A recent public talk at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� shed light on the decades-long fight for justice by Filipino veterans of World War II and the role of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye in advocating for their rights.

On February 27, Colin Moore, associate professor in the College of Social Sciences, presented “Soldiers of a Forgotten Empire: Filipino Veterans and the Politics of Denial,” exploring how more than 200,000 Filipino veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces were denied promised benefits under the Rescission Act of 1946.

His talk examined the plight of Filipino veterans within the broader context of U.S. imperialism and the Cold War, while tracing Inouye’s decades-long efforts to secure justice. Letters written by veterans to Inouye reveal their frustration, anger and disappointment.

Moore’s work draws from extensive archival research, including visits to the National Archives and Records Administration, the Clinton Presidential Library, and the Daniel K. Inouye Papers housed in Hamilton Library’s .

The presentation was followed by a discussion among in-person and Zoom attendees, many of whom had personal connections to Filipino veterans who struggled to access promised benefits.

Neil Abercrombie, UH Regent and former governor, shared his perspective on advocating for Inouye’s redress legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. are also available to researchers at Hamilton Library.

The hybrid event was organized by the and co-sponsored by UH ����ԴDz� and the Daniel K. Inouye Institute (DKI). Moore’s research is part of the , supported by the Inouye Institute.

.

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu visited the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s on January 23, for an official tour of the library’s , offering a close look at rare materials that illuminate centuries of Philippine history and global connections.

Led by Philippine Consul General Arman Talbo, who took office in March 2025, the delegation of 17 consulate staff members was guided by Philippine Studies Librarian Elena Clariza through selections from the Philippine Rare Collections. Highlights included rare maps of the Philippines dating from the 1500s to the 1700s, Philippine Revolutionary Papers from the Spanish colonial period in the 1800s, and a U.S. military photo album documenting Samar Island in the 1940s.

The Samar album is a joint acquisition of Hamilton Library’s Russian Collection and Philippine Collection. It documents daily life on the island and U.S. naval operations during World War II, while also reflecting Samar’s unexpected global ties. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, the island later became a refuge for an estimated 6,000 White Russians—the deposed czar’s supporters who opposed the Red Soviets and fled Russia after World War II.

Talbo described the visit as “calm, inspiring, and quietly powerful,” noting the personal resonance of the materials. He shared that he may have identified a long-lost ancestor while viewing photographs in the Samar album.

The visit highlighted the international significance of Hamilton Library’s Philippine Collection and its role in preserving and providing access to historical materials that deepen understanding of Philippine history and its global intersections.

Read more at .

A new production is shining a light on the lives and journeys of Filipinos in �鶹��ý. “,” directed by J. Lorenzo Perillo, blends movement, music and history into a fast-moving tribute to identity and community. Performances run through November 23, on the Mainstage at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�.

Perillo serves as co-director of the (CPS) and is also an associate professor in the Department of . He created the show in honor of CPS’s 50th anniversary.

“‘Dancing in the Diaspora’ delves into the interconnected lives of Filipinos maneuvering the waters of belonging and exclusion in �鶹��ý and beyond,” said Perillo.

Stories through dance

The performance moves between hip-hop, street dance, contemporary, Filipino Indigenous styles and ʻori Tahiti (Tahitian dance). Live kulintang (traditional Filipino gong instrument) and Tahitian music set the tone. The dances explore home, identity and the journey of carrying culture across oceans.

for the in-person production at Kennedy Theatre. The production features international and local collaborators such as Mary Chris (Mycs) Villoso, Von Ace Asilo, Angela Sebastian, Ron and Lydia Querian (House of Gongs), Manarii and Nalini Gauthier (Tahiti Mana), Irisgil Viacrusis, Michelle Bisbee, Tyler Kanemori and Evan McCarty.

One of the most meaningful collaborative elements grew out of Villoso’s artist residency at UH ����ԴDz� earlier this year, which included workshops with local high schools such as Maryknoll, Farrington and Waipahu. Building on that work, the production features Farrington High School students who have been rehearsing since September with their teacher Michelle Levine Aquino, a recent UH ����ԴDz� graduate, to perform a piece rooted in Philippine games and street dance. Aquino also contributes an Ilokano chant that helps open the show.

“If you dig beneath the deep layers of colonization, you find the ways the people of the Pacific are connected through language, food, stories and beliefs,” said Nalini Gauthier. “Dance has been a steady vessel carrying me through this journey of rediscovery and empowerment.”

