Janet A. Mattei's Hawaiian Ohana (abstract)

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 Mary Ann Kadooka, James R. Bedient, Alyce Ikeoka, Karen Meech

Abstract of a talk given at a memorial symposium in honor of Dr. Janet A. Mattei, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, October 29, 2004; received November 1, 2004; accepted November 1, 2004

In Hawaiian, "ohana" means family. For 3 weeks of each summer from 1999-2003, Janet's ohana was 200 students and teachers attending our "Toward Other Planetary Systems" (TOPS) program in Hawaii. Against a backdrop of sky and sea, volcanoes and tropical forest, she taught them the science of estimating the brightness of variable stars using small telescopes. Using her photographs of flowers and celestial wonders, she shared her passion for nature and the universe with everyone. Her wisdom made our ohana strong, and her unflagging enthusiasm kept us cheerfully working together through fair and foul weather. Our slide show will highlight her TOPS ohana and some of the lives touched by Janet Mattei's commitment to education.