A University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu-produced documentary about Hawaiʻi labor leader and social activist Ah Quon McElrath will air on public television stations across the country. Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends! was initially released in 2024, and .

Produced by the (CLEAR) at 东精影业 West Oʻahu, the documentary will air on stations in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. Other PBS stations across the continent will broadcast the program later this year. Exact program schedules are determined by each station.

“We are excited that the AQ documentary will be run six times by WGBH Boston, and six times by Oregon Public Broadcasting,” said producer Chris Conybeare (professor emeritus). “It鈥檚 also been picked up by KQED San Francisco and by the WNET Group, which includes Channel 13 NYC, New Jersey Public Television, and Long Island Public TV.”

A force in Hawaiʻi labor

McElrath, a 东精影业 Mānoa alumna, earned her degree in sociology, helped found the at 东精影业 Mānoa, and served on the 东精影业 Board of Regents. In 2004, she was given the 东精影业 Founders Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in advocating social change in education and improving social conditions throughout Hawaiʻi.

“AQ was a pivotal force in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 labor movement and a champion for social justice,” said documentary director Joy Chong-Stannard. “Although she died in 2008, her legacy lives on in her contributions to healthcare, education, fair housing and civil and human rights, as well as to the labor movement.”

CLEAR was established by Act 202 in 1976, enabling 东精影业 to provide labor education to workers, unions, teachers and the public.

“As the clearinghouse for labor education matters in the State, we are thrilled and excited by the far-reaching interest in Hawaiʻi‘s labor history,” said Dion Dizon, CLEAR director. “CLEAR has enjoyed decades of producing meaningful labor media and journalism with Chris and Joy leading multiple projects. I am happy that this documentary preserves not only AQ‘s impact, but also CLEAR‘s legacy.”

Funding for the documentary came from private donations, including major support from at the .

“We are proud to co-sponsor this program about AQ鈥檚 life,” said Kathryn L. Braun, Barbara Cox Anthony Endowed Chair of Aging. “This important female leader not only helped democratize the state of Hawaiʻi, but also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education.”

• Related story: PBS Hawaiʻi documentary features social activist 东精影业鈥檚 McElrath

Anyone passing Krauss Hall in October may have noticed an uncommon campus sight: k奴puna (older adults), m膩kua (adults) and 艒pio (youth) sharing pizza and meaningful conversation. The gathering marked the launch of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补驶s new Age-Friendly University Initiative, a long-term effort led by the Center on Aging (COA) in the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, with campus partners including the 东精影业 Retirees ʻOhana and the .

Co-planned over several months by a team led by COA gerontologist Christy Nishita and Professor Emeritus Noel Kent of ethnic studies, “Generations in Conversation” served as the initiative’s first step toward building a more inclusive, multigenerational campus. The event followed 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补’s recent acceptance into the global .

“This is an association of higher education institutions around the world that are committed to promoting positive and healthy aging and enhancing the lives of older members, which strongly aligns with the mission and goals of our Center on Aging,” Nishita said.

Conversations that bridge generational divides

Participants of all ages split into pairs and small groups to explore 36 guided questions designed to spark curiosity, deep listening and connection. Facilitator Rob Chang, whose program builds bridges in correctional settings, helped participants quickly find common ground.

“Individuals shared that they had things in common they didn’t consider before with their partner or partners and that they felt comfortable to share,” said Whitney Katsutani, a COA social worker. “Rob also shared about how he does this work with justice-involved individuals and how connection and conversation go beyond the spaces they originate in.”

As COA continues developing age-friendly programming in the coming months, Nishita said events like this lay the foundation for deeper, ongoing intergenerational engagement.

“We start there, and then evolve into conversations of deeper social impact, working toward collaborative involvement in addressing larger community issues together,” she said.

Other 东精影业 members involved in the Age-Friendly University initiative include Joonyoung Cho, Emanuel Drechsel and Carole Mandryk.

Roland Kotani鈥檚 (1985) has been digitized and is now available through the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 . The release marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark publication, long regarded as a cornerstone of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

“Kotani broke new ground by telling a history of Japanese and Okinawans in Hawaiʻi that centered stories of resistance to oppression in a form that was very accessible,” said Kyle Kajihiro, assistant professor of ethnic studies.

