A new exhibit in the Bridge Gallery of Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� invites the public to play instruments repurposed from ʻō�貹���� (trash). Bike brake cables, SPAM cans, rice bags, and driftwood are just a few of the materials that make up the exhibit’s instruments.

Available through August 10, the “” exhibit by ethnomusicology lecturer Benjamin Fairfield combines ecomusicology with place-based learning and encourages examination of consumptive habits.

“The idea of accepting a label of trash as worthless primes us to see things as having no further utility and value,” said Fairfield. “This project is getting us to challenge those labels and think, ‘Is it really worthless? Can’t it still have a voice, a utility, be part of our song and part of our creative process?’”

Crafted in the classroom

Many of the pieces were crafted in Fairfield’s class, a sustainability-focused course initially supported by the (CSEAS), where students repurpose found objects into Thai musical instruments. CSEAS has also supported outreach workshops for Kani ka ʻŌ�貹����.

“The class is important as a course that uses an Indigenous approach to sustainable music-making by recycling found objects and promotes craftsmanship grounded in Southeast Asian studies,” said Teri Skillman, CSEAS associate director.

“I was thinking, how can we connect community and music in a participatory way that is also sustainability-oriented? That’s where MUS311(M) brought all of these things together,” said Fairfield. “When students take the class, I wanted to make sure that music isn’t this scary thing that you’re not allowed to do.”

Rooted in tradition and ʻ�徱�Բ� (land)

Fairfield’s project is largely inspired by his research as a graduate student and his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he lived in a village with the Indigenous Karen (Pgaz k’Nyau) people.

“There were these musical traditions that were very interactive, and everyone had a role to play, whether it was dancing and clapping or joining along in some sort of singing capacity. Music wasn’t a presentational sort of thing—it was more participatory,” said Fairfield.

Currently serving as affiliate faculty at the and CSEAS, Fairfield brings a sense of inclusivity and creativity into his teaching.

“We’re going to celebrate sustainability and connection to the āina, and also repurpose these things as is done in the tradition,” said Fairfield, “Working with these materials is a way to connect people on a personal level to these objects that we otherwise don’t give a second thought to.”

‘Everyone’s welcome’

The exhibit highlights community involvement every step of the way, from collaborative works with local elementary schools to musings from local poets and professors.

“We explore musicality in a way that’s fun, engaging, sustainable, and hands-on,” said Fairfield.

Instruments featured also include those from a previous exhibit displayed in Capital Modern: The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum as part of Fairfield’s selection for its . Fairfield’s illustrated children’s book, ties into the theme of the exhibit and is on display as well.

To learn more about the exhibit, visit the .

—By Josslyn Rose

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s (CSEAS) brought history into sharp focus with a visit from Devaki Murch, a Vietnam War adoptee whose life now shapes how that history is remembered.

As a baby, Murch was part of Operation Babylift, a U.S.-led effort to evacuate children from Vietnam at the end of the war. The first flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Saigon on April 4, 1975. Of the 314 people aboard, 150 survived. Murch was one of them.

At ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, students, alumni and community members gathered on March 3 in Moore Hall to hear her story. But the talk went beyond survival. It asked a deeper question, who gets to tell history, and how?

Tien Nguyen, a master’s student in , said the lecture connected personal memory with lived experience.

“The fact that Devaki Murch boarded the first babylift flight and survived the fateful plane crash makes her journey even more magical,” Nguyen said. “One thing prevails, as we are all humans who have survived thus far despite the odds, we should feel empowered to do the things we love, regardless of our backgrounds.”

Active participation in the historical record

Murch drew from her work building the . She urged students to see themselves as active participants in shaping the historical record. Today’s research and digital footprints, she said, will become tomorrow’s archives, often without context or consent.

“Traditional archives ask people to trust systems that have already failed them,” Murch said. “Sealed records, classified documentation, institutional protection over individual truth. We needed a different approach.”

Raised in Hawaiʻi, Murch’s story resonated locally. Her lecture tied global conflict to familiar questions about memory, military presence and accountability.

