Graduate and advanced undergraduate students from across the University of Hawaiʻi System and around the world gathered February 12–15, for the (IGSC) at the East-West Center, marking a milestone year for the long-running, student-led event.

Organized entirely by a graduate student team and supported by the , the 2026 conference centered on the theme, “Legacies Through Time: Rethinking the Past, Confronting the Present, Shaping the Future.” Over three days, approximately 140 participants representing more than 25 countries and regions across North America, the Asia-Pacific and Europe, representing more than 65 institutions, transformed the Hawaiʻi Imin International Conference Center into a hub of interdisciplinary exchange.

“Planning this conference reminded us that scholarship is not just about individual achievement—it鈥檚 about building relationships and creating spaces where emerging scholars feel seen, challenged and supported,” said Xiaoyun Neo, a master鈥檚 student in at 糖心视频 Mānoa and one of the conference鈥檚 organizers. “Watching students step into that space with confidence and generosity was the most rewarding part of this milestone year.”

Neo added, “I also echo the sentiment expressed by IGSC co-chairs Tiến Nguyễn Minh (MA, ) and Oliver Lilford (MA, ) that as scholars, artists and practitioners, we do not simply inherit legacies—we negotiate, challenge and reshape them in the present, using them to reinterpret the past or set the course for different, more hopeful futures.”

Nearly 30 themed panels—including paper presentations, poster sessions, a roundtable discussion and an evening session featuring creative projects and films—highlighted the depth and diversity of student scholarship. Topics ranged from intergenerational memory and language preservation to environmental change and artistic expression, reflecting how legacies shape identities, institutions and futures.

For many presenters, the conference offered a first opportunity to share research in a supportive, peer-centered environment. Graduate student moderators guided discussions, facilitated questions and fostered dialogue across disciplines, creating space for feedback and collaborations.

“Besides the intensive three-day conference, this year鈥檚 IGSC also curated pre- and post-conference activities supported by our incredible partners and sponsors,” said Minh. “Our participants enjoyed a field trip to the Mānoa Heritage Center; a tour at the East-West Center Art Gallery; a keynote address in honor of the 25th IGSC by renowned scholar, also an alumna of 糖心视频 Mānoa, Dr. Katerina Teaiwa, sponsored by the Asian American-Pacific Islander, Environmental Humanities and Environmental Justice Initiative; and a play about Joseph Kekuku and his steel guitar invention at the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. These activities not only fostered connections between our participants with local institutions, they also provided opportunities for us to introduce Hawaiʻi鈥檚 own legacies through diverse and interactive approaches.”

Launched in 2002, the International Graduate Student Conference continues to serve as a meeting place for emerging scholars to test ideas, build networks and experience academic exchange beyond the classroom.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa welcomed Fiji鈥檚 Deputy Prime Minister, Honorable Professor Biman Prasad on March 27, for a lively talanoa—or open conversation—about the future of the Pacific.

The event, hosted by the 糖心视频 Mānoa (CPIS), opened with a sevusevu—a traditional kava ceremony of welcome. Woven mats lined the floor and kava, a drink made from a plant native to the Pacific islands, was shared.

The warm welcome set the stage for a thoughtful discussion about the Pacific鈥檚 place in a shifting global landscape. Prasad, a longtime academic turned political leader, spoke of the region鈥檚 many challenges—from climate change and economic uncertainty to issues of governance. But he also spoke of hope.

“We were extremely thankful that he and his wife took time out of their family holiday to share briefly about the government鈥檚 work, both in Fiji and the region,” said Ron Vave, an assistant professor at CPIS. “Also, on the proposed National Research Council by government to, amongst other things, systematize and possibly integrate scholarly research into informing and influencing decision making.”

Penitiko Taoi, a masters student of Fijian descent in 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 Pacific studies department also attended the event.

“I for one was thankful that we could register the concern that U.S. funded Fijian students face and learn of potential government assistance they could tap into,” said Taoi.

Unity: Island nations

Prasad also serves as Fiji鈥檚 Minister for Finance. Fiji, often seen as a regional leader, is no stranger to the pressures of climate change, rising costs, and political reform. Prasad called for greater unity among island nations and highlighted the importance of values like democracy, fairness, and cooperation.

Born into a rice farming family in Dreketi, Vanua Levu, Prasad rose to become one of Fiji鈥檚 most influential public figures. Before entering politics, he was an economics professor and earned his PhD from the University of Queensland. His life鈥檚 work has centered on social justice and inclusive growth.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is expanding its (CAPA) initiative this fall, providing students with valuable skills and knowledge to pursue careers in government, education, business, and the nonprofit sector related to the Asia-Pacific region. Launched in October 2023 by the (SPAS), CAPA aims to bolster career readiness and professional development opportunities for 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: New Asia-Pacific affairs career initiative in motion, October 10, 2023

This semester, CAPA is rolling out a new webinar speaker series, beginning with “International Education Careers: Nothing Adventured, Nothing Attained” on September 18 at 3 p.m. via Zoom. ()

“Our first CAPA talk of the fall series will feature 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 alumni who have teaching careers overseas,” said Teri Skillman, associate director at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (CSEAS). “They will speak about their process of obtaining a job, the value of the 糖心视频 degree, and the importance of their language skills in their education career.”

Strategic grant funding

The CAPA initiative complements the Indo-Pacific Affairs Initiative in SPAS, supported by Congressionally-directed funding from 2022–25, which aims to strengthen 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 expertise in Asia and the Pacific Islands. This funding supports various components, including the newly established Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, paid internships, visiting experts, and enhanced educational and professional development opportunities.

A key component of CAPA is a $1.13 million grant from the International Foreign Language and Area Studies Office of the U.S. Department of Education, which designates CSEAS as a National Resource Center (NRC). This funding aims to enhance career readiness using Southeast Asian languages and area studies expertise.

“The absolute priorities for the grant align with the 糖心视频 system career readiness priorities and with the state鈥檚 ,” said Miriam Stark, director at CSEAS. “This is an effort to enhance career readiness using Southeast Asian languages and area studies expertise to succeed in the workplace and meet national needs.”