Kotani was a writer, historian and community advocate who also served as a member of the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. He dedicated much of his work to shedding light on the journey of Japanese and Okinawan immigrant communities, highlighting a century of resilience, labor activism and community building. Through his storytelling, Kotani captured how Japanese and Okinawan workers helped transform plantation life and shape 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 modern society.

Kotani鈥檚 legacy preserved

Hamilton Library received permission from Kotani鈥檚 daughter, Mariko, and his brother, musician Ozzie Kotani, to make the work publicly available.

“This book is foundational in its clarity and continues to be used in ethnic studies classes,” said Jodie Mattos, Hawaiian Collection Librarian and Department Chair of the Hawaiian and Pacific Collections. “This year marks 40 years since the publication of Kotani鈥檚 book, and its longevity is noteworthy.”

Mattos expressed appreciation to the Kotani family and Vince Watabu of the Hawaii Hochi, the book鈥檚 publisher, for helping make this important resource freely available to future generations.

Access the digitized book through .

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 in the has released a new collection documenting the lives of Native Hawaiian Lahainaluna High School alumni who were boarding students between the 1950s and 1990s. The project highlights the stories of 20 former boarders, capturing their experiences in a series of interviews now available online.

Conducted from 2022 to 2024, the project was led by Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan and graduate research assistant Wailana Medeiros, with support from Center for Oral History Associate Director Micah Mizukami, former Director and Professor Emerita Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor, and other Center for Oral History staff.

“The important source of continuity are the stories of the elders of the land and these communities,” Tengan said. “In order for us to better understand our way forward, we need to know the moʻolelo (stories), the histories and through the spoken form—those that haven’t been recorded. It鈥檚 really important to be able to sit down with k奴puna who want to share and pass on these stories to maintain intergenerational connections, especially in a place such as Lahainaluna that has such a steeped history.”

Lahainaluna, founded in 1831 at the foot of Puʻu 笔补ʻ奴辫补ʻ奴, is Hawaiʻi鈥檚 only public boarding high school and is recognized as the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River. The boarding program began in 1836 and has played a pivotal role in the school鈥檚 legacy, offering agricultural work experiences and a sense of community for students from across the islands.

The collection includes , along with a , to showcase the lives, contributions and reflections of the narrators.

“We got to really step into the boarder lifestyle and get a glimpse of what each generation experienced as boarders at Lahainaluna,” Medeiros said. “Since this was my first ever oral history project, it really emphasized how important oral histories are to Hawaiʻi, and how when we conduct oral histories, they aren鈥檛 just extracting information but they’re meant to tell an entire life story.”

Voices of former boarders

The project sheds light on the cultural and historical significance of Lahainaluna鈥檚 boarding program and its impact on generations of Native Hawaiian students. Craig Murakami was a former boarding student who participated in this project. He was born and raised in Kahului, and descends from the Marciel family of East Maui. He graduated in 1971, serves as president of the Lahainaluna Boarders Association and still lives on Maui.

“My only regret is that it took me over 50 years to realize that all the success in my career and my life was all related to lessons learned and experiences I had as a Boarder,” Murakami said. “Hopefully, these interviews will inspire other Boarders to speak about their experiences and encourage more students to participate in the program.”

Eddie Espiritu was born in Honolulu and raised on Molokaʻi. He attended Lahainaluna as a boarder and graduated in 1971. Espiritu still lives on Maui and serves as the secretary of the Lahainaluna Boarders Association.

“Though we may come from different eras and times we share the same values that we learned as Boarders,” Espiritu said. “The value of hard work, integrity, honor, pride and commitment are just a few. But through these shared experiences we find common ground that we can pass on to the current Boarders as well as those that will come in the future.”

Honoring memories, inspiring hope after fires

The project was briefly paused in 2023 following the devastating Lahaina wildfires, as the team and community focused on recovery and reflection. Tengan hopes this work can be a source of healing for the community.

“Despite all the changes, hearing these familiar stories, hearing names of people that they hadn鈥檛 seen—perhaps are gone now—and the memories of the place that was there before the fires inspires hope for that future, reconnection and knowledge that again Lahaina can come back,” Tengan said.