A globally respected historian from the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� has earned one of the highest honors in her field, recognizing decades of scholarship that reshaped how the world understands Southeast Asia.

Professor emerita Barbara Watson Andaya received the from the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), a leading international organization dedicated to advancing research and teaching on Asia.

Andaya is widely known for her work on early modern Southeast Asia. Over the course of her career, her research has significantly influenced how historians interpret the region’s history and cultural development.

“Professor Barbara Andaya has been a true academic treasure to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� during her career, and we are absolutely delighted to see her hard work and devotion recognized by our international association,” said Miriam Stark, director of the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� .

Early Path

Known to many as “Barb,” Andaya grew up in Sydney, Australia. With parents involved in science and academia, she developed an early interest in education and research. She earned degrees in history and education from the University of Sydney and began her professional career as a high school teacher.

A shift in curriculum eventually brought her to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, where she completed her master’s degree in Southeast Asian history as an East-West Center fellow. She later joined the faculty and was promoted to full professor in 1996.

Research Impact

Her scholarly expertise centers on the Malay-Indonesian world. Since 2014, she has published more than 30 works, including , which was recognized as an outstanding academic title. She also served as director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies from 2000 to 2006.

����Vlog�ٷ� Press Honors

The recognition comes alongside additional accolades tied to ����Vlog�ٷ�. Two titles from the books, and , received 2026 Association for Asian Studies prizes.

University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� students played a central role in a landmark Southeast Asian film project now completed after years of collaboration. Through a partnership led by the (CSEAS) and the Vietnam Film Institute in Hanoi, more than 70 classic Vietnamese feature films have been digitized and subtitled in English.

The work began in the classroom. In 2007, CSEAS launched a film translation and subtitling course that trained ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students with advanced Southeast Asian language skills. Students translated dialogue, timed subtitles and helped prepare films for international viewing. Their work laid the foundation for a long-term effort focused on Vietnamese cinema. Former CSEAS associate director Paul Rausch created the course which was taught by John McGlynn.

Over time, the project grew into one of the program’s most active collaborations. The resulting catalog spans films released between 1959 and 2010.

The films are formatted for streaming on laptops, desktop computers and handheld devices. They are intended for libraries and classrooms, not large theaters or festivals. To support viewers who are hearing impaired, captioning was added alongside English subtitles.

Foundational support for this project was provided through CSEAS‘s designation as a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center.

For more on the catalog email vietnamcinemalibrary@gmail.com. Go to the for the full story.

—By Motoki Saito Yamamori

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� hosted the 2025 Southeast Asian Language Council (SEALC) Symposium on September 26 and 27, welcoming more than 100 educators and researchers from across the globe, both in person and online. The two-day gathering showcased innovative research and teaching practices in Southeast Asian language education.

“Our university’s longstanding commitment to Southeast Asian language instruction and the expertise of our faculty and staff made our university an excellent venue for this workshop,” Miriam Stark, director of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s (CSEAS). “We were honored to host our SEALC colleagues at the event, and look forward to extending the collaborations that it launched.”

Shared expertise

More than 30 paper and panel presentations explored a wide range of topics, from proficiency-based reading and listening assessments to project-based learning and curriculum innovations. Participants represented leading institutions such as UCLA, Harvard, and universities from across Southeast Asia.

Since its founding, SEALC has been instrumental in strengthening Southeast Asian language teaching in the U.S. and abroad through professional development workshops, materials design, and assessment innovation.

This year’s symposium was supported by funds from a Henry Luce Foundation grant awarded to CSEAS. The event was organized by Jayson Parba and Precious Arao (����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� ), in collaboration with Erlin Barnard of the SEALC Steering Committee and UW–Madison. Additional support was provided by Peter Arnade, dean of the , the SEALC Steering Committee and a dedicated team of volunteers.

—Jayson Parba and Precious Arao

For more than two weeks this summer, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� welcomed 13 museum and heritage professionals from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to share knowledge, sharpen skills and reflect on shared challenges. CSEAS hosted the inaugural Face2Face Workshop of the Asia-Pacific Museum Exchange (APME)–at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, July 15–30.

