This article by Native Hawaiian Initiative Alakaʻi (Coordinator) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Kamakanaokealoha Aquino was first published in .

As we begin this new year, let us take a moment to reflect on 2025. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the University of Hawaiʻi awarded 2,086 degrees and certificates to Native Hawaiians. As of fall 2025, there are 12,618 Native Hawaiians enrolled.

There are so many accomplishments by students, faculty, staff, and administrators, to programs, community outreach, and engagement to highlight. Here are a few:

• Hear from Native Hawaiian community college students fulfilling their kuleana: Cathryn Krueger, Hawaiʻi CC; Kamananui Anderson, Honolulu CC; Melanie Camat, Kapiʻolani CC; Hiʻilani Cremer, Kauaʻi CC; Stevie Puna, Leeward CC; ʻAleʻa Kimokeo, 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College; Kauakaweli Haili-Nakamoto, Windward CC.
• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo honored Mary Kawena Pukui with a panel that coincided with Women鈥檚 History Month and her posthumous selection as a 2025 honoree for the U.S. Mint鈥檚 Native American $1 coin.
• The Hawaiian collection at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Edwin H. Moʻokini Library was named the Edith Kanakaʻole Hawaiian Collection.
• 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu hosted a two-day ʻAha Hoʻoponopono with 300 haku hoʻoponopono, social sector professionals, aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 practitioners, and community members.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Hawaiian Theatre program celebrated its 10th anniversary with its latest Hawaiian language production Puana, and an invitation to perform at the Kia Mau international Indigenous-led performing arts festival in Aotearoa.
• Windward CC extended its Hawaiian studies program to paʻahao incarcerated at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona, with 25 students enrolled in their first course.
• Haʻina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele a project by students from 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College鈥檚 Institute of Hawaiian Music was named Compilation Album of the Year at the 2025 N膩 H艒k奴 Hanohano Awards.
• Honolulu Community College hosted a two-day Indigenous education symposium ʻAha K奴kalahale 2025, uplifting Hawaiian knowledge funded by the K奴kalahale Title III Grant and in partnership with Kanaeokana and Pacific Rim Concepts.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Native Hawaiian Student Services鈥� Hawaiian Youths Abroad program Japan took a cohort of 13 students and 6 faculty/staff to explore Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while retracing connections between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan.
• Kuiokalani L. Gapero succeeded Ernie Kaʻaumoana Wilson Jr. to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents for a 5-year term.
• Winners of the Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching included: Mapuana Antonio (public health associate professor, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补); Ashlee Kalauli (math instructor, Hawaiʻi CC); Tracie Kuʻuipo Losch (Hawaiian studies professor, Leeward CC); Mehana Kaʻiama Makaʻinaʻi (Hawaiian studies instructor, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补); Peter Kalawaiʻa Moore (Hawaiian studies professor, Windward CC); and Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio (political science associate professor, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补).
• Kenny Kaʻaiakamanu-Quibilan received the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 P膩kela Award for being an outstanding academic advisor.
• Shayla Spotkaeff, a business management major and undergraduate research assistant at the Center for Oral History received the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Student Employee of the Year Award.
• Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 William S. Richardson School of Law celebrated 20 years.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 in the has released a new collection documenting the lives of Native Hawaiian Lahainaluna High School alumni who were boarding students between the 1950s and 1990s. The project highlights the stories of 20 former boarders, capturing their experiences in a series of interviews now available online.

Conducted from 2022 to 2024, the project was led by Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan and graduate research assistant Wailana Medeiros, with support from Center for Oral History Associate Director Micah Mizukami, former Director and Professor Emerita Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor, and other Center for Oral History staff.

“The important source of continuity are the stories of the elders of the land and these communities,” Tengan said. “In order for us to better understand our way forward, we need to know the moʻolelo (stories), the histories and through the spoken form—those that haven’t been recorded. It鈥檚 really important to be able to sit down with k奴puna who want to share and pass on these stories to maintain intergenerational connections, especially in a place such as Lahainaluna that has such a steeped history.”

Lahainaluna, founded in 1831 at the foot of Puʻu 笔补ʻ奴辫补ʻ奴, is Hawaiʻi鈥檚 only public boarding high school and is recognized as the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River. The boarding program began in 1836 and has played a pivotal role in the school鈥檚 legacy, offering agricultural work experiences and a sense of community for students from across the islands.

The collection includes , along with a , to showcase the lives, contributions and reflections of the narrators.