Virtual launch to share stories

To celebrate the project鈥檚 release, the Center for Oral History will host a . The event will highlight the project鈥檚 findings and feature insights into the boarding experience at Lahainaluna.

The project was made possible through the generosity of the HK West Maui Community Fund, and in collaboration with the Lahainaluna Boarders Association and Lahainaluna Library and Archives.

The Department of Ethnic Studies is housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

New research sheds light on the chronic underfunding of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 public schools according to a brief by the . The report aims to counter widespread misconceptions about the state鈥檚 educational challenges, and argues that increased funding is essential to improving student outcomes and addressing systemic inequities.

“Chronic underfunding of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 public schools is a systemic issue that limits opportunities for students and perpetuates inequities. Investing in quality public education is our collective kuleana; it鈥檚 about supporting students and teachers, strengthening Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy, and building a more equitable future for all,” said Colleen Rost-Banik, instructor in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and co-author of the research brief.

The report also advises that investing in quality public education is an investment in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy. Not only do quality public schools save families money, they also increase high school graduation rates, which, in turn, generates more economic opportunities for the state.

“We aim policy recommendations toward the State Legislature because they have been responsible for underfunding public schools for years. If we are concerned about young people and their families not being priced out of Hawaiʻi, we need to ensure that public schools are well-equipped to recruit and retain licensed teachers and offer holistic education for all students,” Rost-Banik added.

Authored by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members, and endorsed by 117 Hawaiʻi-based scholars, the brief acknowledges four misconceptions and provides facts disputing them.

Misconception #1: Hawaiʻi鈥檚 public schools are adequately funded.
Facts:

• Hawaiʻi ranks among the lowest of states in percentage of state and local expenditures supporting K–12 education—15.1% compared to U.S. average 21.5%.
• Despite the increased cost of living in Hawaiʻi, the percentage of expenditures for public education has decreased. In FY 2024, public funding for education was 7% less than 2023, even when the state had a budget surplus.
• The public schools experienced a dramatic decrease in funding when $640 million of temporary federal pandemic funding ended on September 30, 2024.
• Lack of funding leads to a lack of programs that nurture “the whole child,” for example, the arts, PE, bilingual aides and afterschool enrichment.

Misconception #2: The teacher shortage no longer exists.
Facts:

• Salary differentials, which are not permanent, redistributed the educator workforce and addressed some needs, but did not solve the teacher shortage.
• The public schools are forced to hire individuals without teaching credentials to fill teacher vacancies. As of January 2024, there were 738 “emergency hires” employed in public schools across the state.
• High attrition rates account for about 89% of new teachers needed each year. The public schools annually replace about 1,200 teachers, with 43% of them coming from out-of-state.

Misconception #3: More funding will not improve public education.
Facts:

• Increased funding for public education raises student achievement and performance, influencing high school graduation rates and college enrollment, and leading to higher incomes in adulthood.
• Increased funding in Hawaiʻi could promote greater access to Pre–K programs.
• Increased funding of Hawaiʻi public schools could raise the enrollment of local high school graduates at community colleges and universities, increasing lifetime earnings.

Misconception #4: Public school funding only affects parents with children in public schools.
Facts:

• Investing in quality public education is an investment in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy. Increasing high school graduation rates leads to additional tax revenue. Technological changes continue to shift the economy toward skilled labor.
• Public schools are places where students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds can interact with and learn from each other, increasing understanding and harmony across such groups.
• Better-funded public education is related to lower poverty.
• Public schools save families money.

Policy recommendations

The authors of the report offer the following policy recommendations:

• The state Legislature should prioritize increased and permanent funding for adequate public education.
• The state Legislature should prioritize funding for teacher recruitment and retention, with particular focus on increasing salaries and improving workplace conditions.
• The state Legislature should appropriate funds for an analysis of the public school budget to determine the extent to which public schools are adequately funded.
• The state Legislature should provide resources to support universal public preschool.
• State policy makers should support teacher education for students from underrepresented backgrounds and increase compensation for quality mentor teachers.
• The state Legislature should provide housing benefits for teachers to alleviate the cost of living.

