Luis Fernández Álvarez (1 April 1853 – 24 May 1937) was a Spanish American physician and researcher who practiced in California and Hawaii.
[citation needed] Álvarez was born in a small village called Maecina, Salas, Asturias.
His father was Eugenio Fernández, who was in charge of the business and palace affairs in Madrid of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, a Spanish royal prince and the youngest son of the former king Carlos IV.
[citation needed] In 1895, Álvarez resigned his position in Waialua to prepare himself for work as superintendent of a new experimental hospital for the treatment of leprosy which was to be established in Kalihi, a suburb of Honolulu.
In order to learn research bacteriology, Álvarez went — at his own expense — for six months of intensive study at Johns Hopkins University.