“We got to really step into the boarder lifestyle and get a glimpse of what each generation experienced as boarders at Lahainaluna,” Medeiros said. “Since this was my first ever oral history project, it really emphasized how important oral histories are to Hawaiʻi, and how when we conduct oral histories, they aren鈥檛 just extracting information but they’re meant to tell an entire life story.”

Voices of former boarders

The project sheds light on the cultural and historical significance of Lahainaluna鈥檚 boarding program and its impact on generations of Native Hawaiian students. Craig Murakami was a former boarding student who participated in this project. He was born and raised in Kahului, and descends from the Marciel family of East Maui. He graduated in 1971, serves as president of the Lahainaluna Boarders Association and still lives on Maui.

“My only regret is that it took me over 50 years to realize that all the success in my career and my life was all related to lessons learned and experiences I had as a Boarder,” Murakami said. “Hopefully, these interviews will inspire other Boarders to speak about their experiences and encourage more students to participate in the program.”

Eddie Espiritu was born in Honolulu and raised on Molokaʻi. He attended Lahainaluna as a boarder and graduated in 1971. Espiritu still lives on Maui and serves as the secretary of the Lahainaluna Boarders Association.

“Though we may come from different eras and times we share the same values that we learned as Boarders,” Espiritu said. “The value of hard work, integrity, honor, pride and commitment are just a few. But through these shared experiences we find common ground that we can pass on to the current Boarders as well as those that will come in the future.”

Honoring memories, inspiring hope after fires

The project was briefly paused in 2023 following the devastating Lahaina wildfires, as the team and community focused on recovery and reflection. Tengan hopes this work can be a source of healing for the community.

“Despite all the changes, hearing these familiar stories, hearing names of people that they hadn鈥檛 seen—perhaps are gone now—and the memories of the place that was there before the fires inspires hope for that future, reconnection and knowledge that again Lahaina can come back,” Tengan said.

Virtual launch to share stories

To celebrate the project鈥檚 release, the Center for Oral History will host a . The event will highlight the project鈥檚 findings and feature insights into the boarding experience at Lahainaluna.

The project was made possible through the generosity of the HK West Maui Community Fund, and in collaboration with the Lahainaluna Boarders Association and Lahainaluna Library and Archives.

The Department of Ethnic Studies is housed in 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The untold stories of Korean immigrants in Hawaiʻi from the plantation era through the 1970s were highlighted at an international conference, hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi.

Led by 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Professor Cheehyung Harrison Kim, the research team uncovered documents revealing Korean immigrants鈥� involvement in key historical events, including Korea鈥檚 independence movement, the World War II Honouliuli Internment Camp in Waipahu and the Kalama Valley protests in the 1970s. Along with Kim, the project team consisted of four 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 doctoral candidates (Wonkeun Lee, Sulim Kim, Eun Bin Ladner-Seok and Chiyeon Hwang) specializing in history, performance studies and Korean literature.

The joint conference from October 30 to 31 between the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and South Korea鈥檚 National Institute of Korean History (South Korea鈥檚 top archival agency) marked the culmination of a six-month research project examining collections across multiple Hawaiʻi institutions, including 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Hamilton Library, Center for Korean Studies and the Center for Oral History, as well as the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Archives.

“The history of the Korean diaspora in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere in the world is at a crucial and necessary point of going beyond the topic of identity and cultural preservation to the domain of solidarity and integration—how the Korean people all over the world forged solidarity with local peoples,” Kim said. “For example, in Hawaiʻi, our archival project shows that the Koreans actively participated in the Kalama Valley protests of the early 1970s, standing alongside other groups to fight for the rights and justice of Hawaiians and local residents.”

The conference featured findings from various collections, including the Hawaiian sugar planters’ archives, Hawaiʻi war records and multiple personal collections donated by Korean American families. Researchers and organizers highlighted how the conference addressed the critical role of archives in our globalized world.

“These archives tell us not just about preserving Korean identity, but reveal how early Korean immigrants in Hawaiʻi built meaningful connections across ethnic and cultural lines,” Kim said. “By digitizing and sharing these collections globally, we鈥檙e ensuring these powerful stories of cross-cultural solidarity and integration reach audiences far beyond our islands.”

The research initiative positions 糖心Vlog官方 as a leading institution in preserving and studying Korean diaspora history, particularly focusing on themes of solidarity and integration with other communities in Hawaiʻi.

Editor’s note: The federal government withdrew grant funding for this project in 2025.