The authors of the report are: E. Brook Chapman de Sousa (associate professor, , ), Kay Fukuda (associate specialist and program director, ), Janet Kim (recruitment specialist, College of Education), Jonathan Okamura (emeritus professor, , ), Colleen Rost-Banik (instructor, Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences), Lois Yamauchi (professor, , College of Education) and Waynele Yu (instructor, , College of Education).

Hawaiʻi labor leader and social activist Ah Quon McElrath is the focus of a new documentary that will air on on October 17, at 8:30 p.m. Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends! will re-air on October 20 at 1 p.m.

McElrath, a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 alumna who earned her degree in sociology, helped found the at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and also served on the 东精影业 Board of Regents. In 2004, she was given the 东精影业 Founders Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in advocating social change in education and improving social conditions throughout Hawaiʻi.

McElrath was a pivotal force in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 labor movement and a champion for social justice.

The documentary is a production of the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) at the 东精影业 West Oʻahu. One of the leading donors was at the .

“We are thrilled to sponsor this program about AQ鈥檚 life,” said Kathryn L. Braun, Barbara Cox Anthony Endowed Chair of Aging. “This important female leader not only helped democratize the state of Hawaiʻi, but also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education. We鈥檙e so proud to count her as an alumna and recognize her service on the University of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Board of Regents.”

McElrath was born in 1915 and died in 2008, yet her legacy lives on as her contributions extended far beyond the labor movement, advocating for healthcare, education, fair housing, and civil and human rights throughout Hawaiʻi.

By exploring McElrath鈥檚 life, The Struggle Never Ends! documents some of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 most important history and how her work continues to inspire future generations. The documentary is part of the Ah Quon McElrath Project, which preserves her legacy through rare footage, interviews and educational materials.

students are exploring Asian American pop culture with an ethnic studies framework through an innovative course in the in the . As part of that class, students will hear from Fresh Off the Boat actor Randall Park and music producer Dan “the Automator” Nakamura.

The students from ES 213: Race and Pop Culture have already engaged with industry leaders Phil Yu, known for his Angry Asian Man blog, and Jeff Yang, co-author of “Rise: Asian American Pop Culture.”

Now, on Wednesday, October 16 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Center for Korean Studies Auditorium, the students will have the opportunity to meet Park and Nakamura, and hear about their experiences in their respective industries. The presentation will also be open to the broader 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 community. . A limited number of seats are available.

ES 213 is being co-taught by Julia Huang, CEO of InterTrend Communications, and Director and Ethnic Studies Professor Mary Kunmi Yu Danico. The course is centered on Asian American pop culture, offering students the chance to apply ethnic studies frameworks in real time.

“The opportunity for our students to learn from and engage with industry leaders is truly a gift and I am very thankful to Julia for sharing her expertise, networks and time with our students,” Danico said.

Huang added, “Collaborating with Dr. Danico to share industry insights into the classroom has been incredibly rewarding. While our goal is to enrich students’ understanding of Asian American pop culture, their fresh perspectives continually challenge and inspire me. It鈥檚 exciting to see students engage with these ideas and consider how they might apply them beyond the classroom.”

The course exemplifies 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 commitment to providing students with practical, real-world applications of their studies. By bridging academic theories with industry insights, this course prepares students to engage critically with pop culture and consider its broader implications in society. Danico hopes to continue offering this course in the upcoming semesters.

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

Hundreds gathered in West Maui for the Lahaina Obon Ceremony, a remembrance for those lost in the devastating August 2023 wildfire. Among the attendees at the event on August 10 was University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico.

“I was so inspired by the love and support that folks were giving,” Danico said. “It was a mourning and a celebration of life.”

The event was organized by the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Lahaina Shingon Mission and Lahaina Jodo Mission, whose temple was destroyed in the blaze. The ceremony, which took place at Lahaina Cannery Mall, featured traditional dancing, food vendors and a sense of community healing. It was also part of an initiative put on by Kuhinia Maui.

Danico volunteered at the Jodo Mission booth, selling T-shirts with calligraphy by the temple’s reverend and images of a Buddha statue that survived the fire.

“People who came to the booth shared their memories of the Jodo Mission,” Danico said. “One woman came and asked, ‘Will the temple be rebuilt? I was married there.’”

The Lahaina Jodo Mission has been a cornerstone of the community since 1963. Rev. Gensho Hara, who arrived in Lahaina that year, later rebuilt the temple after a 1968 fire with support from locals and Japan.

