear, anger, sadness, shame, and hope. Now we can better focus on more effective teaching methods that integrate and address these emotions.

“I think about climate change pretty much all day, every day, so getting out of my head is important. Nia is all about connecting to Joy and that is something I try to bring to both my teaching and academic service. They are really just different aspects of how I express my life’s purpose”.

Congratulations, Krista!

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Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

  ~Howard Thurman

Dr. Krista Hiser’s favorite book and website on sustaining our environment is DrawDown, a concept she first introduced to me. DrawDown holds such an important vision of potential for our planet, we include a video of its founder and a flyer about an upcoming local DrawDown event in this edition of Life at the Center.

Join Intro to Project DrawDown on:

Saturday, April 13,  3-5 pm at da Shop bookstore in Kaimuki. 

3565 Harding Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816

Attend to learn more about the amazing Project DrawDown Initiative!  

DrawDown seeks to reverse global warming by 2050 by scaling up 100 of the best solutions the world is already implementing. The best part is we each have a role to play in the process and the solutions are simultaneously building the beautiful new world we yearn for. At this gathering, we hope to develop more local community around concrete climate solutions and connect with local groups that are already engaged in solutions.

Register here.  There is a $10 registration fee to support da Shop’s incredible small bookstore, venue for local events and gathering space for community.