An associate professor in the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, has been named one of 22 fellows in the . It is a new initiative of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.–China Relations at the University of Pennsylvania.

The fellowship brings together scholars from the U.S., Asia and the Pacific, to examine changing geopolitical dynamics due to growing Chinese influence. Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka said he hopes the initiative will lead to actionable policies for governments and other stakeholders to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by China.

“A lot of our discussions take place in academia but never make it into the policy space,”Kabutaulaka said. “This project is about creating mechanisms through which scholarly work can inform decisions made by governments and other institutions as well.”

He added that UH ����ԴDz�’s unique role as an Asia-Pacific–facing institution strengthens the university’s relevance and importance in global conversations.

“My involvement in the project reflects not just my individual participation, it is the involvement of UH ����ԴDz�, which gives the university and the islands we live in more prominence on the global stage,” Kabutaulaka said.

Kabutaulaka’s research focuses on international relations, Pacific Islands regionalism and natural resource development, and he recently examined geopolitical competition linked to China’s expanding role in Oceania. He also brings extensive practical experience, having served as a chief negotiator in the Solomon Islands peace talks in 2000.

The two-year initiative will include in-person workshops hosted by partner institutions in Singapore, South Korea and Australia beginning in June 2026.

With diverse expertise ranging from oceanography to economics to community-based coastal management, the University of �鶹��ý hired eight new faculty members to support sustainable Pacific fisheries efforts. The new cohort of hires will develop an innovative graduate program to advance fisheries research, education, and training for sustainable management in �鶹��ý and across the Pacific.

Fishing is essential to the way of life in �鶹��ý and the Pacific, providing 50–90% of the protein for Pacific Islanders. However, management strategies from the U.S. continent often fail here because they were designed for cold-water, industrial fisheries. Pacific fisheries are different—they operate in warm tropical waters with diverse species and fishing gear, and with Indigenous Pacific Island communities. The Pacific Island region is multinational and has comparatively less scientific data, requiring a locally developed approach to ensure they can be sustained for generations.

“It is critically important to elevate and co-develop knowledge relevant to the Pacific, foster local expertise, and train the next generation of fisheries stewards and managers,” said Megan Donahue, director of the (HIMB) in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “The new faculty members in this cohort each bring unique perspectives and talent to the complexities we face here. In addition to their contributions to advancing research and sustainable management of Pacific fisheries, they will be a vital part of developing a fisheries graduate training program.”

New faculty

• Donna Dimarchopoulou, Fisheries Quantitative Biologist–/
• Mary Donovan, Ecosystem-based Fisheries Science & Management–SOEST/ HIMB
• Erik Franklin, Fisheries Science & Management–SOEST/ HIMB
• Kanoe Morishige, Indigenous-Led Biocultural Coastal Management–/
• Eileen Nalley, Fisheries Extension–SOEST/
• Justin Suca, Fisheries Oceanography–SOEST/
• Ron Vave, Ocean Governance & Marine Resources–/
• Xiurou Wu, Environmental & Resource Economics–/

Fisheries in �鶹��ý are distinct in that they include a variety of sectors ranging from the open ocean longline fishery, which is the sixth largest fishery in monetary value in the U.S., to community managed fishponds or loko iʻa. Importantly, the majority of nearshore fisheries in �鶹��ý are non-commercial, which requires unique considerations for management. This program seeks to build on existing work by faculty and practitioners across the UH System to understand the unique contributions of these diverse commercial and non-commercial fisheries to the economic, social, and cultural well-being of �鶹��ý to ensure their longevity.

“This cohort of new hires will take fisheries at UH to the next level to better serve students, communities, fishers, government agencies and conservation organizations in �鶹��ý and across the Pacific,” said Jeff Drazen, professor in the SOEST Department of Oceanography. “Our vision with this cohort is to stand up a center of expertise and excellence to facilitate the synergistic work that UH is uniquely positioned to contribute.”

Developing the graduate education program

In �鶹��ý, the Division of Aquatic Resources, the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center have noted the need for greater local research and management capacity. This graduate program will be distinguished from others by creating learning opportunities for students to weave western science and Indigenous knowledge in collaboration with communities, and supporting community-based fisheries solutions and participatory governance approaches.

“We are thrilled to welcome the new fisheries cohort, whose work will significantly enhance Pacific Island fisheries,” said Brian Neilson, Administrator of the �鶹��ý Division of Aquatic Resources. “By advancing research and cultivating the next generation of scientists, practitioners, and managers with social and cultural competencies tailored to Pacific Island communities, this initiative will benefit �鶹��ý and our island neighbors.”