Preserving memories, history

The event coincided with a $30,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant awarded to the Center for Oral History. The funds will support oral history projects preserving memories of Lahaina, Lahaina Jodo Mission and its impact.

“Those who came to the booth expressed gratitude for preserving the history of the peoples of Lahaina and Jodo Mission,” Danico said.

The center鈥檚 work builds on previous collaborations, including interviews conducted by Associate Director Micah Mizukami with Hara for a earlier in 2024. Danico is now working with Hara鈥檚 daughters, Yayoi and Maya, to identify key individuals for oral histories related to the temple.

As the community continues to grapple with loss and recovery, events like the obon ceremony provide a space for reflection and unity.

“It was a joyful occasion,” Danico said, emphasizing the resilience of Maui鈥檚 people in the face of tragedy.

The Center for Oral History is housed in the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 .

Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor and Ricardo Trimillos, renowned professors who have made lasting contributions to the and the greater community, were celebrated as on February 10. The 49th annual ceremony paid tribute to individuals who have significantly enriched the cultural tapestry of the islands.

Trimillos, a professor emeritus of was recognized for his profound influence on the preservation and perpetuation of the islands’ cultural, musical and artistic traditions.

“This is an honor that was completely unanticipated, but it also is an important way station to where I have been, and the people that helped me to get there,” Trimillos said. “Looking out over the assembled audience I was moved to see how many parts of my life were represented by the five tables of friends and students who attended and supported me. I haven鈥檛 processed the entire experience, but it is certainly one of the high points of my retirement age!”

• Related 东精影业 News story: 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 professor honored by International Council for Traditional Music and Dance, August 1, 2023

McGregor, a professor emerita and trailblazer in the field received acclaim for her steadfast dedication to education, cultural preservation and shouldering efforts to stop the bombing and heal the island of Kahoʻolawe.

“In honoring me, really it鈥檚 honoring my mentors, my colleagues at the Department of Ethnic Studies, as well as my students and those who I have worked with in the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and my own ʻohana,” said McGregor. “Because whatever I鈥檝e accomplished it鈥檚 always been with a team of people.”

• Related 东精影业 News story: Ethnic studies professor Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor honored, June 16, 2020

Honoring excellence

Living Treasures of Hawaiʻi was created by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi in 1976, inspired by the Living National Treasures of Japan. It honors those unique to the islands who demonstrate excellent and high standards of achievement in their particular fields and continue to make a significant contribution towards enriching our society.

In addition to the two 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 professors, 2024 honorees include 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 alumna Sarah Keahi, a notable kumu ʻōlelo (Hawaiian language teacher) and advocate, award-winning composer and educator Julian Keikilani Ako and historian Douglas Chong, a former employee at and lecturer.

Those honored in previous years include dozens of 东精影业 employees and alumni.

The nearly 50-year history of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (COH) was celebrated at an open house event in December. Nearly 100 people attended the gathering, including COH鈥檚 first director Chad Taniguchi, and Warren Nishimoto and Michiko Kodama-Nishimoto, who served as director and associate director respectively for 37 years.

The celebration was held in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 George Hall, the home of the Center for Oral History. The event welcomed the center鈥檚 new director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico, and honored former acting director Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan and retired director Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor. The reception was hosted by Neil Horikoshi and Gayle Yamada. Horikoshi is an alumnus from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and friend of Danico鈥檚.

“The Ethnic Studies department and the Center for Oral History have enduring ties to our community who care deeply about telling our stories our way,” Danico said. “I am honored to continue the tradition of preserving memories through oral traditions and look forward to long lasting relationships with our COH ʻohana. I am humbled by the warm welcome from everyone who joined us.”

A slideshow with photos and video clips from the Center for Oral History over the years was played. Live music was performed by individuals with deep ties to the and Center for Oral History. Liko Martin and Laulani Teale performed with Gary Kubota (activist and author of the Kokua Hawaiʻi Oral History Project book) and Professor Richard Rath.

The Center for Oral History in the Department of Ethnic Studies was first established in 1976 by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature as a part of the Social Science Research Institute in the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 . The center collects, documents, preserves and highlights the recollections of Native Hawaiians and the multi-ethnic people of Hawaiʻi.