The production also features a heartfelt dance film showcasing UH’s custodial staff.

Perillo expressed that the staging is deeply connected to �鶹��ý’s social and cultural landscape.

“Filipinos make up one-fourth of �鶹��ý’s population, yet there is a clear lack of Filipino representation in education. Representation matters. It’s critical in strengthening students’ self-worth, identities and success.”

.

The ancestor spirit represents my deep appreciation to my ancestors, who I feel are always guiding me in life.
—King James Mangoba ()

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Hamilton Library’s and the Center for Philippine Studies at the UH ����ԴDz� opened , an exhibition linking 1500s colonial maps with tattoos as living archives of Filipino cultural memory, on view through February 2026.

Opening events, held October 15–17, drew more than 100 participants for workshops, talks and live tattoo demonstrations. Attendees explored how Filipinos have used body art and the written word to resist erasure—from rare 16th-century maps and letters from the Philippine Revolution to underground newspapers from the Marcos era, all part of Hamilton’s Philippine Collection.

Mapping identity through body and archive

Philippine Studies Librarian Elena Clariza opened the program with a presentation on early colonial maps, connecting “fragile maps on paper with living maps of the body—tattoos as archives of ancestral knowledge and cultural memory.”

Guest artists from California’s Spiritual Journey Tattoo Shop and members of Tatak ng Apat na Alon (Mark of the Four Waves) demonstrated traditional hand poke and tapping tattoo techniques, sharing their nearly 30-year effort to revive Indigenous Filipino tattoo practices.

“In the beginning it was just for us to find our identity, to represent the culture in some way,” said Elle Festin, tattoo artist at Spiritual Journey and a Datu (chief) of the Mark of the Four Waves tribe. “It’s important to get the tattoos to show the resistance and to revolt against the systematic colonial mentality.”

UH community connects to heritage

For King James Mangoba, a UH ����ԴDz� double major in communication & marketing and Hamilton Library social media content creator, the event was a personal and cultural milestone.

“The rice symbolizes my family’s livelihood of rice farming back in the Philippines. The ancestor spirit represents my deep appreciation to my ancestors, who I feel are always guiding me in life,” he said. “This tattoo is a permanent reminder of where I came from and my appreciation to my ancestors who came before me.”

Doctoral candidate Matthew Melendez, from the , participated in the tattoo sessions. “Receiving knowledge from the Tatak ng Apat na Alon tribe through our cultural portal of batok (tattooing) has profoundly transformed me from within,” he said.

The event was co-sponsored by UH ����ԴDz�’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies and Center for Philippine Studies, and Spiritual Journey Tattoo Shop. To support programs like this at Hamilton Library, visit the .

.

Mark of the Four Waves members visit the Philippine Studies section at Hamilton Library.The post Exhibit links Filipino tattoos, maps across centuries first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]> 225411 /news/2025/10/30/filipino-health-research-event/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:24:44 +0000 /news/?p=224667 Students, researchers and the community gathered to share health research and celebrate Filipino American History Month in Hawaiʻi.

Reading time: 2 minutes

More than 80 students, researchers, health professionals and community members gathered on October 18, at Palama Settlement for the 3rd annual Araw ng Saliksik: Health Research Report Back to the Filipino Community. The event was organized by , a group of �鶹��ý’s Filipino health researchers, founded by the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� faculty, in partnership with the �鶹��ý Public Health Institute (HIPHI).

Araw ng Saliksik—Tagalog for “Day of Research”—was created to share studies, stories and ideas that improve the health of Filipinos in �鶹��ý. It also ensures that research involving Filipinos is conducted with the community and shared back in meaningful, accessible ways.

Honoring heritage through research

Research in the Filipino community is thriving with its own Filipino researchers.
—May Rose Dela Cruz

This year’s program coincided with the Filipino American History Month theme, “From Quotas to Communities: Filipino American Migration and Movement.” The theme honored the journeys of the first sakadas (Filipino plantation workers) who arrived in �鶹��ý in 1906 and the continued stories of migration, identity and belonging among Filipino families today.

Photographs of ancestors were placed at the front of the room, inviting attendees to honor those who came before them. Reflective activities encouraged participants to map their families’ home provinces in the Philippines and share intergenerational memories and traditions.

The event included remarks from Clemen Montero of the UH ����ԴDz� , and May Rose Dela Cruz, founder of Pinerds, director of community health research at HIPHI, and associate researcher with the UH ����ԴDz� .