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

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

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

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

Penitiko Taoi, a masters student of Fijian descent in UH Mānoa’s Pacific studies department also attended the event.

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

Unity: Island nations

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

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

A newly established award is paying tribute to prominent Pacific historian and former University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� Professor Brij V. Lal who died in December 2021. Created to honor his significant contributions to the Pacific history field and scholarship, the will honor exceptional articles published in , a journal by the UH ����ԴDz� (CPIS).

“This award represents a wonderful testament to Brij’s scholarly legacy as the first editor of The Contemporary Pacific, as well as the generosity of the Lal family,” said Terence Wesley-Smith, UH ����ԴDz� emeritus professor and chair of the journal’s review committee.

The first awardee

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

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

Pioneering scholar

Professor Lal, known affectionately as Brij, was a pioneering scholar whose work greatly influenced the study of Pacific history, especially regarding Fiji and the Indian diaspora. In recognition of his impactful career, Lal’s family, CPIS and UH ����ԴDz� established the annual award to honor a The Contemporary Pacific article that embodies the rigorous scholarship and depth of understanding Lal championed.

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

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

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

University of �鶹��ý alumna Jocelyn “Josie” Howard received the Health Equity Champion Partner Advocate Award on behalf of (WAO) at the (APIAHF) Annual Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Howard is CEO of WAO, a non-profit dedicated to empowering Micronesian and Pacific Islander communities in �鶹��ý, which was honored for its impactful work in connecting communities to accessible health insurance and vital services.

Howard, a co-founder of WAO, worked to establish the organization to meet the Micronesian community’s need for a dedicated resource center in �鶹��ý. During the pandemic, WAO became a crucial support hub, serving not only Micronesian families but others in the community.

“It is truly an honor to receive We Are Oceania’s Award for the work we do in helping not just Micronesians, but everyone in �鶹��ý access health insurance,” said Howard. “Our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our Micronesian communities; the Chuukese, Kosraeans, Marshallese, Pohnpeians, Palauans and Yapese; for your trust and willingness to allow us to serve you. This is truly a privilege. This award is for you.”

Howard holds multiple degrees from UH, including her masters of social work (MSW) from the and a certificate in from UH ����ԴDz�, and a bachelor’s degree in from UH Hilo. Maintaining strong ties to her alma mater, Howard serves as a field instructor for WAO, a field placement for Thompson School bachelor and master’s-level students in social work. She also sits on the advisory board of the UH Pacific Partnerships & Workforce Development Initiatives.

Also attending the APIAHF ceremony was fellow Thompson School MSW alumna Halaevalu Fonongavaʻinga Ofahengaue Vakalahi. Vakalahi currently leads the Council on Social Work Education as president and chief executive officer. Her presence highlighted the shared mission among social work professionals dedicated to advancing health equity and supporting diverse communities.

“Representation matters! And championing equity in that representation is a collective responsibility,” said Vakalahi. “This award was not only an incredible way to represent the Pacific community, but all of our communities. Thank you Josie Howard and WAO!”

WAO continues to make strides in partnering with communities and organizations to provide pathways to access vital services and opportunities to further foster empowerment.

—By Maria Pou

Mary Hattori was to the by Gov. Josh Green. Hattori earned a BEd and professional diploma in secondary education, an MEd in educational technology (LTEC), and EdD in professional education practice from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� .

As part of the board, Hattori will formulate policy and exercise control over the public school system and public library system through its executive officers, the superintendent of education, and the state librarian.

“This appointment is important to me because my professional journey has given me the qualities required for board service, it aligns with a family tradition of public service, and I possess a strong belief in the importance of education for the good of society,” Hattori said. “I am humbled and honored by the Governor’s appointment; the many expressions of support from family, friends, and colleagues; and the support of the �鶹��ý State Senate. I appreciate this opportunity to practice servant leadership for the sake of our keiki, our future.”

Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center, Hattori teaches EdD and LTEC courses at the College of Education, and serves on doctoral committees. Her subject areas include Indigenous research methodologies, online course design and digital leadership/digital wisdom.

Hattori, who said education has been a passion of hers since she was young, has also worked for the UH ����ԴDz� and Chaminade University.

“These organizations support professional development of educators and prioritize the needs of Pacific Islander communities,” Hattori said. “I have been greatly influenced by public servants from Micronesia like my friend and mentor, the late , the first COFA citizen to serve on a state board or commission. I have also been inspired by community leader Ms. Shanty Asher, Pacific Islander Liaison Officer at the Office of Economic Revitalization for the City and County of Honolulu and outgoing Board of Education member.”

