Isabella Aiona Abbott

Dorktales Podcast: Episode 77

Hidden Heroes of History

Isabella Aiona Abbott

A wave-splashing tale of the First Lady of Limu! Dive into the fascinating life of Isabella Aiona Abbott. From her early days in Hawaii to becoming a world-renowned expert on Pacific Ocean algae, her journey was filled with scientific curiosity and groundbreaking accomplishments. Drawing on the wisdom passed down through generations, she showed us how to connect with the natural world and use the oceans gifts for food and more. Ms. Abbott broke barriers by being the first Hawaiian woman to earn a PhD in science, discovering over 70 edible seaweeds, and leaving an enduring legacy in marine botany and Hawaiian ethnobotany.

Did You Know?

Isabella Aiona Abbott is the First Lady of Limu—the Hawaiian word for water plants. She was the leading expert on marine algae and seaweeds of the Pacific Ocean.

In the heart of Hawaii, on June 20, 1919, Isabella Aiona Abbott was born. Her mother introduced her to the native plants of the islands, including various edible Hawaiian seaweeds. These early lessons in native plants sowed the seeds of a lifelong passion.

Isabella’s journey was one of pioneering achievements. In 1950, Ms. Abbott pursued and eventually graduated with a PhD in botany from the University of California Berkeley. A PhD is the highest degree you can earn in school. Ms. Abbott’s PhD is for the scientific study of plants, or botany.

Ms. Abbott was the first Hawaiian woman to receive a PhD in science. Unfortunately, at the time she graduated, it was difficult for a woman to get a teaching job at a university. She spent her time diving deep into her studies of algae on the California coast. Her goal was to reintroduce seaweeds into everyday life. She wanted to reconnect people to the natural world and to her cultural traditions. She taught others how to use the plants that are all around us for food, and other important purposes. She even created recipes for pickling seaweed, baking it into cake and more.

Part of Isabella Aiona Abbott’s legacy is bringing awareness to culturally important plants.

Ms. Abbott taught about historical uses for seaweed and marine algae through oral histories from past generations. Preserving Hawaiians’ knowledge of the ocean was an important part of her work.

Her efforts led to the study of Hawaiian ocean knowledge at the college university level—which meant that these cultural traditions and knowledge would be preserved and passed on to new generations.

Ms. Abbott promoted Hawaiian stewardship practices when she was harvesting the limu, otherwise known as marine algae or water plants. She made sure that she didn’t hurt ocean habitats while studying and learning more about what they had to offer.

Her path to becoming a Leading Expert in Limu

Isabella Aiona Abbott’s  love for underwater flora inspired her to explore over 200 different species, ultimately earning her the title of the world’s leading expert on algae in the Pacific Ocean.

In 1966, Ms. Abbott became a research associate and guest lecturer. And in 1972, Stanford University recognized her expertise and appointed her as a full professor of Biology, marking a historic moment as the first woman and the first person of color to hold this position. Isabella’s influence continued to grow, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

In 1982, Ms. Abbott and her husband moved back to Hawaii where she taught ethnobotany at the University of Hawaii. Ethnobotany is the study of the interaction between humans and plants.

Isabella Aiona Abbott had an impact through teaching and beyond. She penned eight books, wrote over 150 academic articles, and received a plethora of honors and awards in her field. The University of Hawaii recognized her profound legacy by establishing a scholarship in her name, aimed at supporting students studying Hawaiian ethnobotany and marine botany.

Isabella Aiona Abbott’s extraordinary journey continues to inspire countless others to this day, reminding us of the profound connection between humans and the natural world and the importance of preserving cultural knowledge.