The University of �鶹��ý 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 UH ����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 �鶹��ý, Murch’s story resonated locally. Her lecture tied global conflict to familiar questions about memory, military presence and accountability.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s joined a global network of leading research libraries with the opening of its Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies (TRCCS) on November 17. As the 55th overseas partner in Taiwan’s National Central Library (NCL) TRCCS program, Hamilton Library expands its international collaborations and access to resources supporting China and Taiwan studies.

Through the partnership, NCL provides Taiwan-published monographs, digital archives, bibliographic databases and other scholarly resources. Hamilton Library has already added nearly 400 titles to its collections and now offers full access to NCL’s electronic resources.

UH ����ԴDz� Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos highlighted the significance of the partnership during the opening ceremony event. “This collaboration will foster new opportunities for dialogue, scholarship and exchange for years to come,” he said.

NCL Director-General Han-Ching Wang, who traveled from Taipei for the ceremony, emphasized the shared role of Taiwan and �鶹��ý in the Pacific. “We aim to build upon this TRCCS to strengthen the academic connection between Taiwan and �鶹��ý,” she said.

The opening also builds on a relationship that stretches back to the 1960s, when early East–West Center exchanges helped shape Hamilton’s China Collection. Recent discussions led to formal invitations in 2024 and this fall’s launch.

A delegation from NCL toured Hamilton’s collections, which included a plaque unveiling, signing of partnership agreements and exchange of gifts.

“The TRCCS aligns with our mission to foster international scholarship and build meaningful collaborations that benefit our students and faculty,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro.

.

As the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� celebrates International Education Week from November 17 to 21, a current UH ����ԴDz� student and alumna are reflecting on how their have expanded their academic and cultural horizons across the globe.

Exploring Taiwan’s archives, culture

For PhD candidate Nakota DiFonzo, the Fulbright experience has taken him to Taiwan, where he’s conducting archival research for his dissertation on the history of American education in late Qing and Republican-era China. Based at Academia Sinica in Taipei, one of East Asia’s leading research centers, DiFonzo said the experience has been both academically productive and personally enriching.

“My experience in Taiwan has been great so far,” DiFonzo said. “I am in the company of a great cohort whose research ranges from history to furniture design to medicine. Everyone is supportive of one another, and I have made valuable connections with leaders and rising stars in various fields.”

Beyond research, DiFonzo has embraced local culture by joining a language exchange club in Taipei. Weekend potlucks and casual gatherings, he said, have helped him improve his Chinese language skills and better understand Taiwanese perspectives. He’s also started producing street interview videos to further engage with the community and refine his speaking skills.

Empowering Colombian students through English teaching

Recent UH ����ԴDz� history graduate Kaia Colborne spent the past year in Bogotá, Colombia, as a Fulbright English teaching assistant (ETA). Her work focused on teaching English to university students and leading conversation clubs to build confidence and fluency.

“Living in Bogotá has been a huge highlight,” Colborne said. “It’s a wonderful city with so much to explore, and having other ETAs here has created a great support network. I found meaning and growth in my time in Colombia.”

Colborne said her time in Colombia deepened her appreciation for international education and reaffirmed her desire to help students experience transformative learning abroad.

“The experience has strengthened my commitment to working in the international sphere (ideally in international higher ed) and helped me have a better insight into cross-cultural exchange,” she added.

Both scholars credit UH ����ԴDz� Fulbright Program Adviser Kristen Connors for her guidance during the application process—a common thread in their journeys toward global engagement.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program will host an information session for students interested in the program on November 17 at 11 a.m. HST. . The webinar will be followed by a brief breakout session by campus where Connors will review steps for applying through UH ����ԴDz� and how to start planning.

A new training program for subject librarians in Japanese and Asian studies has been established at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s , made possible through a generous donation from the .

Through the new agreement, one library science master’s degree graduate will be hired each year for the next decade as a full-time, nine-month librarian faculty member. Mitsutaka Nakamura, Hamilton Library’s Japan Studies librarian, will supervise the program, with librarian emerita Tokiko Y. Bazzell advising.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Hamilton Library to make a lasting impact on the field of area studies librarianship, specifically Japanese studies,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro. “Bringing aspiring Japanese studies librarians here to Hamilton will be a game changer.”