“It was so special to be able to acknowledge the work of our predecessors at the Center for Oral History,” Associate Director Micah Mizukami said. “Having all of our oral history mentors gathered together was truly magical. Seeing Chad, Warren and Michi reminiscing over old photographs and furniture in the Center was so very touching, and it鈥檚 truly a blessing and an honor to be able to continue to build upon the foundation they established, while continuing the momentum from Davianna鈥檚 relaunch of the Center in 2018.”

Like many communities in Hawaiʻi, Waialeʻe on Oʻahu鈥檚 North Shore has a rich cultural history full of moʻolelo (stories) and memories from k奴puna (elders) and ʻohana (families) who have called the area home for generations. Thanks to an oral history project by students in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and , the moʻolelo of Waialeʻe鈥檚 k奴puna have been documented and will live on for generations to come.

“My mom was displaced when she was a child—she’s from P奴p奴kea originally,” said 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student Kenzie Kahale-Alexander, who worked on the project. “And so being able to hear stories of the area and kind of get an idea of maybe that’s what it was like for my family. That was kind of special. They took me in like family at the interview part and I’m just so fortunate to have met them and been able to work in this area.”

More than 20 students spent the fall 2023 semester documenting oral histories of nine Waialeʻe k奴puna as part of Ethnic Studies and Anthropology Professor Ty K膩wika Tengan鈥檚 North Shore Field School course. The students presented their final projects to the community at a 丑艒ʻ颈办别 event on December 2, hosted in partnership with the . The community organization was instrumental in forging partnerships with 东精影业, providing connections to community and k奴puna, site access and hosting events.

“This is a really unique, important opportunity for students to do community-based work with both the Hawaiian community, as well as non-Hawaiian community members who have long standing ties to the place,” Tengan said. “We’re looking to instill in them an ethical sense, a kuleana-based approach to honoring the words of our narrators, the storytellers sharing their life experiences. It’s something that can only happen in a field school situation.”

“I’ve been with this project for almost two years now and I really love learning about the history of this place.” —Dani Kaohe David

Under the guidance of the Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico and Associate Director Micah Mizukami, the students conducted oral history interviews covering various topics with their narrators, including the Waialeʻe Training School for Boys, the 东精影业 Experimental Agricultural Station, kuleana land parcels and childhood memories of their upbringing in Waialeʻe. Additional support came from graduate student alakaʻi (leaders) Alana Kanahele, Dani Kaohe David, Naomi Doherty and Amber McClure.

“I’ve been with this project for almost two years now and I really love learning about the history of this place,” Kaohe David said. “I didn’t think I would as much as I do now. It makes me want to go back into my own community and research the places there.”

Danico added, “The celebration of our communities’ oral histories highlights the importance of how memories fill the gaps in our history. The Center for Oral History is honored to be part of this history in Waialeʻe!”

The k奴puna were Nohea Santimer, Leona Lui, Rachel Paris, Mildred Cataluna, Paul and Verna Eguires, Daniel Nahoopiʻi, Margaret Primacio and JennieLee Andrade.

“The students were great, made you feel comfortable and just their interests alone in what we had to say was pretty comforting, I guess, you know, because there was meaning to them for what we had to say,” Paul Eguires said.

Place-based service learning and scholarship

The project was funded in part by an award from the Provost鈥檚 Strategic Investment Initiative, a campus-wide competition designed to increase cross-unit and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

This course is a part of the , a project that builds upon robust collaborations to develop Waialeʻe as a site of resurgent education, research and resilience for the North Shore community and beyond. The project was initiated by the as part of the effort to restore environmental, agricultural and social abundance to Waialeʻe. The community group leases 30 acres from the 东精影业‘s former Waialeʻe livestock research station to restore loʻi kalo, fishponds, agroforestry and habitat for native species.

“The Waialeʻe Lako Pono initiative that got funded by the provost was the effort of the university to fulfill that kuleana to listen to the people of the community to really take its role as a steward of the land seriously,” Tengan said. “All of these departments are coming together to have a holistic view of what it means to bring university faculty and students together to restore a place with the direction of the community.”