Known for her work with equity and social inclusion for Micronesians in �鶹��ý, Hattori has been teaching professional development courses to teachers and other school personnel for more than a decade.

“I am impressed by the dedication of our teachers and their interest in better understanding and better supporting Pacific islander families in their schools,” Hattori said. “I have met many parents, pastors, and youth leaders who all care deeply about our schools and know that educational attainment will enable positive contributions to the state of �鶹��ý.”

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.

A new bi-weekly podcast has set sail to showcase the voices of Oceania’s people, artists and scholars. Launched this spring from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (CPIS), the debut episode of , aired on February 27 and attracted hundreds of listeners.

The new podcast is recorded in cutting-edge facilities at UH ����ԴDz�’s and hosted by CPIS Associate Professor Tarcisius “Tara” Kabutaulaka and Kenji Cataldo, a graduate assistant at CPIS.

“I hope listeners will learn more about Oceania, Pacific Island cultures, about the issues that are important to Pacific Islanders, and the challenges and opportunities they face in the 21st century,” said Kabutaulaka. “It is also about understanding and learning from the past in order to ‘way find’ into the future.”

The premiere episode featured interviews with past and present CPIS faculty, including CPIS Director Alexander Mawyer, Emeritus Professor Terence Wesley-Smith and Professor Katerina Teaiwa, a CPIS alumna now teaching at the Australian National University. Each discussed the significance of the Pacific Islands studies department which is centered around encompassing a deeper understanding of Oceania, a region consisting of Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

• Related UH News story: 1st Indigenous woman named top Australian university teacher, March 21, 2022

“After months of preparation for the launch, it’s exciting to see the strong response to our first episode across Oceania, the U.S., and even other parts of the world,” said Cataldo. “Dr. Tara has had the vision for this project for some time, and the time now is right. Dr. Tara says, the currents are flowing!”

Listeners can catch Oceania Currents on and podcasts. A new episode posts every other Tuesday. It also airs on every other Thursday, 8–9 a.m. and on East-West Center’s , a collaborative project supported by the Pacific Islands Development Program and CPIS.

CPIS is housed in the UH ����ԴDz� .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (CPIS) hosted the Republic of Vanuatu’s permanent representative to the United Nations, New York, H.E. Ambassador Odo Tevi in October.

At an event on the ����ԴDz� campus for faculty, students and the broader community, Tevi spoke on the Vanuatu government’s leadership in the initiative to request an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). His talk focused on the diplomatic processes and strategies, the supportive roles played by various groups and individuals, and the challenges faced.

The event featured an opening ʻoli by Welaahilani Wāhilani, a CPIS welcome by Director Alexander Maywer. Tevi shared some of his experiences navigating the diplomatic processes and coalition building necessary to mount a global campaign for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. This was followed by a moderated question and answer with Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka. Tammy Tabe, Oceania research fellow at the East-West Center, provided concluding thoughts and shared resources for the audience to engage and follow the movement for the ICJ advisory opinion.

Despite the challenges, on March 29, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Resolution to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ. It was co-sponsored by a coalition of 132 countries.

The success at UNGA was due largely to the diplomatic work conducted by Vanuatu’s Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Tevi.

“On behalf of the LLM [] students, we are privileged to co-host Ambassador Odo Tevi in our university,” said LLM student Solomon Yeo. “His presentation underscored the notion that a nation’s size is irrelevant to the elucidation and progressive development of international law; what truly matters is its political will. I hope his words can inspire students in this university to rise to the challenges of our time, just as the students at the University of the South Pacific did in 2019.”

After the talk Tevi joined informal conversations over kava. He was also the guest of honor at a picnic held at Magic Island.

Tevi’s visit and talk was co-sponsored by CPIS, the William S. Richardson School of Law, the East-West Center, the Pacific Islands Development Program and the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change.

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 .

Most of us will never meet a member of a royal family, much less snap a selfie with one. That rare occasion occurred for one very excited student on September 5 inside at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�.

Christine “Tini” Paletuʻa-Shimasaki, a UH ����ԴDz� senior majoring in , was over the moon after learning Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataʻaho Napua-o-kalani Tukuʻaho of Tonga had scheduled a visit to Hamilton Library’s for research.

Paletuʻa-Shimasaki wasted no time and reached out to Honolulu’s consular agency of Tonga to see how she could simply tell the royal, hello.