While focused on Japanese studies, trainees will also gain experience from Hamilton’s area specialists in China, Okinawa, Korea, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Russian Far East.

“Hamilton Library plays a central role in the intellectual life of the University of �鶹��ý, and the Uehiro Foundation highly values its Japan Collection for contemporary and historical research,” the foundation stated. “We look forward to seeing future leaders emerge from this program who will advance the library’s mission and continue the collection and digitization of Japanese historical materials.”

The Uehiro Foundation has partnered with UH for more than 20 years, supporting the East-West Philosophers’ Conference, the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, and the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography.

UH vice president of advancement and CEO Tim Dolan added, “The Uehiro Foundation’s visionary investment ensures that future generations of librarians will receive the training and mentorship they need to thrive in the field. This program not only strengthens UH ����ԴDz�, but it also expands the pipeline of professionals advancing Japanese studies librarianship worldwide.”

A personal mission

For Nakamura, who came to librarianship after careers in finance and film/TV, the program is also personal. During his own career transition, he struggled to find relevant internship opportunities, which motivated him to create similar opportunities for others.

His mentor at Columbia University offered advice that still guides him. “First you land the position. Then from day one, you should start training the new generation who will replace you in the future. Otherwise, your position will vanish after you leave.”

The first appointment will begin in July 2026, with the job posting expected in early 2026. Applicants must hold an American Library Association-accredited master’s degree in library sciences or equivalent, demonstrate strong communication skills in Japanese and English, and show a career focus in Japanese or Asian studies librarianship. For more information, email Mitsu Nakamura at japancol@hawaii.edu.

A wooden model of a Kabuki theatre scene, gifted to the University of �鶹��ý in 1939 by Japan’s Shochiku Company, is now on permanent display at UH ����ԴDz�’s . The intricate model, depicting a scene from Kanadehon Chushingura, was celebrated at a reception on August 18, following its restoration.

The gift was originally secured by Gregg Sinclair, founding director of UH’s Oriental Institute, to promote cultural awareness. Built by Kabuki-za Theatre master carpenter Genjiro Hasegawa under the direction of Shochiku founder Takejiro Otani, the model represents a long-standing bond between UH and Japan.

“This beautiful model was made and gifted to us, along with a Kabuki actor doll, with the promise of perpetual display on campus in summer 1939,” said Mitsutaka Nakamura, Japan studies librarian at Hamilton Library. “This combination of the Kabuki theater model, case and stand symbolizes our enduring bond between Shochiku and UH, and Japan and �鶹��ý as well.”

The model has been displayed and stored in various places over the years, but time took its toll. With support from UH’s Department of Theatre and Dance, artist Meg Hanna-Tominaga restored the piece, which now sits on a handcrafted monkey pod stand and is protected by an acrylic case.

Related UH News story: Rare kabuki master class hits �鶹��ý

Shochiku honorary chair Nobuyoshi Otani praised UH for keeping its promise of preservation: “We hope that you will continue to protect the display as a testament to the cultural exchange fostered by our predecessors.”

Kabuki master Ichikawa Monnosuke VIII also joined the celebration, praising UH students’ dedication during a Kabuki workshop and showcase.

“For the next 100, 200, 300 years, I hope that Kabuki here at the University of �鶹��ý will continue,” he said. “Let’s keep doing this!”

The University of �鶹��ý is remembering Daisōshō Genshitsu Sen, a 15th-generation tea master, who shared bowls of tea with presidents, royalty, and everyday people, always as an offering of peace. His connection to UH ����ԴDz� stretched across more than seven decades, shaping a legacy of culture and learning. Sen, a global ambassador of the Way of Tea, died in Kyoto, Japan, on August 14. He was 102.

Sen served as grand master with the name Sen Sōshitsu XV prior to his retirement, leading the Urasenke tradition of tea. He first studied at UH ����ԴDz� in the early 1950s and began offering evening classes in Japanese tea ceremony, known as chadō or the “Way of Tea” on the campus and in the community. His lessons fostered a lasting legacy. For more than half a century, UH ����ԴDz� students have studied the Way of Tea inside Jakuʻan, a traditional tea house which Sen donated in 1972 located behind the East-West Center and helped to restore in 2014.