“Partnering with professors like Kumu K膩wika Tengan doing the oral history field school out here is really important to preserving the history of this side of the island.” —Kawela Farrant, the North Shore Community Land Trust

Cross-disciplinary programming will be created for Waialeʻe centers on place-based service learning and engaged scholarship. Waialeʻe demonstrates how UH can meet its kuleana to ʻ腻颈苍补 through community-based and community-supported work. The initiative is a collaboration among the , , , , , , and the .

“A lot of things are changing out here on the North Shore and so partnering with professors like Kumu K膩wika Tengan doing the oral history field school out here is really important to preserving the history of this side of the island—remembering what makes this place special,” said Kawela Farrant from the North Shore Community Land Trust.

In these modern times, the question may not be whether democracy is under threat in the U.S., but why—in this era of critical contemporary social, political and economic upheaval in North America, the Asia Pacific and beyond—is democratic backsliding occurring and what can be done about it?

The public is invited to an open town hall meeting, “,” on Friday, October 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. The 2023 Fulbright Canada Colloquium Town Hall is the culmination of several days of meetings and related events, including an authors鈥� workshop designed to produce an edited volume.

Town hall panel participants will include:

• Davianna McGregor, retired 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 professor and founding member of the 鈥� (CSS) , and former director of the .
• Jane Kabubo-Mariara, executive director of the Partnership for Economic Policy based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
• Moderator Colin Moore, director of the at CSS and a political analyst.

The town hall will focus on the critical and increasingly complex challenges to democracy and democratic institutions in the U.S., Canada and the broader international community. It will examine whether creative institutional reforms can help address the following issues:

• Heightened political and cultural polarization.
• Widening gaps between people and power.
• Threats to multi-ethnic democracies.
• Economic instability.
• Growing maldistribution of wealth and income.
• Discontent with democracy.
• The rise of populism.

Past colloquiums have addressed:

• In 2018—The exploration of significant, complex issues surrounding sovereignty, sustainability and rights of and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples.
• In 2017—The future of trade and international economic cooperation between Canada and the U.S.
• In 2016—The examination and evaluation of North America鈥檚 response to domestic and international challenges posed by increasing incidences of violent extremism.

The 2023 Fulbright Canada Colloquium Town Hall is a partnership of CSS; Fulbright Canada; the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh; and the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco.

Coordinating the colloquium are Michael Hawes, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the U.S. (aka Fulbright Canada); Denise Eby Konan, CSS dean; and Christopher Kirkey, director of the Center for the Study of Canada at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Light refreshments will be served.

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Personal accounts of belonging and inclusion from four Black students at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 were chronicled in a by Assistant Professor Ethan Caldwell.

In the photo essay published in the , Caldwell photographs each of the four students at places on campus where they feel the most and least belonging. At the place where they feel the least belonging, the students don a veil.

“I鈥檓 trying to get folks to understand that not only are Black students present on campus but they are having quite a varying set of experiences. So many of them do question, ‘Where do I belong on campus?’ and ‘Where do I find that belonging?’” Caldwell said. “It takes a lot of courage. There comes a level of trust when you鈥檙e putting yourself out there in this particular manner. And I think part of that also helps show the rapport that the students have not only with some of the faculty but also with one another.”

One student named Bliss, whose last name is not used, said she feels the most belonging at the Women鈥檚 Center in the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services.

“I came from a tornado of a past with some seriously heavy baggage, and the Women’s Center was the place where I first found relief and support,” Bliss shared in the essay. “It was my safe space where I could rest and regulate my nervous system. I was always met with kindness, camaraderie and care. It will always hold such a special place in my heart because it was the birthplace of some lifelong friendships and transformation for me.”

Bliss, who self-identifies as African American and Japanese, and female, sits with a black cloth over her shoulders in the middle of Campus Center.

“I feel swallowed up by the students during passing period,” Bliss said. “I feel invisible, awkward and uncomfortable there. I feel like an outcast partly because I don’t look like a lot of the students on campus. On the island, I feel the weakest sense of belonging in spaces like Waik墨k墨, where there are hordes of tourists that are much like the people from my hometown.”

To see the entire photo essay, and read the stories of four students, .