Inaugural course

This fall, CAPA also introduced its first course, ASAN 305: Career Pathways in Asian Studies, which explores various careers related to and helps students develop the skills needed to translate academic success into meaningful careers.

“It鈥檚 a hands-on course that draws on our recent research on Asia-related workforce needs and alumni placements, putting those research results to practical use for our students,” said Cathryn Clayton, an associate professor and chair of Asian studies who developed and teaches the course.

CAPA鈥檚 upcoming events include workshops on civic engagement, funding opportunities, and publication writing, providing students with comprehensive resources to navigate Asia-Pacific related careers.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CSEAS) hopes to empower museum and heritage professionals who are at the forefront of preserving the culture, collections, and traditions across the Asia-Pacific Region thanks to a $429,872 grant. Funded by the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Cultural Heritage Center (CHC), the award will support a two-year Asia-Pacific Museum Exchange Program.

“We hope this project can draw on local knowledge to forge closer linkages between Asia-Pacific neighbors that creates new synergies and strengthens museums and heritage organizations,” said Miriam Stark, director at CSEAS.

The program will provide professional development for mid-career professionals working in small to medium-size museums and cultural centers in islands of Southeast Asia and western Pacific islands.

CSEAS aims to guide participants to explore Indigenous knowledge in conservation, utilize digital tools to engage communities, and master advanced techniques in collections management. Applications for the program will be open November 4–22.

Virtual and in-person training

The training will begin in spring 2025 with a series of virtual workshops, followed by two intensive, in-person workshops in Honolulu, scheduled for July 2025 and July 2026. The workshops will provide hands-on experience, direct interaction with experts, and the chance to build lasting professional connections.

CSEAS is seeking applicants from across the Asia-Pacific, including the islands of Southeast Asia nations and Pacific Island territories such as the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Guam.

This program is made possible through the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, a partnership between the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 CHC, National Park Service and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 CSEAS.

“Having this opportunity to work with the State Department and Park Service to enhance Asia-Pacific Museum networks is a real honor for our university and center, and we look forward to linking together colleagues across the region through these events,.” said Miriam Stark, director of CSEAS.

For more information, contact Teri Skillman at skillman@hawaii.edu or visit the .

A newly established award is paying tribute to prominent Pacific historian and former University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Brij V. Lal who died in December 2021. Created to honor his significant contributions to the Pacific history field and scholarship, the will honor exceptional articles published in , a journal by the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (CPIS).

“This award represents a wonderful testament to Brij鈥檚 scholarly legacy as the first editor of The Contemporary Pacific, as well as the generosity of the Lal family,” said Terence Wesley-Smith, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 emeritus professor and chair of the journal鈥檚 review committee.

The first awardee

The first awardee was Monica C. LaBriola, an assistant professor of history at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. LaBriola received the recognition for her article, “Marshallese Women and Oral Traditions: Navigating a Future for Pacific History,” published in the journal鈥檚 fall and spring 2023 issues. Her work focuses on reevaluating the role of women in Marshallese history by analyzing oral and performative traditions.

“To say it is an honor to be the inaugural recipient of the Professor Brij V. Lal Award is an understatement—he was a true giant in the field of Pacific history. I hope Brij would approve,” said LaBriola.

Pioneering scholar

Professor Lal, known affectionately as Brij, was a pioneering scholar whose work greatly influenced the study of Pacific history, especially regarding Fiji and the Indian diaspora. In recognition of his impactful career, Lal鈥檚 family, CPIS and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 established the annual award to honor a The Contemporary Pacific article that embodies the rigorous scholarship and depth of understanding Lal championed.

The Lal family shared their excitement about the award鈥檚 first recipient.

“We are delighted the winning article examines a nation鈥檚 history from the perspective of previously marginalised voices, and that it is written by an early career academic. I know Brij would also have wholeheartedly supported the award going to an article that reflects interdisciplinary historiography and embraces non-traditional sources of knowledge to provide a more nuanced understanding of a country鈥檚 history.”

This year鈥檚 award was based on articles published in 2023 and reviewed by Wesley-Smith, Emeritus Professor David Hanlon and Stu Dawrs, senior Pacific librarian.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CALL) is set to pioneer a venture into environmental justice within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, thanks to a game-changing $1.25-million grant from the Mellon Foundation. This funding will propel the establishment of a cutting-edge interdisciplinary initiative, complete with two new faculty positions, a humanities lab to develop new teaching materials, and a dynamic forum for professional development and the exchange of ideas.

“We have every expectation that this project will have a transformational and lasting impact on 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 growing capacity to serve as an international leader in advancing the goal of environmental justice across the vast and interconnected regions of Asia, Oceania and America,” said CALL Dean Peter Arnade.

Eco-justice movement

Examples of environmental justice issues can range from unequal access to clean water, air pollution and climate change impacts. Asia and the Pacific Islands are home to more than 60% of the world鈥檚 surface area and human population, and are disproportionately affected by the ecological catastrophes of sea-level rise, marine pollution, coastal erosion and biodiversity loss. At the same time, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are notably underrepresented in the environmental movement at the national level.

Throughout the next three years, the new initiative, housed in CALL鈥檚 (SPAS), aims to chart a new course forward by developing an approach to environmental justice that leans into the long-standing connections— of culture, kinship and shared histories—that link the diverse regions and populations of America, Oceania and Asia. The initiative will lay an educational foundation for a new generation of leaders who will be equipped with grounded and culturally-relevant knowledge, networks, and skills to empower themselves and their communities.

“糖心视频 Mānoa will be one of the first universities in the country with this kind of AAPI-based environmental humanities initiative,” said Cathryn Clayton, professor and chair of the . “We hope to spark new conversations, at the local, national and international level, about the intersections of environmental and social justice from AAPI perspectives. We also hope to provide an institutional platform that can help amplify the voices that are already out there in the community doing this vital work.”

Clayton and Alexander Mawyer, an associate professor and director of the 糖心视频 Mānoa , authored the proposal.

