{"id":230111,"date":"2026-02-26T15:51:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T01:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=230111"},"modified":"2026-03-04T14:07:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:07:59","slug":"ball-method-national-landmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/26\/ball-method-national-landmark\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Ball Method’ declared national historic landmark at Alice Ball celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Alice Ball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa celebrated the legacy of renowned alumna Alice Augusta Ball at the annual recognition ceremony on February 26. This year\u2019s event was especially meaningful, as her discovery dubbed the “Ball Method” treatment for Hansen\u2019s disease has been designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society (ACS<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MBMMvCWfYKA” el_aspect=”916″ align=”right” el_id=”wrap-video-right”][vc_column_text]\n

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LaJoya Shelly welcomed the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa community.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
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糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel delivers opening remarks.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
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Attendees placed flowers and lei on Alice Ball’s plaque.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
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Alice Augusta Ball sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

Spearheaded by the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Office of the President and the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Office of the Provost with support from various campus and community partners, the ceremony invited the campus community to the chaulmoogra tree on the ma uka side of Bachman Hall, where a plaque honors Ball\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n

The event began with an oli led by the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience\u2019s Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Coordinator.<\/p>\n

Emcee LaJoya Shelly, a lecturer in ethnic studies and educational administration, led the event. 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel was among several distinguished speakers who commemorated Ball.<\/p>\n

“She\u2019s a true role model for all of us,” said Hensel, “Every year is exciting because she\u2019s such an incredible trailblazer, and to be able to recognize her repeatedly for those contributions is always really special.”<\/p>\n

Hensel also read Gov.<\/abbr> Josh Green\u2019s official proclamation declaring February 28, 2026, as Alice Augusta Ball Day.<\/p>\n

Long-awaited official recognition<\/h2>\n

Katrina-Ann Kap\u0101 Oliveira, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success, presented the National Historic Chemical Landmark Designation on behalf of ACS<\/abbr> President Rigoberto Hernandez.<\/p>\n

“This landmark dedication reflects ACS<\/abbr>‘s commitment to honoring chemists like Ball whose discoveries have improved countless lives,” read Oliveira. “The National Historic Chemical Landmarks program preserves and promotes these histories so that present and future generations can understand the transformative power of chemistry.”<\/p>\n

In 2024, the American Chemical Society approved the nomination<\/a>—submitted by David Lassner, 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> president emeritus, and Paul Wermager, retired department head of science and technology at Hamilton Library—to award the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation to Ball for her technique of isolating ethyl esterification from the fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil so it could be effectively administered to Hansen\u2019s disease patients by injection.<\/p>\n