Hundreds gathered in West Maui for the Lahaina Obon Ceremony, a remembrance for those lost in the devastating August 2023 wildfire. Among the attendees at the event on August 10 was University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico.

“I was so inspired by the love and support that folks were giving,” Danico said. “It was a mourning and a celebration of life.”

The event was organized by the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Lahaina Shingon Mission and Lahaina Jodo Mission, whose temple was destroyed in the blaze. The ceremony, which took place at Lahaina Cannery Mall, featured traditional dancing, food vendors and a sense of community healing. It was also part of an initiative put on by Kuhinia Maui.

Danico volunteered at the Jodo Mission booth, selling T-shirts with calligraphy by the temple’s reverend and images of a Buddha statue that survived the fire.

“People who came to the booth shared their memories of the Jodo Mission,” Danico said. “One woman came and asked, ‘Will the temple be rebuilt? I was married there.’”

The Lahaina Jodo Mission has been a cornerstone of the community since 1963. Rev. Gensho Hara, who arrived in Lahaina that year, later rebuilt the temple after a 1968 fire with support from locals and Japan.

Preserving memories, history

The event coincided with a $30,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant awarded to the Center for Oral History. The funds will support oral history projects preserving memories of Lahaina, Lahaina Jodo Mission and its impact.

“Those who came to the booth expressed gratitude for preserving the history of the peoples of Lahaina and Jodo Mission,” Danico said.

The center鈥檚 work builds on previous collaborations, including interviews conducted by Associate Director Micah Mizukami with Hara for a earlier in 2024. Danico is now working with Hara鈥檚 daughters, Yayoi and Maya, to identify key individuals for oral histories related to the temple.

As the community continues to grapple with loss and recovery, events like the obon ceremony provide a space for reflection and unity.

“It was a joyful occasion,” Danico said, emphasizing the resilience of Maui鈥檚 people in the face of tragedy.

The Center for Oral History is housed in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 .

A visit to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 from the (NEH) strengthened the connection between the two institutions, and potentially helped to spark additional support and resources to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 in the field of humanities.

The 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 hosted the NEH delegation from Washington, D.C. NEH is an independent federal agency dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities. The delegation was led by NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), NEH Senior Deputy Chair Anthony Mitchell and NEH Chief of Staff Kelsey Coates.

The visit on April 25 began with a meeting with Dean Peter Arnade to discuss 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 strength in humanities, highlight the work of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 faculty and students, and learn about NEH鈥檚 mission and strategic goals. Arnade previously received NEH funding, which helped change the course of his career.

“The visit from NEH Chair Lowe underscored the breadth of talent among our faculty in the
Humanities and our unique scholarly attributes,” Arnade said. “It placed a spotlight on the excellence of our faculty鈥檚 research and opened the door to more NEH funding opportunities.”

The NEH delegation also met with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 faculty who received NEH funding, and learned about the lasting impact of their projects.

They toured the , housed in 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Hamilton Library. The delegation conducted a faculty forum for 糖心Vlog官方 faculty, staff and students, and representatives from the Hawaii Council for the Humanities. They were treated to a poetry reading by Associate Professor Brandy N膩lani McDougall, who is the Hawaiʻi state poet laureate. Lowe then showcased NEH鈥檚 work to increase access to the humanities for every American across the nation. Finally, the group received tours of the and the .

The nearly 50-year history of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (COH) was celebrated at an open house event in December. Nearly 100 people attended the gathering, including COH鈥檚 first director Chad Taniguchi, and Warren Nishimoto and Michiko Kodama-Nishimoto, who served as director and associate director respectively for 37 years.

The celebration was held in 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 George Hall, the home of the Center for Oral History. The event welcomed the center鈥檚 new director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico, and honored former acting director Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan and retired director Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor. The reception was hosted by Neil Horikoshi and Gayle Yamada. Horikoshi is an alumnus from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and friend of Danico鈥檚.

“The Ethnic Studies department and the Center for Oral History have enduring ties to our community who care deeply about telling our stories our way,” Danico said. “I am honored to continue the tradition of preserving memories through oral traditions and look forward to long lasting relationships with our COH ʻohana. I am humbled by the warm welcome from everyone who joined us.”

A slideshow with photos and video clips from the Center for Oral History over the years was played. Live music was performed by individuals with deep ties to the and Center for Oral History. Liko Martin and Laulani Teale performed with Gary Kubota (activist and author of the Kokua Hawaiʻi Oral History Project book) and Professor Richard Rath.