New courses, professional development

New faculty in the Departments of Pacific Islands Studies and Asian Studies will develop and teach innovative interdisciplinary courses that explore how issues of environmental justice connect populations and cultures, pasts and futures, across the Pacific Islands, Asia and the U.S. The grant will also fund a series of activities aimed at establishing 糖心视频 Mānoa as a hub for AAPI environmental humanities and environmental justice. A new pedagogical lab will invite faculty and students to collaborate with community groups to create multimedia resources such as e-books and videos to strengthen humanistic approaches to environmental justice studies.

糖心视频 Mānoa faculty and students will also have the opportunity to participate in an ongoing forum to share emerging research with colleagues, scholars and practitioners from the continental U.S., Asia and the Pacific Islands. The forum will serve as a generative space for new networks of knowledge and professional development that advance AAPI needs, voices and solutions in environmental justice through the humanities.

To prepare students for dynamic careers that require expertise in the Asia-Pacific region, the (SPAS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has launched the Careers in Asia-Pacific Affairs (CAPA) initiative. CAPA is designed to increase students’ awareness of the diverse, exciting careers that they can pursue.

The collaborative initiative presents a significant step towards equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in Asia-Pacific related careers in government, education, business and the nonprofit sector. Key elements include the creation of a three-credit course in the Asian studies department that will enable students to explore the range of careers related to and develop the skills and materials that will position them to succeed in these fields. A speaker series is another critical component which aims to build bridges between students and future prospective employers.

“We believe that University of Hawaiʻi students have important contributions to make across many different fields, and we aim to support them by offering world-class education and training, connecting them with employers, and helping them to build their professional networks,” said Kristi Govella, director of the which is housed in the 糖心视频 Mānoa .

CAPA speaker series

This fall, the School of Pacific and Asian Studies kicked off the CAPA initiative with two events. Students connected with guest speaker Larry Chun, a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service at the U.S. Department of State. Chun talked about how growing up in Hawaiʻi has served him in a unique career field that encompasses international diplomacy and federal law enforcement. The series also featured Mireille Zieseniss, a public diplomacy advisor at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who touched on the opportunity her career provides to tell America’s story, connect people, and shape foreign policy.

The CAPA speaker series continues with Think Tank Careers: Policy, Communications, and Project Management, October 25, 3–4 p.m. at Moore Hall 258 or . The event will feature Elina Noor (senior fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Keoni Williams (information and publications officer at the Pacific Islands Development Program) and Jesslyn Cheong (senior program manager at Pacific Forum).

The CAPA initiative complements the cross-center Indo-Pacific Affairs Initiative in SPAS, which is supported by Congressionally-directed funding during 2022–25 to bolster 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 strengths in Asia and the Pacific through the newly created Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs and other features such as a , visiting experts, and the expansion of educational and professional development opportunities.

Funded by Title VI through the U.S. Department of Education, the CAPA initiative is co-sponsored by the , the East Asia National Resource Center, the , the and the .

Construction of a new $70 million five-story building on the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 campus is scheduled to begin in 2024 on McCarthy Mall where Snyder Hall stood before it was demolished in 2021. The first two floors will be much-needed modern classroom and learning spaces and the top three floors will be the new homes of the (COE) and selected components of the (CALL).

COE and CALL faculty and staff participated in a series of co-creation workshops in spring 2023 by the (糖心视频CDC), an interactive process to solicit feedback on potential designs of workspaces. The participants interacted with architectural models that included movable furniture and walls/partitions to better visualize and provide input on the designs to best suit their needs.

“These co-creation workshops give faculty and staff an opportunity to comment on design concepts right in the planning stages,” said 糖心视频CDC Principal Investigator Brian Strawn. “Receiving feedback before we hire an architect will help to ensure that the space is well designed and functional for the people who will be using it.”

The participants and organizers say the workshops are a great way to engage those who will ultimately work in the new building.

“By meeting with small groups, we can hear from them about their needs, and they can be involved as a part of the process,” said Gaye Chan, interim associate dean at CALL. “These meetings have given us opportunities to learn about what faculty and staff do in their work life, hear about needs that we would have never thought of, and also allowed us to clear up misunderstandings.”

糖心视频CDC is a unit of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 , and the workshops were also a great learning experience for architecture students. They helped staff the workshops and experienced firsthand what it is like to work with clients and receive feedback on design concepts during the planning stages.

“Participating in co-creation workshops as an architecture student has refined my abilities in physical modeling and client communication,” said Hunter Wells, an architecture student interning at 糖心视频CDC. “These workshops have not only taught me how to balance productivity and efficiency, but also emphasized the significance of observing client reactions for continuous improvement.”

The co-creation workshops were held on the third floor of the Isabella Aiona Abbott Life Sciences Building.

The University of Hawaiʻi hosted U.S Representative Ed Case on November 22 to highlight 糖心视频鈥檚 Indo-Pacific programs and initiatives and discuss expansion of federal funding opportunities. Case met for the afternoon with about two dozen 糖心视频 Indo-Pacific experts, alumni, students and leaders including 糖心视频 President David Lassner and 糖心视频 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis Syrmos.

“It was an incredible opportunity for me to just sit here with so many incredible professionals in the 糖心视频 ʻohana and just dig into the opportunities that are available for the next couple of decades as our country and our world focus much more on the Indo-Pacific,” said Case after the event.

A wide range of topics were covered starting with 糖心视频鈥檚 Indo-Pacific academic programs, including the and the new Strategic Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs through the . Other areas discussed included the new Oceania Initiative to bring together System-wide efforts in health, climate, education and more; alignment between 糖心视频 and the for students from the Pacific Islands; a recently created academic program for careers in intelligence through the ; and a roundtable where students and alumni shared their backgrounds and current work.

Rep. Case has been a leader in Congress to expand U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific. He is the co-chair of the bipartisan Pacific Islands Caucus, sponsor of the Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific (BLUE Pacific) Act and has visited multiple Pacific Islands.

“There is a ton of existing capacity here and the challenge is to really get it as coordinated as possible with all the other institutions and expertise in Hawaiʻi,” said Case, who also acknowledged that continued federal funding is key to the coordination. “If we can do all that, we鈥檙e going to take this to a whole other level in terms of the capacity of the University of Hawaiʻi.”