“I don’t care if she’s walking down the little stretch on Maile Way to the door, I just wanna wave! That’s all I wanna do,” Paletuʻa-Shimasaki exclaimed. “I just want to go, ‘Hey girl, I’m Tongan and you’re Tongan and I go here.’ I just really wanted to say hi to her.”

Princess Lātūfuipeka is the eldest child of Tupou VI, the king of Tonga. The royal family is descended from three ancient dynasties of the kingdom.

Royal greeting

After Tonga’s consulate granted Paletuʻa-Shimasaki permission to organize a formal welcome for the princess, she teamed up with UH ����ԴDz� graduate student Malia Tonga and Kalo Cornett to spearhead proper protocol and gathered students such as Macmillan Willyander, Fiorenzo Toncan and Tina Tauasosi, a Community Partnership and Research Specialist at UH ����ԴDz� to collectively prepare.

Upon the arrival of Princess Lātūfuipeka and her royal entourage on the library’s fifth floor, she was greeted with a traditional royal greeting in lea fakatonga (Tongan language). Students asked permission to adorned her with lei, a custom called fakamokomoko or keeping royalty cool with fresh adornments.

They also set down a meʻa ʻanga or woven mat covered with ngatu (cloth) for the princess to sit, and abided by royal etiquette, ensuring their heads were always kept at a lower height than her.

Pacific resources

According to the consular agency, Princess Lātūfuipeka was interested in accessing the library’s extensive collection of Pacific Island materials. Hamilton houses the world’s foremost collection of published works about Pacific Island nations from Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia and is internationally recognized for the excellence of its holdings which contains more than 100,000 volumes.

For Paletuʻa-Shimasaki, the princess’ interest in delving into the university’s substantial historical catalog reaffirmed why she chose to pursue her bachelor’s degree at UH ����ԴDz�.

“I wanted to go somewhere where I could continue learning about the Pacific region,” said Paletuʻa-Shimasaki. “Now, even the princess of Tonga is coming to UH for those same resources and for research! It’s like a full circle for me because I know that I’m supposed to be here.”

The is part of the UH ����ԴDz� .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The University of �鶹��ý and the are hosting leaders from Pacific nations September 12–14 for the “Puʻuhonua: The Pacific Way Forward.”

The program is hosted by the at the East-West Center and the UH Mānoa .

UH President David Lassner hosted a gathering for Gov. David Ige and American Sāmoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The leaders tackled topics including climate change, islander resilience during the pandemic, sustainability and the Pacific diasporas as part of the meetings.

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

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

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

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

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

Bridging concepts

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

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

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

This work is an example of UH ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Funding applications are open for University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� undergraduate and graduate students who wish to study a language of Asia and the Pacific. Three of UH ����ԴDz�’s federally-funded National Resource Centers (East Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Studies) offer 2022–23 Academic Year and/or summer 2022 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships that include full tuition and stipend. All majors are welcome, and students must enroll in language and area studies courses each semester that they are FLAS recipients to receive the funding.

Eligibility and fellowship information

• FLAS awards are subject to funding by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Applicants must be full-time, classified students at UH ����ԴDz� or in the process of applying to a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate program at UH ����ԴDz� at the time of application.
• FLAS recipients must be full-time, classified, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students in residence at UH ����ԴDz� to receive the fellowship.
• East-West Center Degree Fellows are not eligible for academic year FLAS, but are eligible for summer FLAS.
• Graduate students holding an academic year FLAS are not eligible to hold a concurrent graduate assistantship/teaching assistantship/research assistantship position.
• Fellowships are awarded for one academic year and/or one summer at a time, and recipients may apply again for continued funding for up to two years of the fellowship.
• Fieldwork/Research: FLAS Fellowships are not a stipend for research or fieldwork. Check with your academic department for possible research/fieldwork funding opportunities from other sources.

Application deadlines

• Southeast Asian languages (Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Tagalog, Hmong or Lao) application submission deadline is January 17, 2022. .
• East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) application submission deadline is February 1, 2022. .
• Pacific Islands languages (Chamorro, Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Marshallese, Fijian) application submission deadline is February 1, 2022. .

All questions related to FLAS Fellowships and the application process can be directed to Fellowships Coordinator Dr. Chizuko Allen at chizuko@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-2210.

The celebrates the 30th anniversary for three influential university-based journals—The Contemporary Pacific, Journal of World History and ����ԴDz�—in collaboration with the , , and the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�.

In the past three decades, these journals have attracted a growing, global audience for more than 6,300 articles read in over 170 countries. In 2018 alone, works from the three journals garnered more than one-quarter million downloads.