“Research in the Filipino community is thriving with its own Filipino researchers,” said Dela Cruz. “Conducting research with this community is important, but it’s just as important to share the data and stories back to them so they can see the fruits of their contributions and feel empowered to be part of the decisions that impact their health.”

Students leading the way in research

Students from Waipahu and Farrington high schools showcased projects on Filipino health and community, followed by undergraduate, graduate and medical students from the UH ����ԴDz�’s Department of Public Health Sciences and the , who presented on mental health, caregiving and chronic disease.

Community organizations, including the �鶹��ý Workers Center, �鶹��ý Primary Care Association and , also shared resources and information.

The post Filipino health research spotlighted at Araw ng Saliksik first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]>

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� alumna India Kawelolani Calso Ching is blending soil science with cultural pride as the newly crowned Miss Oʻahu Filipina. Her journey from studying soil health at the to earning this year’s Miss Oʻahu Filipina title is a study in personal growth and community.

Ching majored in natural resources and environmental management at CTAHR, with a focus in plant conservation and ecosystem management. However, a soil science class provided new perspectives.

“There’s so much about soils that I never knew before,” Ching said, noting that the class revealed “the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil” and the “huge diversity of soils that we have here in �鶹��ý.”

After graduating from UH ����ԴDz�, her newfound interest led to her work as a laboratory technician in the soil health lab. She’s currently working on an artificial intelligence-driven farm irrigation project.

Challenging herself to grow

Just as she stepped out of her comfort zone to study soil health, Ching also challenged herself to grow entering a pageant for the first time. While many people see pageants as just a beauty contest, she discovered it was much more than that.

“It’s totally about developing your public speaking skills, being more immersed in your culture, and becoming the best version of yourself,” she said.

Her pageant platforms centered on food security and dance, a topic sparked by her CTAHR education. Ching’s pageant speech highlighted the importance of agriculture and food security, aiming to educate youth and honor the legacy of her great-grandfather, who was a “sakada,” or Filipino plantation laborer who laid the foundation for the Filipino community in �鶹��ý.

Ching will compete for the Miss �鶹��ý Filipina title on August 9, representing Oʻahu amid contestants from other islands.

Fall 2024 enrollment at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� surpassed 20,000 students for the first time since 2013. The final enrollment numbers will not be official until the first week of October, but as of September 17, there are 20,012 students enrolled at UH ����ԴDz�, a 4% increase over 2023.

“This milestone is the work of so many who over these past years have built a superb enrollment management program that recruits great students from �鶹��ý and beyond,” said UH President David Lassner. “And it’s not just about recruiting students, it’s about retaining them. Credit for that goes to our amazing faculty, our advisors, our support staff, and all of the people who make �鶹��ý’s own global research university such a special place to study.”

Record high first-time freshmen

UH ����ԴDz� is also welcoming a record high 3,123 first-time freshmen in fall 2024. This is the 3rd straight year, the university has reached 3,000 or more freshmen after surpassing the mark for the first time in the university’s 117-year history in 2022.

“These enrollment numbers should not come as a surprise as UH ����ԴDz� is one of the top universities in the world, delivering a world-class education at a cost that our students and their families can afford,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “This type of success does not happen overnight and is the result of years of hard work and data driven improvements. Another difference maker is that we are doing a better job of consistently telling our stories, an effort that started over a decade ago.”

Record freshmen recruitment

The record number of first time freshmen also included record highs in other categories (as of September 17):

• 1,849 of the freshmen are �鶹��ý residents, up from 1,581 in fall 2023 and 1,577 in fall 2022
• 489 identify as Native Hawaiian, up from 382 in fall 2023 and 395 in fall 2022
• 406 identify as Filipino, up from 355 in fall 2023 and 353 in fall 2022

“I am so proud to see the increases in our Native Hawaiian and Filipino students,” said UH ����ԴDz� Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun. “I would attribute the growth in the freshmen class to the changes we made to the merit scholarship program, which is now more focused on enrolling �鶹��ý resident students.”

Enrollment at UH ����ԴDz� has been steadily rising over the last five years with one exception in 2022 when there 24 fewer students than in 2021, when enrollment had spiked by 6% increase.

Success despite FAFSA

The 4% increase in 2024 is even more impressive considering that it happened when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process was mired with issues. The federal government’s update to the FAFSA form last year was released months behind schedule and experienced multiple technical difficulties that created uncertainty for students and their families as colleges scrambled to issue financial aid packages in spite of the challenges.