The Center for Oral History in the Department of Ethnic Studies was first established in 1976 by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature as a part of the Social Science Research Institute in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 . The center collects, documents, preserves and highlights the recollections of Native Hawaiians and the multi-ethnic people of Hawaiʻi.

“It was so special to be able to acknowledge the work of our predecessors at the Center for Oral History,” Associate Director Micah Mizukami said. “Having all of our oral history mentors gathered together was truly magical. Seeing Chad, Warren and Michi reminiscing over old photographs and furniture in the Center was so very touching, and it鈥檚 truly a blessing and an honor to be able to continue to build upon the foundation they established, while continuing the momentum from Davianna鈥檚 relaunch of the Center in 2018.”

Like many communities in Hawaiʻi, Waialeʻe on Oʻahu鈥檚 North Shore has a rich cultural history full of moʻolelo (stories) and memories from k奴puna (elders) and ʻohana (families) who have called the area home for generations. Thanks to an oral history project by students in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and , the moʻolelo of Waialeʻe鈥檚 k奴puna have been documented and will live on for generations to come.

“My mom was displaced when she was a child—she’s from P奴p奴kea originally,” said 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 student Kenzie Kahale-Alexander, who worked on the project. “And so being able to hear stories of the area and kind of get an idea of maybe that’s what it was like for my family. That was kind of special. They took me in like family at the interview part and I’m just so fortunate to have met them and been able to work in this area.”

More than 20 students spent the fall 2023 semester documenting oral histories of nine Waialeʻe k奴puna as part of Ethnic Studies and Anthropology Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan鈥檚 North Shore Field School course. The students presented their final projects to the community at a 丑艒ʻ颈办别 event on December 2, hosted in partnership with the . The community organization was instrumental in forging partnerships with 糖心Vlog官方, providing connections to community and k奴puna, site access and hosting events.

“This is a really unique, important opportunity for students to do community-based work with both the Hawaiian community, as well as non-Hawaiian community members who have long standing ties to the place,” Tengan said. “We’re looking to instill in them an ethical sense, a kuleana-based approach to honoring the words of our narrators, the storytellers sharing their life experiences. It’s something that can only happen in a field school situation.”

“I’ve been with this project for almost two years now and I really love learning about the history of this place.” —Dani Kaohe David

Under the guidance of the Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico and Associate Director Micah Mizukami, the students conducted oral history interviews covering various topics with their narrators, including the Waialeʻe Training School for Boys, the 糖心Vlog官方 Experimental Agricultural Station, kuleana land parcels and childhood memories of their upbringing in Waialeʻe. Additional support came from graduate student alakaʻi (leaders) Alana Kanahele, Dani Kaohe David, Naomi Doherty and Amber McClure.

“I’ve been with this project for almost two years now and I really love learning about the history of this place,” Kaohe David said. “I didn’t think I would as much as I do now. It makes me want to go back into my own community and research the places there.”

Danico added, “The celebration of our communities’ oral histories highlights the importance of how memories fill the gaps in our history. The Center for Oral History is honored to be part of this history in Waialeʻe!”

The k奴puna were Nohea Santimer, Leona Lui, Rachel Paris, Mildred Cataluna, Paul and Verna Eguires, Daniel Nahoopiʻi, Margaret Primacio and JennieLee Andrade.

“The students were great, made you feel comfortable and just their interests alone in what we had to say was pretty comforting, I guess, you know, because there was meaning to them for what we had to say,” Paul Eguires said.

Place-based service learning and scholarship

The project was funded in part by an award from the Provost鈥檚 Strategic Investment Initiative, a campus-wide competition designed to increase cross-unit and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

This course is a part of the , a project that builds upon robust collaborations to develop Waialeʻe as a site of resurgent education, research and resilience for the North Shore community and beyond. The project was initiated by the as part of the effort to restore environmental, agricultural and social abundance to Waialeʻe. The community group leases 30 acres from the 糖心Vlog官方‘s former Waialeʻe livestock research station to restore loʻi kalo, fishponds, agroforestry and habitat for native species.

“The Waialeʻe Lako Pono initiative that got funded by the provost was the effort of the university to fulfill that kuleana to listen to the people of the community to really take its role as a steward of the land seriously,” Tengan said. “All of these departments are coming together to have a holistic view of what it means to bring university faculty and students together to restore a place with the direction of the community.”