• served as a pioneer in the field of world history and continues to publish quality peer-reviewed articles and special issues quarterly.
• Research published in has shaped an entire field of Pacific Studies and has often demonstrated foresight and long-lasting relevance. The journal, kicked off its first issue in 1989 with an article on the potential impacts of climate change in the Pacific. Also among the journal’s most cited pieces are features published in its political reviews section which document the local and regional politics of Pacific Islands states.
• brings to light new translations of international literature, highlighting the work of both emerging and established translators and authors, including Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel laureates.

The journals were founded in 1989 in response to the university president’s call to expand the journals published by UH Press. “Since being awarded the modest, three-year start-up funding, these journals now annually reach tens of thousands of researchers, scholars, students, and the general public,” said Joel Cosseboom, interim UH Press director and publisher.

A special celebration was held at College Hill on March 13, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their founding.

Read the full news release on the .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s , a knowledge center and network linking scholars, instructors and students who share the common goal of thinking holistically to enhance understanding of biocultural systems, is now part of a new, multi-university project that will explore how to make interdisciplinary research more effective and impactful for students and communities, with a focus on sustainability science.

The two-year research project is funded with a $500,000 grant from the (NAKFI), and includes 12 universities from across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. It is one of three winners of the new competition, chosen from a field of 79 proposals.

UH ����ԴDz� professors , , Alexander Mawyer and Gary Holton serve as co-directors of the UH ����ԴDz� Biocultural Initiative of the Pacific.

“We need to learn to collaborate better across disciplines, as well as with community members, resource managers and others, if we hope to effectively address the sustainability issues we face,” said Ticktin, professor in the .

“In undertaking this project, we will draw upon the experience of the interdisciplinary network of faculty who are members of the UH Biocultural Initiative,” adds ��ō�������첹ʻ�� McGregor, professor in the . “We also want to partner with UH ����ԴDz�’s new and recognize the broad network of faculty who are offering courses on sustainability across various departments and colleges.”

Measuring impact, supporting students and fostering co-development

The new network will explore how institutions are addressing three key challenges to interdisciplinary research: measuring impact, supporting students and fostering co-development.

It will look at metrics universities could use, for example, in staff tenure policies or measures of student achievement that would be suitable in an interdisciplinary environment; how research questions and methodologies can be co-designed with the communities, organizations and agencies that will ultimately put the research into action; and how to create programs that train students to work in interdisciplinary ways.

“Students from across our local and regional communities will benefit as we better identify how to provide impactful opportunities to link their concrete, practical training in STEM, social sciences and humanities disciplines to issues which cut across fields and degrees” says Mawyer, associate professor in the .

Identifying best practices for long-term reform

Although more universities are adopting interdisciplinary approaches to research by creating institutes, graduate programs and other mechanisms, stand-alone programs that do not lead to larger systemic changes may miss significant opportunities to contribute to pressing educational, research, and practical needs in a challenging world. By finding out what works and identifying best practices, the network will help organizations move from experimenting with interdisciplinary approaches to embedding it as part of long-term institutional reform.

“This new effort will provide the support structures which will enable both faculty and students to engage more fully in interdisciplinary projects,“ says Holton, professor in the .

The project is led by the University of Minnesota and Duke University.

The 30-year relationship between the and the (USP) in Suva, Fiji continues to grow with the signing of a new agreement designed to foster future collaboration between the two institutions in areas of learning, teaching and research, including joint initiatives related to climate change as well as other issues of concern to Pacific Islands.

A companion agreement on student exchange was also signed allowing up to three exchange students from each university to participate on an annual basis. That number may be expanded by mutual agreement.

Both agreements have the strong support of the and the .

The agreements were signed by UH ����ԴDz� Interim Chancellor and USP Vice Chancellor and President Rajesh Chandra during a during a ceremony seen live via fiber optic and internet technology at UH ����ԴDz�’s Information Technology Center on November 7.

Lassner said over the years the premiere universities in the Pacific have shared a common passion in trying to connect in order to transform research and education.

“I think the more we can encourage our institutions to collaborate electronically with these infrastructures that we’ve spent significant time, money and effort to construct, this represents the future of collaboration in our ability to enhance our research and education missions,” Lassner said.

Chandra said USP is equally enthusiastic about the agreements citing the the good history both institutions have in working together.

“We are very, very pleased to have a signing of both the student exchange agreement, where, as I said, we have a long history and the general MOU, which is really something both of us felt we ought to have, given the fact that we are both oceanic universities,” Chandra said.