Helen Wong Smith

[4] She attended the University of Hawaiʻi for a bachelor's degree in Hawaiian Studies as well as her Master's in Library Science.

[2] She has served as ambassador of Hawaiian and Pacific archives and worked to bring forward unknown or forgotten collections in her research and presentations.

[5] She has researched and written on Hawaiian cultural resources as well as presenting her discoveries through lectures and workshops for over 35 years.

[2] In the description of the course, Smith explains Cultural Diversity Competency (CDC) is "the ability to function with awareness, knowledge, and interpersonal skill when engaging people of different backgrounds, assumptions, beliefs, values, and behaviors.

In an interview with Joyce Gabiola, Smith explained that she was surprised to be nominated for the SAA Fellows Award.

From the middle of the Pacific my contribution has been limited and it's most likely the introduction and training in cultural competency that has led SAA to recognize me.