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The Nichols have been long-time supporters of the arts in Hawaii. Their involvement with the film community in Hawai’i started with bringing the Sundance Institute: Sundance ShortsLab team to Honolulu in conjunction with the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA). This was followed by support of Native Hawaiian Sundance Fellows in a Sundance Native Labs workshop held at HoMA the following year. A direct outcome was engagement in projects by Native Hawaiian filmmakers through establishment of the NICHOLS Family Film Fund, most notably WAIKIKI the Film, an award-winning feature film written and directed by Chris Kahunahana; KA PIKO, a short narrative film by Bryson Kainoa Chun; HAWAIIAN SOUL, an award-winning short documentary about George Helm by ʻĀina Paikai, ACM graduate, Kaliko Maii, ACM graduate and Justyn Ah Chong; E MALAMA PONO, WILLY BOY, a narrative short by Kekama Amona and Nani Ross; THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS, an animated short by Ciara Lacy; among several other film projects. In addition, the NICHOLS Family Film Fund has provided cash awards for the winners in the juried Made-in-Hawai’i film program at the Hawaii International Film Festival since 2017. The Nichols bring extensive experience in research, publication and education. Linda is a former Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, having received her training at Yale University. She practiced at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center for many years, where she helped to establish one of the first pediatric clinics for infants and young children of teenage parents in New York City. Linda serves as the Chair of the inaugural ACM Manoa Board. Robert is a Professor of Cell & Molecular Biology at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine, having received his training at Stanford, Yale and Rockefeller Universities. Robert is Principal Investigator and Director of the Hawai’i IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), the largest granting program for undergraduate engagement in biomedical research across the state. Robert also serves on several scientific journal editorial boards and grant panels (including NIH and NSF).

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