“I’m really proud that we were prepared for the FAFSA delays, and I am grateful for the proactive work done by the Financial Aid staff,” said Chun. “Despite the delays, we were able to disburse more money to both undergraduate and graduate students.”

�鶹��ý����ԴDz� awarded merit based scholarships to 96% of all incoming, first year freshmen and 99% to all Hawaii residents that are first-year, first time freshmen. The ����ԴDz� Academic Merit Scholarships were awarded based on grade point average and residency:

• Hawai’i residents with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0-3.59 will be considered for a $3,000 scholarship per year. Total $12,000 over 4 years.
• Hawai’i residents with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher will be considered for a $4,000 scholarship per year. Total $16,000 over 4 years.
• U.S. citizens, Hawai’i non-residents (including WUE-eligible students) with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will be considered for a $2,000 scholarship per year. Total $8,000 over 4 years.

Chun said UH ����ԴDz� disbursed $81.6 million to more than 11,400 students this year compared to $74.6 million to more than 9,900 students in 2023.

The final enrollment numbers for UH’s 10 campuses will be announced in October. As of September 17 (will update numbers tomorrow), headcount enrollment was up at eight of the ten UH campuses, with a 2.8% increase across the entire UH system. This follows fall 2023, when enrollment was up 1.8% systemwide.

Fall 2024 UH ����ԴDz� student body profile

• 62% (12,439) local students (5% increase from 2023)
• 31% (6,232) out-of-state U.S. students (2% increase from 2023)
• 6% (1,245) international students (5% increase from 2023)

A study from the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, reveals the crucial role that Filipino cultural values played in fostering resilience and empowerment within the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research, conducted by Clifford Bersamira, assistant professor, and Jethro Macaraeg, a master of social work graduate, was published in .

“Intersecting Kapwa, Resilience, and Empowerment: A Case Study of Filipinos in �鶹��ý During the COVID-19 Pandemic” addressed a significant gap in the existing literature on Filipino American resilience. Traditionally, the role of Filipino values in navigating adversity has been overlooked, but this study aims to bring these cultural values into the spotlight.

Focusing on the Filipino population in �鶹��ý, which Bersamira describes as a “unique context compared with other Filipinos in the U.S.,” the study emphasized the community’s ability to overcome challenges through deeply ingrained cultural values.

“We often hear these narratives about how hardworking and resilient Filipinos are in light of the conditions they face, such as during the pandemic,” Bersamira said. “This study helps us understand the role of our culture and values in overcoming challenges and transforming our circumstances.”

This research highlighted not only the resilience of the Filipino community during the pandemic but also serves as a call to action for integrating cultural values into the broader discourse on empowerment and resilience.

Key values emerged from interviews

The study utilized data from 17 semi-structured interviews and employed narrative analysis to identify key Filipino values that emerged in stories of resilience and empowerment. Among these values, kapwa (shared identity) and karangalan-dangal (internal dignity) were found to be central. In the context of resilience, values such as kagandahang-loob (acts of goodwill), pakikisama (companionship), lakas ng loob (inner strength), hiya (propriety), and bahala na (determination) were highlighted. Meanwhile, values like pakikibaka (resistance), pakiramdam (shared inner perception), karangalan-puri (external dignity), utang ng loob (debt of gratitude), and katarungan (justice) were associated with empowerment.

“Our research highlights how Filipino cultural values like kapwa (shared identity) and karangalan-dangal (internal dignity) are vital for fostering both resilience and empowerment, helping the community not just endure challenges but actively transform the systems that create them,” said Macaraeg.

The study’s findings suggest that a deeper understanding of Filipino American resilience and empowerment requires an appreciation of these specific cultural values. For researchers and service providers, the study advocates for developing resources that are grounded in these cultural traditions, ultimately inviting a rethinking of strategies to support the Filipino American community.

—By Maria Pou

The and Philippines-based have established a partnership that gives Enderun students an opportunity to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree at UH.

Starting in 2026, qualifying Enderun Colleges students can articulate to UH West Oʻahu for a two-year, in-person experience at the Kapolei campus that will expose them to Indigenous culture, place-based learning and a robust academic curriculum.

The two institutions established a “2+2 Transfer and Articulation Program,” which allows Enderun Colleges students who fulfill a prescribed two-year course study guaranteed acceptance with junior standing to UH West Oʻahu’s program (to earn a bachelor of arts in business administration with a concentration in ), or the creative media program (to earn a bachelor of arts in creative media with a concentration in ).