Each day focused on a theme, from disaster planning and object-based storytelling to digital preservation and curating exhibitions. Sessions were led by local experts and held at institutions such as , , , and . The group also visited ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� resources such as the Hawaiian Pacific Collection, the Center for Oral History and the Campus Arboretum.

Hands-on activities were central. Participants crafted exhibit narratives from their own museum collections and also practiced digital storytelling. Talk story sessions with Hawaiʻi-based professionals, including those with Native Hawaiian heritage, sparked deep conversations on cultural resources, community engagement and digital access.

“This workshop brought together incredible regional expertise and local knowledge,” said Teri Skillman, associate director of CSEAS. “We were honored to host these professionals in Hawaiʻi and to witness the depth of mutual learning and collaboration that emerged. Our goal is to build a network across islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific that supports specialists in cultural and heritage institutions.”

Participants came from Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Palau, Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Saipan and Vanuatu. Their expertise ranged from collections care and exhibition design to cultural education, digital archives, and preservation of Indigenous knowledge.

Platform for collaboration, professional growth, peer support

The 16-day workshop was the first major in-person event since the program launched this spring with a virtual webinar series by the National Park Service’s Museum Management Program. Together, they form a growing platform for collaboration, professional growth and peer support.

APME is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Heritage Exchange Initiative–a series of cultural heritage focused programs to strengthen ties between the United States and Pacific Island and Southeast Asian nations and build professional networks across the ocean we share. With support from the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S. National Park Service’s Museum Management Program and CSEAS developed and implemented APME via the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU; Task Agreement P24AC00688).

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s has acquired a remarkable piece of history, one of the .

The map comes from a rare Rome edition of Cosmographia by Claudius Ptolemy, a geographer from ancient Alexandria whose ideas shaped how the world was visualized for centuries. This version is special for an additional reason. It was printed by Konrad Sweynheim, a 15th century German printer and engraver who pioneered copperplate printing in Italy.

The map was purchased by the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa and gifted to the library.

“The Center for Southeast Asian Studies is proud to support the Maps and Southeast Asia Collection in Hamilton Library through funding from the National Resource Center grant from the International Foreign Language and Area Studies Program in the U.S. Department of Education,” said Teri Skillman, associate director of CSEAS.

Hamilton Library helped bring the map to life through high-resolution imaging that will allow students and researchers to study it in detail without touching the fragile original.

“This is the oldest map in Hamilton Library and it enhances the already world-class Southeast Asia collection,” said Ted Kwok a geospatial librarian at Hamilton Library.

Rome’s finest maps

Sweynheim began work on the maps in 1474 and trained mathematicians to engrave copper plates, a process that would dominate Italian mapmaking for more than 100 years. Although he died before the atlas was published, his legacy lives on. The plates were completed by his colleague Arnold Buckinck, also known as Pannartz.

Many historians consider the Rome edition to be the finest set of Ptolemaic maps produced before the rise of Gerard Mercator’s world atlas in 1578.

The map will be part of the library’s or MAGIS collection, expanding ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa’s holdings in global historical geography.

graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� will officially premiere a new short documentary on campus this month spotlighting systemic oppression facing a Pakistani woman. PhD student, Haider Rifaat directed, wrote, narrated and produced In Shackles, which will be screened on Friday, January 24, at 1 p.m. in , Room 306.

The short documentary chronicles the life of Shamim, a 34-year-old Pakistani woman navigating the harsh realities of a patriarchal society in a village in Islamabad. Her story focuses on forced marriage and sexual violence, which are connected to more complex societal problems facing Pakistanis, including religious hypocrisy, impact of family conditioning on children and the culture of silence surrounding violence.

“The film’s title In Shackles is a metaphor to describe helplessness of a woman experiencing personal and professional problems that are connected to broader, more complex societal issues in Pakistan,” said Rifaat.