Related UH News stories:

• Traditional Japanese tea house marks 50 years at UH ����ԴDz�, November 22, 2022
• Hidden gem restored for future generations, February 18, 2015

“Dr. Sen was one of those people you are fortunate to encounter even once in your lifetime,” said David Lassner, UH President Emeritus. “His graciousness, joie de vivre and humility belied an incredible strength of belief and character. At 100 he still spoke with the vitality and passion of someone decades younger.”

Building bridges

Returning regularly to �鶹��ý, Sen’s gifts to UH extended far beyond Jakuʻan. He established the Sen Sōshitsu XV Distinguished Chair in History and the Sen International within the (CJS) at UH ����ԴDz�.

Through his Midorikai scholarship, Sen sent generations of UH ����ԴDz� students to Kyoto to study tea at Urasenke headquarters.

“He had the ability to walk in a room and his presence would immediately grab the eyes of every individual there…somehow I feel that all of his innumerable accolades can’t possibly define quite how great he was. There are many people around the world that call for world peace, but there are not many people that actually take the necessary actions to reach it,” said Justin Peterson, a UH ����ԴDz� alumnus who extensively studied Sen’s tea teachings and is now carrying them forward in Kyoto on a Midorikai scholarship.

Legacy of learning

Grounded in Sen’s vision, the Way of Tea Center at UH ����ԴDz� helps CJS foster greater understanding of Japan in a global context and supports UH students’ first lessons in tea practice through the Way of Tea Practicum, (ASAN 324), offered in the fall and spring semesters through the in multiple sections.

“We have been so fortunate for our connection with Dr. Sen carried through decades since his first visit to �鶹��ý in 1951. It was with good reason that my predecessor, CJS Director Mary McDonald nominated Dr. Sen for the Nobel Peace Prize in light of his remarkable engagement in trying to bring ‘peacefulness through a bowl of tea’ even in strife torn locations, meetings with global political leaders and other great spiritual leaders. The chance that I had to spend time with Dr. Sen will certainly stand among the richest rewards of my time in this role,” said Mark Levin, a law professor at UH ����ԴDz� and director of CJS.

Turning point

Sen’s life was shaped by extraordinary experiences. During World War II, he trained in the Japanese Navy’s kamikaze corps but was pulled back before flying a mission. Instead, he served tea to his fellow pilots before they departed. That moment, he later said, cemented his lifelong mission of seeking peace through tea.

“He was a man of principle, empathy, and kindness whose ethical compass served to better an often troubled world. Dr. Sen no gomeifuku wo kokoro yori oinori itashimasu,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the .

Marking milestones

In 2023, the �鶹��ý State Legislature honored Sen’s 100th birthday, the 50th anniversary of Jakuʻan, and the work of the Way of Tea Center. He was praised for bringing peacefulness through tea to people across the world.

graduate student at the University of �鶹��ý 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 UH ����ԴDz� , , and , a policy think tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Petrice R. Flowers has been appointed director of the (CIPA) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. Established in 2022 with Congressional funding, CIPA serves as a university-based think tank addressing the complex security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Flowers is a distinguished scholar and professor at the in the UH ����ԴDz� .

Flowers succeeds Kristi Govella, an assistant professor in the Asian studies department, who served as the founding director of CIPA.

“I am honored to lead the Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs and excited to build on the strong foundation established by Dr. Govella,” said Flowers. “This is a crucial time for advancing research and fostering collaboration on the key security issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region.”

• Related UH News story: $1M grant to launch Indo-Pacific affairs initiative at UH ����ԴDz�, September 27, 2022

Flowers has been a faculty member at UH ����ԴDz� since 2004 and steps into the role with an extensive background in international relations, specializing in Japan and global human rights norms.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Flowers into this leadership role,” said Cathryn Clayton, chair of the Asian studies department. “Her commitment to interdisciplinary research and her deep expertise in international relations make her an ideal fit to lead CIPA into the future.”