After the event, Lassner commended Case for his support and commitment to the region.

“We were honored to have the opportunity to share with Rep. Case the remarkable expertise and work of our faculty,” said Lassner. “His leadership in Congress on matters relating to Oceania has been exemplary, and we look forward to working with him and our entire delegation to strengthen ties between Hawaiʻi and our Pacific ʻohana.”

For the last half century, the has taught thousands of students the art of the Japanese tea ceremony inside a traditional tea house. The structure sits under sprawling trees within the picturesque , where you can hear the faint sound of a bubbling koi pond. The zen-like atmosphere helps to put students into a meditative mindset before entering Jaku鈥檃n, the name of the Japanese tea house, which means the “hut of tranquility.”

Related: Hidden gem restored for future generations, February 2015

The time-honored structure was erected in 1972, after Genshitsu Sen, a 15th generation grand tea master, commissioned the building of a chashitsu (authentic tea ceremony house) in Hawaiʻi. First constructed in Japan and reassembled in Hawaiʻi, Sen donated the structure to 糖心视频 in an effort to carry out his life鈥檚 mission of fostering peace through the teaching of tea ceremony.

“The tea house is tranquil and separates us from our busy daily life, which allows us to self-reflect,” said Akiko Ono, a 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 instructor who teaches the . “Through this beautiful art form, we learn to remain humble and be respectful to nature and one another.”

Way of Tea

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 has offered the way of tea ceremony courses since the 1970s, enabling students to study the deeply respected practice and its role in the history and culture of Japan. Ono worked alongside the late Urasenke tea ceremony instructor Yoshibumi Ogawa, who mentored 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students inside the tatami (straw mat) lined structure for more than 40 years. Ono has since picked up the torch, passing down Ogawa鈥檚 knowledge and the deeply-layered tradition of Japanese tea.

“In tea gatherings, you see hospitality expressed in so many ways through so many things,” Ono explained. “I would like my students to take notice of the small things around them even if they seem insignificant at first, and learn to use their five senses thoroughly to appreciate what they experience every day.”

Gay Satsuma, associate director at the fondly recalls taking the campus鈥� Way of Tea in Japanese History and Culture course as an undergraduate student in the mid-1980鈥檚.

“It was a wonderful experience to learn in an authentic tea house,” said Satsuma. “At that time, I had not yet visited Japan so that experience in Jaku鈥檃n was like a window into the culture.”

In 2015, Jaku鈥檃n celebrated a reopening after undergoing renovations funded by Sen.

CJS is part of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 S in the .

A three-year $1-million grant will launch a new Indo-Pacific Affairs Initiative and establish a Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs within the at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. The federal funding was secured by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono to provide education, training and professional development opportunities for students and U.S. government personnel to better meet national security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs will be one of the first academic institutions in the world to focus specifically on the Indo-Pacific region. Changing strategic dynamics have recently led policymakers to expand their thinking beyond traditional definitions of “East Asia” to consider a much more expansive “Indo-Pacific” that stretches from the west coast of the U.S. to the west coast of India. Throughout the past several years, many countries, including the U.S., have released Indo-Pacific strategies that reflect their recognition of the importance of this region.

“The expertise about the Indo-Pacific region that already exists at the university and across Oʻahu is virtually unparalleled. And, as an integral part of that region, 糖心视频 is uniquely positioned to educate our future leaders in the kinds of historically-grounded, culturally-aware perspectives that can help ensure that U.S. policies and personnel contribute to the peace and well-being of the entire region,” said Cathryn Clayton, chair of the .

The Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs will be the institutional hub of the broader Indo-Pacific Initiative, which will help to bring together experts and opportunities from the and across the 惭腻苍辞补 campus. Other goals include the expansion of course offerings, research and Indo-Pacific affairs co-curricular programming, including strengthening the program that was launched by the Asian studies department in 2019. Professional development opportunities will also be made available to students at the BA and MA levels.

Kristi Govella, an assistant professor in the Asian studies department who will be the director of the new center said, “Through this new Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, we will help to bridge the gap between the best scholarly research and timely policy-relevant analysis, while also providing transformative opportunities for students to engage with regional affairs.”

The funding will also provide for professional skills workshops, a visiting experts program, online outreach and help to enhance the visibility of the work 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students and scholars are already engaged in the field.

“Importantly, this initiative will enable 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 to initiate a pilot program that will provide financial support for our students who are engaged in unpaid internships at organizations with a focus on Indo-Pacific issues,” said 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 has long been recognized as a leading university for Asian Studies and . The launch of the 糖心视频 Indo-Pacific Affairs Initiative comes on the heels of news in August that 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 was awarded seven Title VI International Education grants totaling $7 million over a four-year grant cycle from the U.S. Department of Education to support language instruction, teacher training, curriculum development, outreach and library collections related to Asia and the Pacific.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded seven Title VI International Education grants totaling $7 million over a four-year grant cycle from the U.S. Department of Education, keeping the campus among an elite group of U.S. universities with a dominant presence in international studies, especially in the Asia and Pacific regions.

糖心视频 Mānoa programs awarded funds

• National Resource Center for East Asia
• National Resource Center for the Pacific Islands
• National Resource Center for Southeast Asia
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship for East Asia
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship for the Pacific Islands
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship for Southeast Asia
• National Foreign Language Resource Center

“糖心视频 Mānoa is at the forefront of education in the Asia-Pacific region,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “These competitive grants recognize our unparalleled strengths in instruction, research and training in these critical areas. As a minority-serving institution, we draw diverse students into higher education, build their skills through our fine faculty and academic partnerships, and send our alumni into professional careers that connect Hawaiʻi and the U.S. to the Pacific and Asia.”

The (NRC) and (FLAS) grants are housed in the (SPAS) in the (CALL) at Mānoa. SPAS is considered a leader in Pacific Islands studies and Asian studies nationally and internationally. 糖心视频 Mānoa is the only university in the country to be awarded NRC-Pacific Islands and FLAS-Pacific Islands grants.