At only 29 years, Rifaat, who produced the film under his production label Haider Rifaat (HR) Films, is not only a filmmaker but an accomplished journalist and an actor. Through In Shackles, he critiques Pakistan’s legal system, particularly the Child Marriage Restraint Act, which sets the minimum marriage age for girls at 16.

“Although the short documentary supports women’s rights, it also centers on complex sociopolitical and legalistic problems that prevent women from progressing. Just like the controversial zina (illicit sexual intercourse) ordinances incarcerated female rape victims under Zia ul Haq’s controversial regime, laws surrounding child marriages aren’t accomplishing anything better for girls either. Setting the legal age of marriage for girls to 16 years may give families an opportunity to have their daughters marry without consent, which falls under forced marriage,” Rifaat added.

Rifaat’s film will also be released simultaneously on YouTube under following the premiere event.

The premiere is sponsored by the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , , and , a policy think tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A newly awarded grant aims to reconnect Filipino youth with their heritage, thanks to an ongoing cultural education project spearheaded by the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� (CSEAS). The center has been awarded a $64,648 National Resource Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will support the expansion of the .

Led by ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Professor Pia Arboleda, who teaches Filipino language and culture at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, the workshops are geared toward fostering a sense of belonging and pride among Filipino youth, many of whom are second or third-generation immigrants. First piloted in 2019 at Saint Louis School, Pamana ng Lahi, which means “heritage of the people” in Tagalog, started off as a three-week, intensive course that introduced the Hawaiʻi high schoolers to both the Tagalog-based Filipino language, Philippine geography, food, and other aspects of Filipino culture.

“Pamana ng Lahi speaks of the things that our ancestors bequeathed to us—their language, ancient knowledge, and cultural traditions,” said Arboleda. “The lessons learned go beyond the classroom—they are lessons of identity, heritage, and pride that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Baybayin, folklore, and food

Since its inception, the program has expanded into even more high schools and has reached more than 200 students across Hawaiʻi and the continental U.S. In the islands, schools like Waipahu, Farrington, Maryknoll, Punahou, and Maui High have hosted workshops featuring lessons in baybayin (ancient Philippine script), food, folklore and mythology, with more tailored programming planned under the new funding.

A Maui High student described that the workshop helped them discover a part of themselves that they didn’t realize was missing.

Pamana ng Lahi continues to broaden its reach. On September 30, Arboleda presented a special talk titled which focused on the food culture of the central Philippines.

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

A groundbreaking project by University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� researchers to document the cultural heritage of Cambodia’s Kuy communities has been supported by a new three-year, $126,265 grant from the .

Professor and Director Miriam Stark and National Chengchi University Associate Professor Courtney Work (also a ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� graduate affiliate faculty member in anthropology) are co-directing the project “Of Water, Crocodiles, and Kings: Co-producing Kuy history in the Prey Lang Forest, Cambodia.” Responding to the Kuy communities’ request, the project will train local community residents in documenting culturally important sites. This collaborative approach seeks to decolonize knowledge production by ensuring Kuy perspectives shape the research process.

The Kuy people have maintained their cultural practices through significant historical periods, including the Khmer Empire, French colonialism, and the Khmer Rouge era. However, they now face challenges from rapid economic development and deforestation.

“This project resonates with Hawaiʻi’s efforts to preserve Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage, highlighting the University of Hawaiʻi’s commitment to supporting Indigenous communities locally and globally,” Stark said.

Starting January 2025, the team will conduct ethnographic and archaeological fieldwork in five Kuy communities. The project brings together specialists from multiple fields to help preserve oral traditions and sacred places, largely under Work’s direction. Stark will lead the archaeological documentation and training program component.

By combining Indigenous and academic skills and knowledge, the initiative aims to provide new insights into how oral traditions, documented histories, and pre-Angkorian material remains interact in living landscapes. The findings will contribute to K–12 history lessons and provincial museum exhibits, supporting local knowledge production and grassroots historical perspectives.

The Department of Anthropology is housed in ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies is housed in ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s .