“Partnering with professors like Kumu K膩wika Tengan doing the oral history field school out here is really important to preserving the history of this side of the island.” —Kawela Farrant, the North Shore Community Land Trust

Cross-disciplinary programming will be created for Waialeʻe centers on place-based service learning and engaged scholarship. Waialeʻe demonstrates how 糖心Vlog官方 can meet its kuleana to ʻ腻颈苍补 through community-based and community-supported work. The initiative is a collaboration among the , , , , , , and the .

“A lot of things are changing out here on the North Shore and so partnering with professors like Kumu K膩wika Tengan doing the oral history field school out here is really important to preserving the history of this side of the island—remembering what makes this place special,” said Kawela Farrant from the North Shore Community Land Trust.

Students who are the first in their families to go to college were well-represented at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 First-Generation Student Celebration on November 8. The event connected nearly 200 students with invaluable campus resources and contacts, and also treated them to free boba, tote bags and giveaways.

The event also provided an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to share their experiences and their journey as first-generation students to inspire others in the community.

Being a positive role model

Kikilia Lani is a first-generation student of Kanaka ʻOīwi, Boricua, Ilocano and Chinese descent. She graduated and earned degrees from (AS in early childhood education and teaching) and at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (BA and ME). She is currently a PhD student in education and an instructional and support specialist with the . She said poverty and kuleana is what led her to college.

“I didn驶t want to be poor anymore, and I recognized education as a means to socioeconomic mobility,” Lani said. “I felt that excelling in school was one way I could show appreciation to my mom and honor the struggles she went through while raising me, while serving as a positive role model for my younger siblings.”

While it can feel lonely and difficult at times, Lani said she feels privileged to be a first-generation student. “I recognize that each accomplishment contributes to the realization of the dreams of those who came before me. Knowing that those who come after me can focus less on the struggle and more on their dreams鈥ives me pride and makes me want to keep going…”

She reminds other first-generation students to not be afraid to ask for help, which can lead to meaningful connections, new insights and exciting experiences.

Pathway for better opportunities

Theresa Crichfield is 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 associate vice provost for and dean of students. For her, college was the pathway for opportunities to better herself and her family.

“My grandparents fled a dictatorship in Cuba and came to the USA for the American Dream. I can tell you, our family was fortunate enough to make it here,” she shared. “I was able to blaze my own trail with the support of my family and made my grandparents and parents proud that I was able to be college-educated and attain more than they did.”

In her role overseeing various student services, she emphasizes that the campus is packed with resources and people who want to support first-generation students on their journey to graduation. “Building a network of friends and mentors is crucial!” she said.

New experiences

Micah Mizukami is the associate director for the and a first-generation Japanese and Okinawan student. He earned his MA in linguistics and is currently pursuing his PhD in second language studies at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. He earned his BA in Japanese Studies at Willamette University in Oregon.

Growing up in the small town of ʻEleʻele, Kauaʻi led him to venture somewhere new and different for his undergraduate college experience. “I always loved traveling and seeing new places and meeting new people, and I wanted the same for my college experience,” said Mizukami.

His advice for other first-generation students? He said meeting regularly with college advisors and finding first-generation groups on campus will help them find a sense of community with other students from similar backgrounds. “These are things I wish I knew more about when I was an undergrad!”

In these modern times, the question may not be whether democracy is under threat in the U.S., but why—in this era of critical contemporary social, political and economic upheaval in North America, the Asia Pacific and beyond—is democratic backsliding occurring and what can be done about it?

The public is invited to an open town hall meeting, “,” on Friday, October 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. The 2023 Fulbright Canada Colloquium Town Hall is the culmination of several days of meetings and related events, including an authors鈥� workshop designed to produce an edited volume.

Town hall panel participants will include:

• Davianna McGregor, retired 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 professor and founding member of the 鈥� (CSS) , and former director of the .
• Jane Kabubo-Mariara, executive director of the Partnership for Economic Policy based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
• Moderator Colin Moore, director of the at CSS and a political analyst.

The town hall will focus on the critical and increasingly complex challenges to democracy and democratic institutions in the U.S., Canada and the broader international community. It will examine whether creative institutional reforms can help address the following issues:

• Heightened political and cultural polarization.
• Widening gaps between people and power.
• Threats to multi-ethnic democracies.
• Economic instability.
• Growing maldistribution of wealth and income.
• Discontent with democracy.
• The rise of populism.