“We are delighted to be partnering with Enderun Colleges,” said UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Maenette Benham. “Their exceptional work in international hospitality management, specializing in hotel administration or culinary arts, aligns with our BA (bachelor of arts) and BAS (bachelor of applied science) degrees. The additional pathway into creative media will provide students with professional skills that will lead to bright career opportunities.”

The partnership promotes international education, cultural exchange and collaboration in areas of common interest and benefit to both institutions. Enderun Colleges Chief Operations Officer Daniel Perez and Dean of the College of Architecture and Design Nikki Tayag visited UH West Oʻahu on November 24. The visit included a tour of the campus, followed by a signing ceremony in which Perez, Benham and UH West Oʻahu Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Harald Barkhoff officially signed the transfer and articulation agreement.

“This collaboration represents a significant step in global education, offering students the unparalleled opportunity to study in two different countries and at two esteemed institutions,” said Perez.

• Read more:

“We look forward to welcoming our new ʻohana members from the Philippines,” Benham said.

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Bryceson Gregory Kealiʻiwiwoʻoleikamaunakiʻekiʻe Tugade is hoping to convey some important messages as a student speaker at the ’s commencement ceremony on December 9.

Always seek the “more” in life. Remain curious. Give back to your community. And one of the most valuable messages: Utilize education as a key tool for attaining personal growth and breaking down barriers.

Tugade, 23, of Aliamanu, will receive a bachelor of applied science with a concentration in (SCFS) at .

“As a first-generation college student, this means the world and so much more,” said Tugade, who is Filipino, Native Hawaiian and Chinese. “This upcoming graduation stands as a testament to my family, peers and larger community that education can be a key driver in overcoming and breaking perceived barriers.”

Emerging leader

After graduating from Radford High School in 2018, Tugade enrolled at , where he graduated in spring 2021 with an associate in science in sustainable agriculture—becoming the first in his family to receive a college degree. He then transferred in fall 2021 to UH West Oʻahu in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

“I was initially scared of the prospect of advancing my education,” Tugade said. “However, with staff and faculty assistance, I was not only becoming increasingly confident in my ability to perform within an academic realm, but pursuit of opportunities elsewhere was not met with doubt.”

Tugade has thrived—academically, professionally and personally—during his time at UH West Oʻahu. He found mentors in Albie Miles, his academic advisor and an associate professor in the SCFS program, as well as Indrajit Gunasekara, co-founder of the (cultural agroforestry) movement and UH West Oʻahu financial aid officer, whom Tugade calls, “my aya (older brother in Sri Lankan).”

Gunasekara said Tugade’s passionate commitment to the Aloha ʻĀina (love of the land) movement is very inspiring to many.

“He’s always driven to expand his understanding of the work we do with the perspective of Indigenous understanding of where his roots belong, as well as making meaning within the framework of scientific theoretical engagement,” Gunasekara said. “He is a remarkable person, a highly intelligent and deep thinker who’s always ready to step in and to support whenever, whatever capacity the help is needed.”

Miles said Tugade has proven to be an exceptional multidisciplinary food system scholar.

“He has a keen interest in the biophysical sciences, working on the genetics of Polynesian introduced crops with mentors at UH ����ԴDz�, while excelling in his understanding of the root causes of many of the challenges we face in the food system of �鶹��ý and beyond,” Miles said.

‘For my dad’

Tugade aspires to earn a master of science degree at UH ����ԴDz�, and eventually a PhD in tropical plant and soil sciences.

“I plan to continue addressing the layers of work that must be done to identify the current environmental, agricultural and social obstacles we face in �鶹��ý, and strive to find solutions to assist and serve my community,” Tugade said. “By blending my understanding of science and Indigenous Hawaiian knowledge, I can help my community to reclaim control of our local and traditional food systems for health and livelihood.”

Although Tugade didn’t always see himself pursuing a degree as he was growing up, the prospect of higher learning was always a conversation in his household, and his father emphasized the value of education. His family would participate in fundraising events for students in his father’s barrio (town) of Bacar, Magsingal, in the Ilocos Sur region of the Philippines.

“During this semester, my resilience was tested once more—my father unexpectedly passed away this October from an advanced stage of TB,” Tugade said. “From grieving with my ʻohana, to focusing on graduation, and navigating a world without him, I hope to embody resilience and the significant role education can play in our lives.”

He added, “This upcoming graduation is for my dad.”

For more visit .

—by Zenaida Serrano Arvman