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� alumni who have teaching careers overseas,” said Teri Skillman, associate director at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� (CSEAS). “They will speak about their process of obtaining a job, the value of the ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� system career readiness priorities and with the state’s ,” 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’s 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’s upcoming events include workshops on civic engagement, funding opportunities, and publication writing, providing students with comprehensive resources to navigate Asia-Pacific related careers.

Faculty in the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s (DURP), conducted a summer course in Indonesia designed to enable students to appreciate challenges of urbanization, climate change and resilience in the Global South. This is the third year ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� has offered a two-week immersive program in partnership with the urban and regional planning department at Diponegoro University (UNDIP) in Semarang.

“The courses offered faculty and students from both universities an opportunity to share their knowledge and creativity in responding to urban environmental problems,” said Priyam Das, an associate professor in DURP who co-designed the co-led joint course in Indonesia. “����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students learned about resilience and informality—of settlements, services and solutions—by engaging with local communities in Semarang.”

Neighborhood visits

During the course, students attended lectures, conducted field research, and visited local neighborhoods facing unique and significant challenges. Studio-style group work enabled students to collaboratively analyze problems and propose potential solutions. They shared their findings and ideas at public presentations that concluded the program.

“Immersive and collaborative international learning experiences are essential to equip future professionals with the skills and sensitivity needed to tackle the urban challenges of a globalized world,” said Ashok Das, an associate professor in DURP, who conceived the collaborative program and led its design.

Critical learning

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� graduate student Lahela Mattos took her first trip outside the U.S. to Indonesia. The kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian) scholar is part of the program at DURP. She aspires to become a professional planner and create spaces that allow Indigenous peoples to reclaim and flourish their cultural identities.

“Being able to see the effects of SLR [sea level rise] really helped me to understand what we will be facing as urban planners…we realized that planning interventions are limited for places that have already been inundated,” Mattos said.

These courses have been partly supported by the LuceSEA Transitions: Environment, Society and Change grant awarded to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s and .

DURP is housed in the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� .

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s (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’s 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’s CHC, National Park Service and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� 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 .

Loved ones, colleagues, and students gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi College Hill president’s house on May 3 to celebrate the retirement of Barbara and Leonard Andaya, two esteemed and professors at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. Known for their exemplary research, the couple has been a powerhouse in Southeast Asian studies, writing extensively on the history of Indonesia and Malaysia for many decades. Leonard started his career at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� in 1993, and Barbara followed in 1994.

“A lifetime of scholarship and dedication to educating students have been Barbara and Leonard Andaya’s gifts to Southeast Asian studies,” said Miriam Stark, director of the ����Vlog�ٷ� (CSEAS). “Our friends and colleagues will also miss their passion for their fields and enthusiasm for people, which enriched our university and helped us all become better people.”

A scholarly odyssey

Barbara Watson Andaya, affectionately known as “Barb,” hails from Sydney, Australia. With an academic father and a microbiologist mother, she was inspired to pursue education early on. She earned a BA and a Diploma of Education in history and English from the University of Sydney, then taught high school social studies. A curriculum change led her to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, where she completed her MA in Southeast Asian history as an East-West Center fellow. She joined the faculty at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� as an associate professor in Asian studies. In 1996, she became a professor and also served as editor for the ����Vlog�ٷ� Press until 1999. Her area of expertise is the western Malay-Indonesian Archipelago. Since 2014, she has authored no fewer than 34 publications, including The Flaming Womb, recognized as an outstanding academic book. Professor Andaya also directed the ����Vlog�ٷ� CSEAS from 2000 to 2006.

From Maui to global influence

Born and raised on Maui to Ilocano-speaking immigrant parents, Leonard Andaya was naturally drawn to Southeast Asia. He studied at Yale University and, inspired by his professors, pursued Southeast Asian studies. He continued his studies in the Netherlands and at Cornell University, then planted his roots at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. During his career at the university, he published influential books such as Leaves of the Same Tree and A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia, co-authored with Barbara. Leonard directed the ����Vlog�ٷ� CSEAS for six years in the 90s.