More on CIPA

CIPA tackles complex issues by integrating fields such as economics, technology, environmental science and public health. Flowers is known for her research on diplomacy, transnational networks, and refugee policies in Japan. Under her leadership, CIPA plans to launch new initiatives, including public lectures, workshops, and professional development opportunities for students.

The University of �鶹��ý 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 UH ����ԴDz� students.

• Related UH 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 UH ����ԴDz� alumni who have teaching careers overseas,” said Teri Skillman, associate director at UH ����ԴDz� (CSEAS). “They will speak about their process of obtaining a job, the value of the UH 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 UH ����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 UH 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.

Loved ones, colleagues, and students gathered at the University of �鶹��ý College Hill president’s house on May 3 to celebrate the retirement of Barbara and Leonard Andaya, two esteemed and professors at �鶹��ý����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 UH ����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 UH (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 UH ����ԴDz�, where she completed her MA in Southeast Asian history as an East-West Center fellow. She joined the faculty at UH ����ԴDz� as an associate professor in Asian studies. In 1996, she became a professor and also served as editor for the UH 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 UH 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 UH ����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 UH 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 UH ����ԴDz�.

A quest to redefine Southeast Asian studies is underway at the University of �鶹��ý 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 UH ����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 UH ����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 UH ����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.

Monica Orillo’s graduate education at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� served as a launching pad to her future foreign service career with the U.S. Department of State.

Orillo, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, was a recipient of the , which included funds for tuition and living expenses, as well as a five-year position as a public diplomacy officer with the U.S. Department of State after graduation.

Orillo will graduate this spring with her master’s degree in with a concentration in Southeast Asia and a graduate certificate in . She thankful for the lessons and opportunities she gained at UH ����ԴDz�.

“�鶹��ý is a very interesting place to study Asian studies and get a really close-up perspective because of all the cultures that are present,” Orillo said. “I also learned a lot more about Pacific Island nations that I didn’t know about before coming from Arizona, and just the overall academic environment and culture of being critical and questioning things about American history that can be kind of challenging to talk about. I think it will be really beneficial.”

Through the fellowship, Orillo interned with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. in summer 2023, learning about international relations and politics first-hand. Orillo worked in the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia and focused on island archipelago states, such as Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

Check out more stories of our UH spring graduates

“This was really perfect for me because that was exactly what I had been studying for that first year at UH ����ԴDz�,” Orillo said. “I was getting the foundational knowledge about those countries, and then to be able to go to that particular office and see the more contemporary side of politics aside from what I’ve been studying—that was really cool.”

After graduation, Orillo will head to Vienna, Austria for an additional summer internship focused on nuclear policy, and will report to her position in Washington, D.C. in September.

Interest in foreign service career

Orillo took advantage of every study abroad opportunity she had throughout high school and college. These included an internship with the U.S. Department of State and English teaching assistant with the Fulbright Program in Germany, and Pacific Forum Young Leaders Program participant and student affiliate with the East-West Center in Honolulu.

“I feel really interested in this kind of lifestyle of working on various topics because foreign service officers are pretty general—sometimes you’re working on human rights issues, to school exchanges or environmental issues. It’s pretty varied,”Orillo said. “I thought that variety was really interesting, and then of course, moving around every two to three years was something that appealed to me.”

Orillo encourages anyone interested in these issues to explore the programs that UH ����ԴDz� has to offer, as well as the local network of think tanks and NGOs.

“Washington, D.C. and the government in general could really benefit from people who have the kind of perspective and critical mindset that you would be able to foster here specifically at the University of �鶹��ý and this kind of academic environment,” Orillo said. “Government can be a really interesting way for people to see what kind of impact they can make on the world.”

—By Marc Arakaki

A student who fled political persecution in Myanmar is set to graduate this spring with a BA from the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and has won a highly competitive fellowship to pursue a PhD. Kyaw Hsan Hlaing is , selected from nearly 2,400 applicants in the country, recently awarded the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which provides him $90,000 in funding for graduate school.