Past colloquiums have addressed:

• In 2018—The exploration of significant, complex issues surrounding sovereignty, sustainability and rights of and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples.
• In 2017—The future of trade and international economic cooperation between Canada and the U.S.
• In 2016—The examination and evaluation of North America鈥檚 response to domestic and international challenges posed by increasing incidences of violent extremism.

The 2023 Fulbright Canada Colloquium Town Hall is a partnership of CSS; Fulbright Canada; the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh; and the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco.

Coordinating the colloquium are Michael Hawes, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the U.S. (aka Fulbright Canada); Denise Eby Konan, CSS dean; and Christopher Kirkey, director of the Center for the Study of Canada at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Light refreshments will be served.

.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (COH) has had a rich partnership with Palama Settlement for decades, helping to tell the stories of the influential non-profit that has been a fixture in the Kalihi-Palama community for more than 125 years.

In September 2023, four community members recounted their history of Palama Settlement at a panel session. Brother Noland, a multiple N膩 H艒k奴 Hanohano award musician; Ikaika Dutro, a renowned kumu hula; Chris Maʻafala, a former NFL player; and Cha Thompson, Tihati Productions CEO shared their personal experiences, ancestry and time at Palama Settlement. COH Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico moderated the event. This was the latest project that the COH took on to preserve the stories of Palama.

“The oral histories from this night highlight how critical it is to have a safe space for our youth and community folks,” Yu Danico said. “Palama Settlement was a place where you felt safe, had aloha for one another and shaped our narrators’ choices in life. The evening felt like a family reunion.”

COH, Palama Settlement partnership

COH first got involved in 1996 as part of Palama Settlement鈥檚 100th anniversary with a committee chaired by Paula Rath to document and share the organization鈥檚 rich history. Together with her parents, Robert H. Rath Sr. (board of trustees), and Jacqueline J. Rath (settlement archivist), they approached then-COH Director Warren Nishimoto about doing that ended up being two volumes published in 1998.

In 2020, COH had in partnership with Hawaiʻi Public Radio that featured a segment using the original audio recordings from the late 1990s Palama Settlement project. Following this program, Paula Rath reached out to COH to initiate a second oral history project on Palama Settlement for its 125th anniversary in 2021.

In 2022, Palama Settlement received a grant from the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities to do a follow-up oral history project with Paula Rath as the lead interviewer. COH Associate Director Micah Mizukami provided the oral history training and advising for Rath and others at Palama Settlement, and Rath worked closely with Landon Tom, one of COH鈥檚 graduate assistants, and Sidney Louie, the settlement archivist to bring this project together, culminating in the September 7 panel event and the creation of a new COH-sponsored, community initiated oral history project, . This collection makes accessible both the transcripts and the audio recordings.

“I was excited when Paula reached out to us about a follow-up oral history project after our online public program and podcast event, and it was so touching to see the impacts of these stories in person and the amazing community that Palama Settlement has created,” Mizukami said.

Tom added, “Almost everyone we interviewed remembers Palama Settlement as a safe space, a kind of place of refuge during their youth. These oral histories show the importance of a site like Palama Settlement across generations and it couldn鈥檛 have come together without the hard work of Paula Rath and Sidney Louie.”

Many who are familiar with Lahaina town on Maui will tell you that walking down Front Street can be like traveling through history. The catastrophic August 2023 deadly wildfire claimed structures and landmarks connected to the area鈥檚 storied whaling era, the 1820s arrival of the missionaries and the plantation period, which stretched from one end of the iconic street to the other.

Historians at the recall the area鈥檚 significance even farther back in time during the days of Native Hawaiian kings and flourishing kalo terraces.

Related: Rebuilding, preserving Lahaina鈥檚 historic district.

“It鈥檚 an area that carries deep, deep mana (power), it鈥檚 a central place of mana for the island. It鈥檚 where our aliʻi resided and we trained the leaders of the kingdom,” said Ty Kāwika Tengan, and professor at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.

Despite the English translation of Lahaina to cruel sun, said to stem from ongoing drought, early explorers describe it as teeming with fresh waterways and verdant manicured fields of ʻulu (breadfruit) and ʻuala (sweet potato).

Royal island

From 1837 to 1845, King Kamehameha III lived on the tiny island of Mokuʻula surrounded by a 17-acre pond in the heart of the area. Under his rule, Lahaina became the official first capital of the constitutional monarchy that set the foundation for judicial and executive branches of government.