The symposium honoring their enduring legacy was jointly organized by the Department of History, Department of Asian Studies and Center for Southeast Asian Studies at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

This spring, the welcomed three revered Buddhist monks who have dedicated their lives to teaching peace, love and compassion. Venerable Kou Sopheap and Venerable Hak Sienghai traveled from Cambodia, joined by Venerable Sok Theavy, a resident monk on Hawaiʻi Island toured the Mānoa campus and delivered a webinar for both in-person and virtual audiences.

Hosted by the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa (CSEAS), the hybrid webinar at explored Buddhism’s role in Cambodia’s recovery from conflict, reflecting on its absence during the Khmer Rouge regime and the subsequent peace efforts since 1992. They shared the importance of non-violence, and problem-solving in an effort to demonstrate how ancient wisdom can address modern challenges.

“I believe these conversations about mindfulness and peace need to be more prevalent on campus,” said Sothy Eng, a ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa associate professor in . “Raising awareness through such discussions is important for our campus community.”

The monks also met with leaders from the (EWC). They learned about the center’s various programs that engage Cambodian students, scholars, researchers. EWC also offers graduate fellowships for study at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa and leadership programs such as the .

CSEAS, and EWC collaborated to host this event, which aligns with ����Vlog�ٷ�’s commitment to fostering cultural understanding and global dialogue.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosted a special delegation led by Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On May 22, the delegation, hailing from Washington D.C., engaged with ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa faculty and students, fostering dialogue and collaboration.

“����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa has long been regarded as a world leader in Southeast Asian studies. We hope this visit encourages our university to support more efforts to partner with Vietnamese universities that celebrate Vietnamese culture and language in Vietnam and across its diaspora, including Hawaiʻi,” said Miriam Stark, director of the ����Vlog�ٷ� .

Ambassador Dzung stressed the importance of educational ties between Vietnam and the U.S. focusing on trade, investment, technological innovation and reconciliation efforts. He praised the success of the at the , which has seen more than 1,000 graduates. Through VEMBA, the business school partners with Van Lang University in Vietnam to train, guide and prepare Vietnam’s top executives who want to elevate their management skills.

The delegation was welcomed by Stark, Spencer Kimura (director of in the and Vance Roley, dean at Shidler. Nori Tarui, an professor and research fellow at the , moderated discussions.

A quest to redefine Southeast Asian studies is underway at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�. In spring 2024, the (CSEAS) embarked on a transformative mission, aiming to diversify voices and perspectives within academia.

The majority of influential Southeast Asian literature is authored by Western scholars, with comparatively fewer contributions from Southeast Asian and other non-Western intellectuals. In collaboration with Michigan State University’s (MSU) Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Sopheak Chann, a CSEAS’s faculty fellow at MSU, helped conceive and organize the LuceSEA webinar series on decolonizing Southeast Asia.

“To decolonize literature is to recondition the processes of knowledge production,” said Chann. “We invited speakers from diverse backgrounds and geographies to discuss decolonizing Southeast Asia Studies by exploring four conditions in which Southeast Asia literature is produced: learning, teaching, researching and writing.”

In-depth discussion

The , a virtual platform named in honor of the Henry Luce Foundation, a key supporter of CSEAS at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, divided the series into four sessions: Relearning Southeast Asia, Reteaching Southeast Asia, Researching Southeast Asia and Rewriting Southeast Asia. Organizers invite educators to incorporate the video series as a resource into their syllabi and curriculum.

In the webinar, , graduate students from various regions in Southeast Asia; Sara Loh (Malaysia), Dalilah Laidin (Brunei) and Ariel Mota Alves (Timor-Leste) shared their educational experiences. Moderated by Ehito Kimura, an associate professor in at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, the session prompted students to reflect on their field school experiences and their impact on understanding Southeast Asia.

delved into urban planning and policy issues. Led by Miriam Stark, director of CSEAS, and featuring ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Professors Ashok and Priyam Das from the , the session re-examined colonial legacies and their influence on urban landscapes.

highlighted the importance of flexible research methodologies. From Cambodia to Thailand, panelists shared their academic journeys, offering insights into colonial histories and enriching scholarly discourse.

showcased the complexities of data analysis and publication challenges. Panelists from different disciplines and nationalities delved into the intricacies of scholarly production in Southeast Asia.