The NRC grants will support modern language instruction, teacher training, curriculum development, outreach and library collections. FLAS programs fund fellowships for 糖心视频 Mānoa undergraduate and graduate students who are studying modern foreign languages and area studies.

The (NFLRC) grant was first awarded to 糖心视频 Mānoa when the NFLRC program was established in 1990 and has been continuously earned since then, making 糖心视频 Mānoa the oldest language resource center in the nation.

“Faculty and staff at 糖心视频 Mānoa collaborated across campus and with other campuses to develop innovative projects, e.g. Asia-Pacific Studies Career Readiness Program, the Kapiʻolani Community College Certificate of Community Interpreting, and NFLRC Japanese and Filipino Culture Apps,” said CALL Dean Peter Arnade. “Winning these prestigious grants not only demonstrates our national leadership in these fields but also provides critical support to the university to carry out its mission to serve the people of Hawaiʻi, and its neighbors in the Pacific and Asia.”

A trailblazing alumna of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CPIS) has earned a national teaching award at one of Australia鈥檚 top-ranked universities. Professor Katerina “Kati” Teaiwa was named the 2021 Australian University Teacher of the Year for her embodied and innovative approach to teaching Pacific studies. Teaiwa is the first Indigenous woman from the Pacific to win the award and be promoted to full professor at (ANU).

Teaiwa was born and raised in Fiji to parents of Banaban, I-Kiribati and African American heritage. This heritage has remained influential in her research and writing.Her highly-regarded book, Consuming Ocean Island: stories of people and phosphate from Banaba (2015), explores the history of phosphate mining on the island and the ongoing impacts of colonial management.

Teaiwa also previously taught at CPIS as an assistant professor, advocating for rigorous interdisciplinary approaches to Pacific Islands Studies, a commitment she maintained when she joined ANU and established the campus鈥� very first Pacific Studies undergraduate program. Her approach continues to inspire movements in Pacific Islands Studies at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and across Oceania.

“Most of my classes feature embodied knowledges, such as Pacific dance, and this can be both challenging and empowering as students learn how to connect dance to Pacific values, identities or issues such as gender relations,” Teaiwa explained. “Teaching and learning dance demonstrates how there are other ways important to understand and connect with the Pacific beyond lectures, scholarly literature and policy reports.”

“Katerina has always been an excellent, charismatic teacher,” said Terence Wesley-Smith, a recently retired professor at CPIS who mentored Teaiwa. “She has a presence in the classroom that commands attention鈥攅ven the least motivated students tend to sit up and take notice. She asks her students to learn Pacific songs and to dance, both to further a sense of community and to offer a flavor of island cultures, languages and sensibilities.”

Bridging concepts

Teaiwa continues to transform scholarly research and extend this notable interdisciplinary work by exploring Banaban histories through a touring visual art exhibition, . In 2019, the award-winning scholar teamed up with CPIS鈥� former Outreach Director James Viernes for a 16-day field school at Palau Community College. The event brought together students from CPIS and ANU and focused on hands-on learning to bridge between theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and real-world contexts in Oceania.

“This was the first CPIS field school that was not language based, and Dr. Viernes and I were the first Indigenous Micronesian scholars to lead this scholarly effort in Micronesia on behalf of both CPIS and ANU,” Teaiwa said. “It really highlighted the unique ways that Pacific Islands Studies is community engaged and focused on Indigenous experiences and worldviews.”

Teaiwa is a Pacific Studies professor and deputy director of Higher Degree Research Training in the School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific at ANU. She also serves on the board of CPIS‘ high-impact journal The Contemporary Pacific as the arts editor. Teaiwa co-edited the latest volume in Pacific Islands Monograph Series, Sweat and Salt Water: Selected Works of Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa.

This work is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The University of Hawaiʻi is in line to receive tens of millions of dollars in federal funding with the passage of the $1.5-trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 15. The federal funding is expected to have an impact across the 10-campus system as it increases student financial assistance, provides millions for research important to Hawaiʻi and funds multiple 糖心视频 projects and initiatives.

“We are extremely grateful to our Hawaiʻi congressional delegation for their support throughout this lengthy federal appropriations process,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “This budget provides significant investment in critical programs that support higher education and our students nationally, as well as 糖心视频– and Hawaiʻi-specific investments. Our sincere thanks to Sen. (Brian) Schatz and Rep. (Ed) Case, who serve on the Appropriations Committees, as well as Sen. (Mazie) Hirono and Rep. (Kai) Kahele, for all of their hard work to secure these critical investments through their committee work and advocacy.”

Aside from the funding for a wide variety of areas listed below, the Act also included the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA supports comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.

Students in need

The act increases funding to support low-income students and Minority Serving Institutions:

• The maximum Pell Grant award was increased by $400, to $6,895, for the 2022鈥�23 academic year, the biggest increase to the Pell maximum in more than a decade.
• $10.9 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program, a $5.8-million increase from federal fiscal year 2021, which runs from October 1 to September 30 (FY21).
• $21.3 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program, a $2.3-million increase from FY21.
• Other federal programs received increases including the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, TRIO, GEAR UP and the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need programs.

Native Hawaiians

The act increases funding for federal programs that support Native Hawaiians:

• $38.9 million for the Education for Native Hawaiians program, an increase of $1.5 million from FY21.
• $4 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Institutions program, an increase of $806,000 from FY21.
• A $5-million increase for NASA鈥檚 Minority University Research and Education Project, which has been directed to utilize funds to connect science, Indigenous culture and community at minority-serving higher education institutions, including Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
• A $1 million increase, for a total of $3 million, was provided for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, a partnership between 糖心视频, Oklahoma State University and the University of Alaska.

The measure encouraged the Office of the Director in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to prioritize the research needs of Native Hawaiians and to partner with entities that have a proven record of working closely with Native Hawaiian communities and organizations to allow for the development of NIH researchers.