Traditionally called Lele, the West Maui district was favored by aliʻi (royalty) for its abundance of food from ʻāina (land) and kai (ocean), and balanced climate. Geographically, it also served as an integral lookout for intruders.

More on how to help Maui ʻohana and the Maui wildfires.

“It鈥檚 sort of the seat of power and it鈥檚 a good vantage point. You can see all the islands that are a part of Maui Nui,” said Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, a lecturer at and native of Lahaina. “You can see if anyone is coming from Hawaiʻi Island, very easily. It鈥檚 hard to sneak up on people.”

For generations, 狈耻ʻ耻丑颈飞补鈥檚 ʻohana (family) were caretakers of Mokuʻula long before the island that once housed Hawaiian royalty was eventually buried under a modern-day baseball field.

Royal resting place

The 200-year-old Waiola Church is among hundreds of structures destroyed in the Lahaina wildfires. Founded by Keōpuōlani, the mother of King Kamehameha II and III, it鈥檚 the parish where Christianity began on Maui.

Keōpuōlani combined forces with Kaʻahumanu (Kamehameha I鈥檚 favored wife) to convince Kamehameha II to eliminate ancient religion and the kapu system, a traditional Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations.

“Kaʻahumanu had accepted Christianity and converted to Christianity wholeheartedly. She was so enthusiastic about Christianity, she made the Ten Commandments law and enforced it,” said Davianna Pomaikaʻi McGregor, a 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa ethnic studies professor emerita. “People were arrested and sentenced to go to Kahoʻolawe for adultery.”

Keōpuōlani rests at Waiola Church鈥檚 graveyard alongside notable aliʻi such as her daughter, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena and Kaumualiʻi, the last reigning king of Kauaʻi.

Educating 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 future leaders

Founded in 1831, early missionaries opened Lahainaluna School, which was put under direct control of the Hawaiian monarchy. Currently a public secondary school, at the base of Puʻu Paʻupaʻu (Hill of Struggle) in Lahaina, the institution is the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River and facilitated the education of renowned scholars and government leaders in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Kingdom. Among its most renowned graduates is Native Hawaiian politician, educator and author David Malo, who is still praised today for his accounts of ancient Hawaiian practices, religious beliefs and legends documented in his book, Hawaiian Antiquities.

Lahainaluna also printed the first newspaper west of the Rockies, Ka Lama (The Torch). It was also the first newspaper printed in the Hawaiian language. This kickstarted a massive movement from 1834 to 1948, when more than 100 independent newspapers were printed in Hawaiian.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Native Hawaiian newspapers of the past reveal destruction of 1871 hurricane, April 4, 2018

Last fall, the 糖心Vlog官方 (COH) launched a special project interviewing Native Hawaiians who were enrolled in the school鈥檚 boarding program from the 1950s to 1990s. Since last year, Tengan鈥檚 team has connected with Lahainaluna graduates who still recall the generosity of Lahaina residents.

“They shared a deep love and connection for the school and the people of Lahaina who took them in,” said Tengan. “They relied on a classmates鈥� family who would take them in for the weekend. Many of them shared how loving and how open families in Lahaina were.”

Tengan said given the tragic events that wiped out much of the beloved town, the mission to complete the Center鈥檚 Lahainaluna Boarders project is now more important than ever.

Upon completion, interviews will be made public on COH鈥檚 website.

—By Moanikeʻala Nabarro

Both chambers of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature paid homage to the groundbreaking efforts of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (ES) and one of the program鈥檚 early directors, Franklin Odo, and his colleagues, at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on March 31.

Related story: 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 ethnic studies celebrates 50 years

The House of Representatives issued a recognizing the department and its leadership—past and present—for their achievements in bringing the state to the forefront of academic and cultural conversations surrounding the issues of social justice and race relations. Acknowledged for their tremendous impact on the department were: Odo; current faculty Roderick N. Labrador, Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor, Ethan Caldwell, Monisha Das Gupta, Ulla Hasager, Richard C. Rath and Ty P. K膩wika Tengan; and emeritus faculty Ibrahim G. Aoude, Noel Kent and Jonathan Y. Okamura.

Located in the , ES emerged as a response to the tumultuous civil rights, anti-war, ethnic empowerment and students鈥� rights sentiments of the 1960s. In the resolution, the House acknowledged ES鈥� storied past, as well as the leadership role it plays today in learning, research and community service connected to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 multiethnic population.

