Hawaiʻi Island high school students of Pacific Islander heritage attended a motivational conference in October at the . The 8th Pacific Youth Empowerment for Success (PacYES!) conference is an annual event designed to motivate, inspire and inform high school students of Pacific Island ethnicities—Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Marshallese, Palauan, Pohnepein, Chuukese, Kosrean, Yapese and others—about future opportunities.
The event has changed names over the years but has always focused on motivating the students to plan for higher education, meaningful careers and community engagement. This year, the students learned about college and career opportunities and ways to build stronger cultural connections within their own communities. The theme of the conference was “Navigating Success.”
Student speaker Dwayne Anefal shared the challenges and triumphs of his personal journey to reach his goals. Among his many accomplishments, Anefal lived in China for seven years, learned the Mandarin language, and obtained a degree in Chinese. He is currently a senior at 东精影业 Hilo and earning a .
More than 70 东精影业 Hilo student volunteers coordinated the event. Students from various 东精影业 Hilo Pacific clubs served as motivational speakers and panelists at the conference workshops. Michael Bitter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, challenged each high school student to talk with a 东精影业 Hilo volunteer.
“The cumulative success of previous PacYES events was evident…, as many of the 东精影业 Hilo volunteers were former PacYES participants and are now serving as inspirational role models,” said Joseph Genz, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the 东精影业 Hilo program. “This expanding cycle of outreach, recruitment and retention is wonderful to see.”
This year’s PacYES conference was sponsored by Micronesians United-Big Island; the Islands of Opportunity Alliance; 东精影业 Hilo Department of Anthropology; 东精影业 Hilo Pacific Islands Studies certificate program; 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 and the ; County of Hawaiʻi Prosecutor’s Office; Hawaiʻi Department of Education; Rotary Club of Hilo Bay; Big Island Toyota and Gear Up.
