Robert K. Sakai Fund for East Asian History

History:  This fund honors in perpetuity, Robert K. Sakai, a historian, University of Hawaii dean, and former president of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii. Robert Sakai was born on April 3, 1919, in Riverside, California. He received a bachelor's degree in history at the University of California-Berkeley in 1941, but his graduate education was interrupted by World War II.

Fortunately, Robert and his fiance Sady were sent to the same internment camp during the war, and were married at the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona. They were able to leave the camp when Robert volunteered for the Military Intelligence Service.

Following the war, Robert received his master's and doctorate degrees from Harvard University. From 1951 to 1966 he taught at the University of Nebraska, where he also served as chairman of the history department. In the summer of 1964, he was a visiting history professor at the University of Hawaii and two years later joined the University of Hawaii history department.

Robert was a scholar of Japanese history and had a long career with the university. In addition to his teaching duties, he served as University of Hawaii summer session dean and acting vice chancellor for academic affairs. Following his retirement, he remained as a professor emeritus with the history department until his passing in 2004.

Description:  The purpose of this fund is to provide financial assistance to advanced graduate students in East Asian History at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa College of Arts & Humanities, to attend a professional meeting for a job interview or to deliver a scholarly paper.
Level:  Advanced Graduate.
High School:  N/A
Residency:  N/A
GPA:  N/A
Enrollment Status:  Full-time or Part-time.
Contact Person:  Department Chairperson
Contact Department:  Department of History
Contact Address:  2530 Dole St, Sakamaki A203
Honolulu, HI 96822
Contact Website:  http://manoa.hawaii.edu/history
Contact Phone:  (808) 956-8486
Contact Email:  [email protected]
Application Info:  http://manoa.hawaii.edu/history
Press Release: 

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