Recognizing ethnic studies pioneer

The Hawaiʻi State Senate honored the life and legacy of Odo, who died at the end of 2022. Witnessed by members of Odo鈥檚 family, along with his friends and colleagues, the Senate expressed its appreciation for his commitment to social justice throughout a career that spanned more than 50 years.

A nationally recognized scholar and professor of Asian American and ethnic studies, Odo was instrumental in elevating the ES program to department-level status at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. He also organized numerous exhibits, studies and projects featuring the histories and experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander immigration, acculturation and experiences in the U.S., and led a delegation of panelists to testify before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC).

Related story: In memoriam: Founding ethnic studies director Franklin Odo

The CWRIC was established to review the facts and circumstances surrounding the forced relocation and internment, and the impact it had on American citizens and permanent resident aliens. Odo鈥檚 efforts led to the consideration and documentation of the wartime experiences of Japanese Americans interned in Hawaiʻi as part of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The act provided $1.8 billion in appropriations and a presidential apology for the unlawful internment of Japanese Americans.

The Senate noted that Odo鈥檚 greatest legacy, however, will forever be embodied in his students. He was a teacher, mentor and friend to thousands of college students who were awakened and inspired by his experiential and activist teaching style. He not only challenged their way of thinking in evaluating events and how those events were relevant to current day events, but also instilled the need to create their own history in their own way in his students.

A quote by Odo, taken from a 1990 interview conducted by Ethnic Studies鈥� , perhaps best distills Odo鈥檚 impact, his colleagues and the Department of Ethnic Studies on the world. It was read on the Senate floor by 糖心Vlog官方 alumna Sen. Carol Fukunaga: “If you don鈥檛 control your own culture and your own vision of life, and your own participation in life, then you don鈥檛 control anything. And that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e about. The true spirit of any kind of democracy is to have people be autonomous at the same time that they know they are dependent on the community around them.”

Video from the Hawaiʻi State Senate on the recognition for Franklin Odo and the Department of Ethnic Studies

Experience unique stories about Maui鈥檚 Haleakalā鈥攖he State of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 third tallest peak鈥攆rom stewards of the last 50 years. The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 is working with the (NPS) to collect oral interviews with current and former park staff and community members with close ties to Haleakalā National Park. The project鈥檚 purpose is to learn more about the crater, its natural resources, history and the individuals who dedicated their lives to the stewardship of the mauna. These never before seen interviews are available to the public free of charge.

Graduate assistant Alana Kanahele from the Center for Oral History in the department in the , with the help of Center for Oral History Associate Director Micah Mizukami, has conducted, transcribed and archived 13 interviews, with more to come in spring 2022. Some of the interviews were conducted virtually and others were in-person.

“While witnessing Haleakalā simply through her physical beauty is awe-inspiring, hearing her stories through the eyes of her stewards and their experiences with the Mauna over the last 50 years was incredibly memorable,” Kanahele said. “Having the opportunity to listen, laugh and learn from each of the narrators was an unforgettable experience. Many of these individuals have devoted their lives to caring for this landscape and maintaining the cultural connections between this ʻāina, Kanaka and those that have been impacted by its grandeur.”

View the interviews and read the transcripts on the , and .

Haleakal膩 National Park, whether it’s K墨pahulu or in the summit district or crater, is a cultural park as important as the scenic value鈥he culture is alive today.
— Ted Rodrigues

The interviews were conducted with former botanists, resource managers, cultural practitioners, volunteers and more. Mizukami recalled a visit with Ted Rodrigues, a former backcountry ranger at Haleakalā. He said after the interview, Rodrigues took them on a tour of some of the lands he used to manage.

“He took us ʻōhelo berry picking since they were in season,” Mizukami said. “Seeing him in his element, pointing out markers he would notice on the trail and walking through the brush, was truly amazing. It added so much context to what he shared in his interviews.”

Rodrigues added, “Haleakalā National Park, whether it’s Kīpahulu or in the summit district or crater, is a cultural park as important as the scenic value鈥he culture is alive today.”

Project鈥檚 early roots

Professor and Center for Oral History Director Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor and Mizukami were involved in discussions with the National Park Service beginning in early 2020 before project details were finalized in August 2020.

This project was funded by NPS and conducted through the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit—a partnership program between 10 U.S. federal agencies and 14 non-federal members. It is one of 17 CESUs across the U.S. that were developed to foster federal/non-federal partnerships to steward cultural and natural resources on public lands.

This project is an example of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.