Funding for the series came from the Henry Luce Foundation Southeast Asia Initiative, which is part of the five-year grant to CSEAS.

A University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� expert in Cambodian anthropology and archaeology has earned a Fulbright fellowship to use her decades of research to provide academic and research assistance for the Southeast Asian nation.

Professor and Director Miriam Stark will spend two weeks from late April to mid May 2024 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh to complete an academic capacity-building and program evaluation project for the faculty of social sciences and humanities. Stark will provide professional development workshops for early career faculty who are on track for a PhD, as well as review the Khmer studies (Cambodian studies) MA and PhD programs and curriculum that are offered at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Her project builds on previous collaborations with the university, and meets the Fulbright mission to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions and communities both in the U.S. and overseas.

“My goal is to help give back to Cambodia,” Stark said. “I’ve had the honor of working in Cambodia since 1996 as one of a small handful of U.S.-based faculty who perform research in Cambodia. I have worked since 1996 with Royal University of Fine Arts, and am supporting the Royal University of Phnom Penh as part of my directorship of the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Center for Southeast Asian Studies, which is a Federal Title VI National Resource Center.”

Stark joined ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� in 1995 as a Southeast Asian archaeologist. She specializes in Southeast Asian archaeology, particularly Cambodia’s deep history, to explore questions surrounding the emergence of cities, the role of religion in state formation, and points of fragility and resilience in long-term histories.

She has garnered numerous teaching awards and professional accolades, including service on national professional boards, a 2011 Fulbright award to Taiwan and an appointment by President Joe Biden to serve in one of the three archaeologist positions on the 11-member U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee in the U.S. Department of State.

Stark will join more than 400 U.S. citizens who share expertise with host institutions abroad through the each year. Recipients of these awards are selected based on her academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

The Department of Anthropology is housed in the and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies is housed in the .

In a bid to foster cross-cultural learning, the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa (CSEAS) welcomed four scholars from Indonesia and Thailand for the spring 2024 semester as part of an exchange. The four-month program includes participation in the Hawaiʻi English Language Program, refining scientific writing skills, and active engagement with the East-West Center and CSEAS communities.

“We are excited to host early career colleagues from Indonesia and Thailand this semester and engage with them on shared research interests,” said Miriam Stark, director at CSEAS. “We look forward to a fruitful visit and are grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation for this valuable opportunity.”

Navigating exchange

����Vlog�ٷ�ing scholars Tansuda Jinai, Fatwa Faturachmat, Andi Vika Faradiba Muin and Khemrat Panpanich arrived at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� in January 2024.

For Fatwa Faturachmat, who holds a master’s degree from Hasanuddin University in Indonesia, the experience on the ����ԴDz� campus has been eye-opening.

“The differences between my home country’s educational system and that of the United States are striking,” Faturachmat said. “Notably, the diversity among students in terms of race, background, and religion stands out. My decision to join this program is driven by a desire to enhance my skills as a research scholar, particularly in scientific writing for scholarly journals.”

Enriching cultural exchange

Last summer, eight ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students traveled to Thailand and Indonesia with the LuceSEA Field School, a program that explores the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental shifts in rural Southeast Asian societies. The experience culminated in a workshop at the Center for Khmer Studies in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Building on this collaboration, CSEAS invited the Southeast Asian Scholars for cultural exchange at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

In collaboration with the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , , Khon Kaen University and Universitas Hasanuddin, this initiative aims to create a vibrant and dynamic educational experience. It is part of the five-year “LuceSEA Transitions: Environment, Society, and Change” grant awarded to CSEAS. The grant enables the paradigm to shift to focus on collaboration between institutions and scholars in the region.

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 ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa’s 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 .