糖心视频 programs

The act includes about $5.5 million in congressionally directed spending for a number of programs:

• $1 million for the 糖心视频 Hilo ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for the Hale Pōhaku Exhibition and Planetarium Expansion.
• $1 million for Asia-Pacific Microgrid Development and Training through Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, a unit of the 糖心视频 Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
• $1 million for a Strategic Center for Indo-Pacific Studies in the 糖心视频 Mānoa School of Pacific and Asian Studies.
• $1 million for a Rural Health Research Center in the 糖心视频 System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives.
• $445,000 for Partnerships for Puʻuloa (Pearl Harbor) Shoreline Biocultural Restoration in partnership with the 糖心视频 System Office of Indigenous Innovation and the 糖心视频 Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources鈥� Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.
• $200,000 for the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, a unit of 糖心视频 Mānoa SOEST, for Nature-Based Coral Reef Features for Coastal Protection.
• $900,000 for a new post-harvest processing facility at MAʻO Organic Farms, a 糖心视频 partner, to provide more locally produced foods in the community while expanding their youth internship program, training and other educational opportunities through 糖心视频.

Research

More than $700 million in the act is to address the Red Hill water crisis. As 糖心视频 has played an important role in the state鈥檚 response to the crisis, the university is expected to receive tens of millions over the coming years for related research. That would include a water security and resilience initiative, hydrogeology studies and fuel tank corrosion evaluation and monitoring.

The act also makes strong investments in federal research agencies, all of which benefit 糖心视频, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funding for research also includes:

• $40-million increase for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program in the Department of Defense, which includes the 糖心视频-managed, Maui High Performance Computing Center.
• $3-million increase for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, which provides continuing support to the 糖心视频 Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes.
• $7-million increase for the Energy Transitions Initiative, which helps remote and island communities design their own resilience and clean energy solutions.
• $2.5-million increase in the Alternative Energy Research program, which supports the 糖心视频 Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute and climate resiliency work in SOEST.
• $7.5 million for a new program called Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships (RISE-UP) that will support a collaboration between universities in isolated and island states with expertise in energy, marine and blue economy technologies to diversify their state economies.
• $1.2 million for coffee leaf rust research.
• $1 million for science-based pest management strategies for invasive insect species that affect tropical grazing lands.

The has been awarded two Title VI International Education grants totaling almost $1 million from the U.S. Department of Education. These awards maintain 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 standing in an elite group of U.S. universities with a dominant presence in international studies, especially in the Asia and Pacific region.

The for Southeast Asia grant combined with the NRC for East Asia grant totals $965,764 for the next two years (2020–2022).

The NRC grants will support modern language instruction, teacher training, curriculum development, outreach and library collections. The NRC grants are housed in the (SPAS), under the new (CALL). SPAS is considered a leader in Pacific and Asian Studies nationally and internationally.

“Advancing research and educating our students in the context of the rich cultures that surround us is important as we prepare them for the future,” 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno said. “These grants will ensure that 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and the School of Pacific and Asian Studies continue to be a driving force in the generation and dissemination of knowledge of cultures across the Asia and Pacific region.”

“Winning these prestigious grants demonstrates 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 continued excellence in the field of Asian Studies,” CALL Dean Peter Arnade said. “Our university is a recognized leader in international education and plays a key role in connecting Hawaiʻi and the nation with the world.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is merging the College of Arts & Humanities (AH), College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature and the School of Pacific and Asian Studies into a single college named the College of Arts, Languages & Letters (CALL), effective July 1. The goal is to reinvigorate the liberal arts at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 with a focus on Asia and the Pacific, for which 糖心视频 is internationally known. The collective resources of the new college will create more opportunities for students and faculty by facilitating stronger interdisciplinary collaboration while attracting more students and enabling financial stability. Current AH Dean Peter Arnade will be the dean of the new college.

“We anticipate that increased faculty collaboration under the leadership of a single dean will enable more flexible engagement of faculty, for example in teaching the culture, history and language of a region,” said 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno in the merger action memo to 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “It will inspire stronger cohesiveness across language, literature and culture and enhance cross-disciplinary scholarship and studies to attract more students to CALL‘s academic offerings and better prepare those students for the requirements and challenges they will face as global citizens.”

Consultation with stakeholders on the merger began in October 2018 and included faculty and department chairs from the affected units, the 惭腻苍辞补 Faculty Senate and unions. After continuous discussions, the consultation led to an updated plan that includes retaining the School of Pacific and Asian Studies as a school within the new college and retaining Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures as a department.

In approving the recommendation from Provost Bruno, 糖心视频 President David Lassner stated that “this reorganization will strengthen the ability of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 to advance our unique mission, especially in light of the financial challenges now before us.”

The new college is the latest step in the ongoing discussions regarding the reorganization of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 that began in 2016. It follows the merger of the School of Travel Industry Management and the Shidler College of Business in August 2019, the creation of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost position and recombination of the 糖心视频 President and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor positions approved in April 2019, and the integrated coordination of administrative services between the campus and system.

will further refine and sharpen the mission, leadership, and functions of the various support units primarily reporting to the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost. The formal consultation on that phase will begin in fall 2020 with a goal of implementation beginning in January 2021.

“A celebration of a person’s 100th birthday is not unusual when a person reaches that milestone in life; however for me, though I never expected to reach it, the year 2020 is more important as the 70th anniversary of my moving to Hawaiʻi, and even more important as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the MA degree in Music with concentration in Ethnomusicology. I deeply appreciate the extensive celebration of my 100th birthday.” —Barbara B. Smith

A pioneer for cultural diversity for the and the state, who has championed the music and dance of Hawaiʻi, the greater Pacific and Asia, Professor Emerita of Music Barbara Barnard Smith will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 10.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a year-long celebration honoring Smith and her contributions and achievements included a series of concerts, museum exhibitions and an international symposium, The Barbara B. Smith Conference on Ethnomusicology. The conference, which coincided with her 100th birthday, has shifted to webinars on Zoom. All other canceled events may be rescheduled to a later date.

