When Dr. Cheryl Hayashi ’85 returned to ‘Iolani, classrooms buzzed with curiosity. From kindergarten to twelfth grade, students were captivated by her two-week teaching residency. Suddenly, spiders were no longer pests or mere bugs—they became subjects of fascination and wonder.
Hayashi, a spider silk biologist and associate professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside, shared her passion for research in a way that was both engaging and accessible. In 2007, she received a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation grant for her work on spider silks. As her former teacher “Papa” Jack Kay remarked, it was the highest honor a researcher can achieve.
Spiders use silk for safety, reproduction, protection, and capturing prey. There are more than 39,000 described species worldwide, and many more yet to be discovered. Hayashi brought that excitement into her teaching. She demonstrated tarantula skins to sixth graders, encouraging them to explore and ask questions.
“Don’t be afraid of them,” she reassured the students. “They’re just skins. It’s like being scared of a jacket.”
In addition to science classes, Hayashi partnered with English teacher Theresa Falk ’86 to lead discussions in the Women in Literature class. Together, they explored gender expectations, stereotypes, and roles in academia. Students were inspired not only by the science but also by her reflections on navigating a professional world as a woman in STEM.
Hayashi’s own journey began at ‘Iolani, continued through Yale University, and led her to a Ph.D. program with Yale and the American Museum of Natural History. A postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wyoming and then a faculty position at UC Riverside followed. Returning to ‘Iolani as Keables Chairholder was both unexpected and deeply meaningful.
“The best part,” Hayashi shared with faculty, “was receiving unconditional hugs and ‘Thank yous’ from the kindergartners. You don’t get that when you teach in college.”
Her residency reminded everyone that learning is not just about facts or research—it’s about curiosity, wonder, and the connections we build along the way. Through spider silk and tarantula skins, Hayashi wove lessons of science, empathy, and inspiration that will stay with her students for years to come.