Kyaw Hsan, 27, reflected on the pivotal summer of 2020 in his homeland of Myanmar. It was then that he delved into journalism, spotlighting daunting crises of the raging COVID-19 pandemic and armed rebellion linked to displacement and genocidal acts by the Myanmar military. His reporting garnered international recognition and was published in TIME, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times and other notable media outlets.

Check out more stories of our UH spring graduates

“I myself, I believe I can give a voice for all these people. I am just trying to get all these voiceless and marginalized communities—to hear what they feel, what they suffer during the war and pandemic,” said Kyaw Hsan.

Homework by candlelight

His commitment to furthering his education traces back to a challenging childhood, growing under authoritarian rule in Myanmar. Violence was a harsh reality in his tiny village. Access to education was scarce, however, Kyaw Hsan’s parents believed in its importance. After finishing primary school, they sent him to a charity-run school. He often completed his studies by candlelight because their village has no electricity, until to this day.

“Although I wasn’t an outstanding student, passing the high school exam in 2013 was a huge accomplishment for both me and my family,” Kyaw Hsan said. “Because I became the first in my family to graduate from high school and the first to attend a university.”

In February 2021, the military coup in Myanmar shattered Kyaw Hsan’s dreams of furthering his education. Undeterred, he pivoted, channeling his energies into exposing human rights violations and amplifying the voices of democratic movements, even in the face of death threats that forced him into hiding.

Ultimately, Kyaw Hsan was forced to flee his homeland and was granted political asylum, resettling in the U.S in early 2022.

Hope in �鶹��ý

Upon arrival in the United States, despite being determined to complete his college studies, Kyaw Hsan didn’t receive any offers from universities on the continent, he had applied to at least 10. He was eventually accepted into UH ����ԴDz� as an Asian studies major in spring 2023. He credits the university for assisting him through the application process, which can be particularly challenging for refugees who can’t always provide specific documentation.

“I was so depressed because there seemed little hope that I could go back to school until getting to UH,” Kyaw Hsan said. “A lot of people from UH really had to work hard to get me to UH…This means a lot. I’m really grateful.”

Following graduation, Kyaw Hsan will continue his academic journey at Cornell University, pursuing a PhD in political science and continuing his mission not only to give voice to the voiceless, but also to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an academic.

“We are truly inspired by Kyaw’s courage and story. His determination and activism took him here to our university, where we value our commitment to inclusion and a bridge between the local and the international. He represents the best of our ideals,” said Peter Arnade, dean of UH ����ԴDz� College of Arts, Languages and Letters (CALL).

The Asian studies department is housed in CALL at UH ����ԴDz�.

A University of �鶹��ý 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 UH ����ԴDz� Center for Southeast Asian Studies, which is a Federal Title VI National Resource Center.”

Stark joined UH ����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 .

The University of �鶹��ý 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 UH Mānoa’s 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’s 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’s (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.

“UH 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 UH 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 UH 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.

UH 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.

In October, undergraduate and graduate students from around Oʻahu gathered at the for a three-day workshop to engage on nuclear policy issues. The workshop featured lectures from leading experts, group discussions and a crisis scenario exercise. In addition to discussing policy issues at the global level, students also thought critically about the ways nuclear policies impact �鶹��ý and the Asia-Pacific region.

“This workshop may very well be the first time deterrence, nonproliferation and disarmament have been discussed on the UH ����ԴDz� campus since the Reagan administration,” said Brien Hallett, professor in the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�.

The Honolulu Nuclear Policy Workshop was organized by the in partnership with UH ����ԴDz�’s and and the at the East-West Center. It was the latest in a series of workshops the Truman Center has convened in cities such as Chicago and Atlanta with the goal of diversifying the pipeline of people working in U.S. nuclear security. This diversity ensures a more comprehensive representation of communities affected by those policies and fosters a more inclusive policy making process.

Encouraging diverse perspectives

No prior expertise with nuclear issues was required to apply for the workshop, and the organizers actively encouraged applications from women, people of color, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ students. Thirteen undergraduate and graduate students from UH ����ԴDz�, �鶹��ý Pacific University, Chaminade University of Honolulu and University of the South Pacific were selected to participate.