Smith, fondly known as “Miss Smith” to her students, immersed herself in the music of Asia and the Pacific, and advocated for its integration into the music department. She established and developed the internationally-recognized at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, whose graduates also became advocates in culture and the arts throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. Among Smith鈥檚 earliest students were Herbert Ohta (Ohta-san) and Eddie Kamae, both recognized artists in the Hawaiian music industry.

In memoriam: Barbara Smith, ethnomusicology program founder
—July 3, 2021

While Smith retired from full-time teaching at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in 1982, she remained engaged with the department and university through her fieldwork, advocacy for research and as a mentor to international graduate students. Her relentless dedication and commitment was evident as she continued to mentor dissertation students, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Barbara Smith is one of the true treasures of Hawaiʻi and our university,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “She is both a highly-recognized academic and an engaged community member with a remarkable generosity of spirit. Her impact throughout Hawaiʻi and the Asia Pacific region, and on the thousands of people she has has touched directly and indirectly, cannot be measured.”

Making an early impact

Smith, who had earned her master’s degree in Music Literature at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., came to Hawaiʻi in 1949 to help develop the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 . The California native was hired to teach piano and music theory for the department in its infancy.

She was immediately interested in her students as people and their ethnic backgrounds, and was also impressed with how eagerly they were learning what she was teaching them. However, Smith came to realize that it was contributing to their problems of self-esteem because what they were learning at the university was limited to Euro-American culture. While they did not criticize her for it, she felt she was contributing to their problem.

That triggered Smith to push for a course that would acknowledge the artistic validity of the music of her students鈥� heritages. However, she could not find anyone willing to develop such a course. Rather than returning to the continental U.S. to look for other job prospects and “feel guilty for the rest of my life for failing to meet the deeply felt needs of those who had come to trust me, I devoted myself to trying to learn enough to teach an introductory course about their music. I have never regretted my decision to stay,” explained Smith.

She began to learn to perform the music of various ethnicities. Then she introduced classes in hula and Hawaiian chant, Korean dance, Chinese butterfly harp and Japanese gagaku (court music) at the music department. When the (EWC) was established in the 1960s to bring together people of the U.S., Asia and the Pacific to research and study in Hawaiʻi, Smith recommended that EWC and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 could learn from visiting scholars and performances of world music, dance and theater.

These seeds blossomed into the master鈥檚 and doctorate programs in ethnomusicology at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 that emphasize learning from “living cultures” in Hawaiʻi and the surrounding Asia Pacific region.

Students sing her praises

The program developed through the years with the help of one of Smith鈥檚 former students and now a professor emeritus of ethnomusicology and , Ricardo Trimillos.

“Barbara has been a valuable mentor, a wonderful colleague and a good friend,” said Trimillos. “It has been a joy to see a vision of ethnomusicology flourish in Hawaiʻi built upon her two ‘pillars’: a commitment to intellectual rigor and a respect for artists and their communities.”

For Terry Liu, the program built a foundation for a successful career in the arts. The former executive director of the Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance and administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts, said “The ethnomusicology program at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, a rainbow bridge to m膩lamalama, lit my path in life.”

Smith was a mentor to many students, including Patricia Dunn. A student at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in the 70s, Dunn accepted an invitation from a friend to take a new Javanese dance and music lecture class, which made her “fall through the looking glass.”

Miss Smith鈥檚 gift was more than the pedagogy of learning music and dance but one of opening up the world…
—Patricia Dunn

Dunn, who now serves as an undergraduate student advisor in the Asian studies program, credits Smith for her vision and desire to have her student鈥檚 ethnic roots reflected in the curriculum.

“Miss Smith鈥檚 gift was more than the pedagogy of learning music and dance but one of opening up the world to a girl born and raised just over the hill in the next valley over,” she said. “She instilled a curiosity and appreciation for the cultures the world could offer and an understanding of what made us unique and yet also the same.”

Another of Smith鈥檚 students was Dean R. Anderson Sutton, who pursued his MA in ethnomusicology starting in 1971. With an interest in the music of Asia, he had heard from his undergraduate professors the praises of Barbara Smith and the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 program that she founded.

“Knowing I had been introduced to Asian music at Wesleyan, where the emphasis had been primarily on performance, she looked me squarely in the eye, smiling, and said, ‘Here at 糖心视频 we put more emphasis on the ‘ology’ in ethnomusicology,’“ Sutton said of his first encounter with Smith. “All of the graduate students in the program soon learned that she was a demanding teacher, with high standards: no tolerance for sloppy writing or superficial research, nor for anyone who did not treat with respect the musicians with whom they studied.”

Sutton added, “We learned by her example to prioritize ethics in our encounters and clarity and consistency in our writing. For that guidance I remain very grateful.”

Chiao-Wen Chiang is a PhD student and fellowship recipient in the ethnomusicology program. Chiang recalled Smith recently joined a two-hour thesis defense held via Zoom due to COVID-19. “She sat through the entire session and provided comments,” she said. “I’m very impressed with her energy and enthusiasm for learning, and for continuously showing her support to students, the program and the field. Prof. Smith and her Aloha spirit inspire me profoundly.”

A pioneer of music and cultural diversity

As a woman and an academic, Smith can be credited with a number of firsts. She was the first 糖心视频 professor to study the music of Asia and the Pacific. She was the first woman and non-Japanese person to drum for local Bon Dance observances as a member of the Iwakuni tradition. She was the only non-Japanese person to be accepted by the Japanese koto (zither) master Michio Miyagi as a student. She produced the first performance instructional film for hula, with kumu hula Eleanor Hiram demonstrating the mele “Ula no Weo.” She released the first long play recording ever of an extended performance of the Korean classical music genre sanjo, performed by kayakeum (zither) virtuoso Hwang Byong-ki. She was the first American and the first woman to undertake field research and the collection of music in the various regions of Micronesia in the 1960s and 70s.

Beyond her contributions to the university, Smith has been a role model for cultural citizenship. At EWC where she maintains an active interest in the arts program, she planned and developed short-term training courses for mid-career cultural workers from Asia and the Pacific in arts development and management. In 1961, she organized court testimony to protect the Hawaiian musical instrument ʻulīʻulī from being exploited by a foreign businessman. She has supported cultural and education projects for the Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art and the former Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Perhaps her most significant contribution to the Hawaiʻi cultural community is as editor for the completion of The Queen鈥檚 Songbook, an annotated anthology of the compositions by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Smith has continued to be a supporter of projects in ethnomusicology, contemporary music and Asia Pacific cultural performance but humbly takes no credit and insists her generous donations remain anonymous.

