MANOA, Hawaii -- The leaders of the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Tuesday introduced the new dean of the recently-created School of Hawaiian Knowledge.

Maenette Kapeahiokalani Padeken Ah Nee-Benham is a Hawaiian scholar, who has been working at Michigan State University. She said she is glad to be home heading up the new school at UH.

"She is not only a daughter of Hawaii, but is also a product of UH Manoa. So, she does us proud in many ways. I'm confident she will be a terrific leader of our new School of Hawaiian Knowledge," UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said.

The School of Hawaiian Knowledge merges the Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian language programs. It is the largest school of indigenous studies in the country.

Nee-Benham said she hopes "to bring together Hawaiian language and culture, to bring together the ontology of indigenous knowing allows us to make a more significant impact on the education of children today and seven generations to come."

The Center for Hawaiian Studies is not big enough to house the new combined department, UH officials said. So the school may ask the Legislature for money to build a new facility.