“I came away with a new perspective and more confidence in my ability to discuss nuclear policy issues,” said Monica Orillo, a graduate student in at UH ����ԴDz�.

The first day of the workshop kicked off with sessions addressing the dawn of the nuclear age and nuclear deterrence led by Lily Wijtowicz from the Truman Center. The second day included a breakout session on proliferation in East Asia and a lecture on deterrence in East Asia by David Santoro from Pacific Forum, a Honolulu-based non-profit foreign policy research institute. The third day began with a session on nuclear disarmament led by Jana Wattenburg from Aberystwyth University, followed by a lecture on why nuclear testing matters for �鶹��ý by Lilly Adams from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Nuclear weapons, public health, environmental preservation

Throughout the workshop, discussions highlighted the links between nuclear weapons, public health and environmental preservation. Participants explored the continued risks that nuclear weapons pose to people around the world, especially those in historically underserved communities. Students were encouraged to think critically about the policy making process and to consider how the inclusion of new voices could impact their communities and the world.

“Prior to the workshop, I had never thought about viewing nuclear politics through a gender lens, or using feminism as a tool for world peace, or that increased gender representation at nuclear arms control and disarmament discussions could potentially shape a different kind of foreign nuclear policy,” said Elizabeth Yen Tzu Liew, a student in the UH ����ԴDz� Master’s in Asian International Affairs program.

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on careers in nuclear policy featuring speakers working in a variety of fields. Liew said, “This experience was instrumental in inspiring me to see the myriad of career opportunities where nuclear politics could merge with soft power, my area of interest, and that one need not be a nuclear scientist to pursue a career related to nuclear policy.”

To prepare students for dynamic careers that require expertise in the Asia-Pacific region, the (SPAS) at the University of �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý 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 UH 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 �鶹��ý 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 UH 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 .

An American studies professor in the (CALL) at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa has won multiple awards in Japan for her book, Dearest Lenny: Letters from Japan and the Making of the World Maestro. The Japanese version of Professor Mari Yoshihara’s critically acclaimed work based on personal letters penned by and to world-renowned musician Leonard Bernstein launched in October 2022.

The original book was published by Oxford University Press in 2019. Yoshihara, who authored the Japanese version herself, landed three distinguished honors; Kawai Hayao Prize for Stories, Japan Essayist Club award and Music Pen Club Japan award (publications in classical music category). Yoshihara joins �鶹��ý-born artist Bruno Mars, who also received a Music Pen Club Japan award in 2022. The coveted distinction recognizes works that contribute to enhancing musical culture.

“Mari Yoshihara is an internationally acclaimed scholar whose vibrant scholarship and academic profile greatly enhances CALL as a college and UH Mānoa as a university,” said CALL Dean Peter Arnade. “I am thrilled her recent book has garnered such acclaim and netted such prestigious awards in Japan. We are lucky to have a scholar of Dr. Yoshihara’s prominence on our faculty.”

Dearest Lenny interweaves the story of an intimate relationship between Bernstein, indisputably one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, and two unknown Japanese individuals. The book features deeply expressive letters that touch upon political, economic, social and cultural history of U.S-Japan relations during the Cold War, dynamics of the arts and the state, and politics of gender and sexuality.

“Dr. Yoshihara is not only a top-notch scholar but also stands out as an English-Japanese bilingual author. I read her work in both languages and found it very inspiring,” said CALL Associate Dean Kimi Kondo-Brown.

Yoshihara joined the UH Mānoa faculty in 1997 after earning a BA from the University of Tokyo and MA and PhD from Brown University. She specializes in U.S. cultural history, U.S.-Asia relations, women’s, gender and sexuality studies, and literary and cultural studies. She is a prolific author of many publications such as Embracing the East: White Women and American Orientalism (Oxford, 2003), Musicians from a Different Shore: Asians and Asian Americans in Classical Music (Temple, 2007), and a number of books and articles in Japanese.

In 2020, she received the UH Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research award. Yoshihara’s teaching excellence earned her a UH Mānoa Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award in 2007.

She is scheduled to release a bilingual memoir in Japan this fall.