Among her many accolades are earning the distinction as a “living treasure” from the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 ; being recognized as a “pioneer” by a resolution of the Honolulu City Council; the 2018 Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance Alfred Preis Honor; and the Governor鈥檚 Award for the preservation of Hawaiian Language, Art and Culture.

Smith has left a lasting impact on those she has taught and touched at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and in the state of Hawaiʻi, which she has proudly called her home since arriving some 70 years ago.

Sutton鈥檚 sentiments are undoubtedly shared among the many students fortunate to have been under Smith guidance. “(Due to) the ongoing legacy of the program she built and has actively sustained, even long after her official retirement, music at 糖心视频 and in the wider community would not be what it is today without her efforts. Mahalo nui loa, Professor Emerita Barbara B. Smith!”

Email for more information on the 2020 Barbara B. Smith Webinar Series: A Legacy for Ethnomusicology.

—By Arlene Abiang

President David Lassner made his report to the at their meeting on August 30, 2019.

Highlights include:

• Research funding up 18 percent ()
• Enrollment update ()
• State recognizes 糖心视频 employees ()
• National accreditation and recognition ()
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Department of Public Safety accreditation ()
• Animal research accreditation ()
• Vice President Michael Unebasami honored ()
• Welcome 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Staff Senate ()
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 reorganization update ()
• Shidler College of Business, Travel Industry Management merger ()
• College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature and School of Pacific and Asian Studies ()
• Overall 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 reorganization update ()

View previous reports to the board.

Lorenzo Finau-Cruz, a at the , had never been to a Pacific Island other than Hawaiʻi. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, he was closely tied to his Filipino roots but had always yearned for opportunities to celebrate his Tongan heritage in a Pacific setting.

Elizabeth Bennet, a Pacific Islands Studies graduate headed for a doctoral program at the University of California Los Angeles, has visited several islands in Polynesia. But she had always wanted to do research in Micronesia to expand her experience with Pacific Islander communities.

Both of their dreams came true this summer, when 22 students from 糖心视频 Mānoa’s (CPIS) program in the , and 17 students from Australian National University (ANU), ventured to Palau Community College. They participated in a 16-day field school that provided hands-on learning opportunities to apply theoretical classroom learning in real-world contexts.

“It was an overwhelmingly successful field school,” said co-director James Perez Viernes, CPIS outreach director. “This first-of-its-kind visit offered students a personal experience of understanding the complex relationships involving gender, environment, tourism, regional and political affairs, and the arts in Palau. We engaged in important issues facing Palau specifically, and greater Oceania more broadly.”

Added co-director Katerina Teaiwa, ANU associate professor, “This was the first CPIS field school that was not language based, and Dr. Viernes and I were the first indigenous Micronesian scholars to lead this scholarly effort in Micronesia on behalf of both CPIS and ANU. It really highlighted the unique ways that Pacific Islands Studies is community engaged and focused on indigenous experiences and worldviews.”

Field school participants completed several service-learning projects, including thatching bai (traditional Palauan meeting houses), fishing for people in need, and sharing cultural dance and performance with community elders. Highlights ranged from interactions with master Micronesian navigators and members of the Nuclear Free Independent Pacific group, to meetings with Bilung Gloria Salii, Palau’s highest ranking woman in the traditional system of leadership, and the Mechesil Belau, Palau’s council of traditional women elders.

The summer field school was made possible by support from the National Resource Center Program of the U.S. Department of Education.

CPIS is the only national resource center in the U.S. focused on the Pacific Islands, and the only national resource center on the Mānoa campus.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SPAS) will begin offering a new advanced degree this fall designed for working professionals and organizations seeking to engage with Asia and the necessary knowledge to deal sensitively with complex international and domestic issues in the region.

The (MAIA) aims to fill that need and is geared toward those working in the military, government service, education and tourism sectors who have a solid understanding of Asian geopolitics and the multifaceted determinants and impacts of Asian nations鈥� engagements with their neighbors and the world.

“Asia in today鈥檚 world—with its enormous population, its economic dynamism, its environmental and social challenges and its innovative solutions—is imperative as we look to the future,” said SPAS Dean R. Anderson Sutton. “This new degree builds on our special strengths and faculty expertise, shifting from the standard language-based, single-country focus that characterizes most area studies degrees to an emphasis on contemporary issues and international connections among the countries, peoples and economies, within Asia and beyond.”

Asia is home to almost 60 percent of the planet鈥檚 population, accounts for more than a third of global GDP and boasts some of the most dynamic economies in the world. Asia is a leader in the pace of urbanization and poverty alleviation, but remains home to two-thirds of the world鈥檚 poor. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, its middle class is expected to grow from 500 million in 2009 to 3 billion by the year 2030, creating not just new consumer demand, but also new political demands and unprecedented challenges for natural and human resources.

Drawing on the international recognition and established strengths of SPAS and the Asian studies program, MAIA will bring together Asia specialists from 糖心视频 and the state to create an innovative multidisciplinary program of study.

“Asia is important to the future of the globe, no matter where you are, but it鈥檚 especially so in the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Asian Studies Chair Cathryn Clayton.“We hope this program can help position Hawaiʻi even better for a future in which Asia plays an increasingly central role.”

The 30-credit program is open to students with at least two years of professional experience in fields where prospects for advancement would be enhanced by a deeper understanding of Asia. The curriculum will include a series of courses on area studies, applied theory, and a capstone experience that asks students to apply their newly acquired knowledge to a project in their own field or to a collaboration with experienced professionals working on real-world problems.

Graduates of the program, and the organizations they represent, will be positioned to work productively across cultural boundaries on questions of local, national and global importance, and to make well-informed decisions in an environment where Asia is increasingly central.

Learn more about the .