Caldwell wrote, “By addressing the histories, movements and ideas related to Blackness through an oceanic lens, the resulting images and dialogue with students highlight the need for campuses and constituents to address diversity, inclusion, equity and justice work on university campuses beyond the continent. In addition, their experiences solidify the need to challenge anti-Blackness in all spaces on campus to ensure the safety of Black students, staff and faculty, a measure all will benefit from.”

The Department of Ethnic Studies is housed in the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 .

Many who are familiar with Lahaina town on Maui will tell you that walking down Front Street can be like traveling through history. The catastrophic August 2023 deadly wildfire claimed structures and landmarks connected to the area鈥檚 storied whaling era, the 1820s arrival of the missionaries and the plantation period, which stretched from one end of the iconic street to the other.

Historians at the recall the area鈥檚 significance even farther back in time during the days of Native Hawaiian kings and flourishing kalo terraces.

Related: Rebuilding, preserving Lahaina鈥檚 historic district.

“It鈥檚 an area that carries deep, deep mana (power), it鈥檚 a central place of mana for the island. It鈥檚 where our aliʻi resided and we trained the leaders of the kingdom,” said Ty Kāwika Tengan, and professor at 东精影业 Mānoa.

Despite the English translation of Lahaina to cruel sun, said to stem from ongoing drought, early explorers describe it as teeming with fresh waterways and verdant manicured fields of ʻulu (breadfruit) and ʻuala (sweet potato).

Royal island

From 1837 to 1845, King Kamehameha III lived on the tiny island of Mokuʻula surrounded by a 17-acre pond in the heart of the area. Under his rule, Lahaina became the official first capital of the constitutional monarchy that set the foundation for judicial and executive branches of government.

Traditionally called Lele, the West Maui district was favored by aliʻi (royalty) for its abundance of food from ʻāina (land) and kai (ocean), and balanced climate. Geographically, it also served as an integral lookout for intruders.

More on how to help Maui ʻohana and the Maui wildfires.

“It鈥檚 sort of the seat of power and it鈥檚 a good vantage point. You can see all the islands that are a part of Maui Nui,” said Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, a lecturer at and native of Lahaina. “You can see if anyone is coming from Hawaiʻi Island, very easily. It鈥檚 hard to sneak up on people.”

For generations, 狈耻ʻ耻丑颈飞补鈥檚 ʻohana (family) were caretakers of Mokuʻula long before the island that once housed Hawaiian royalty was eventually buried under a modern-day baseball field.

Royal resting place

The 200-year-old Waiola Church is among hundreds of structures destroyed in the Lahaina wildfires. Founded by Keōpuōlani, the mother of King Kamehameha II and III, it鈥檚 the parish where Christianity began on Maui.

Keōpuōlani combined forces with Kaʻahumanu (Kamehameha I鈥檚 favored wife) to convince Kamehameha II to eliminate ancient religion and the kapu system, a traditional Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations.

“Kaʻahumanu had accepted Christianity and converted to Christianity wholeheartedly. She was so enthusiastic about Christianity, she made the Ten Commandments law and enforced it,” said Davianna Pomaikaʻi McGregor, a 东精影业 Mānoa ethnic studies professor emerita. “People were arrested and sentenced to go to Kahoʻolawe for adultery.”

Keōpuōlani rests at Waiola Church鈥檚 graveyard alongside notable aliʻi such as her daughter, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena and Kaumualiʻi, the last reigning king of Kauaʻi.

Educating 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 future leaders

Founded in 1831, early missionaries opened Lahainaluna School, which was put under direct control of the Hawaiian monarchy. Currently a public secondary school, at the base of Puʻu Paʻupaʻu (Hill of Struggle) in Lahaina, the institution is the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River and facilitated the education of renowned scholars and government leaders in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Kingdom. Among its most renowned graduates is Native Hawaiian politician, educator and author David Malo, who is still praised today for his accounts of ancient Hawaiian practices, religious beliefs and legends documented in his book, Hawaiian Antiquities.

Lahainaluna also printed the first newspaper west of the Rockies, Ka Lama (The Torch). It was also the first newspaper printed in the Hawaiian language. This kickstarted a massive movement from 1834 to 1948, when more than 100 independent newspapers were printed in Hawaiian.

• Related 东精影业 News story: Native Hawaiian newspapers of the past reveal destruction of 1871 hurricane, April 4, 2018

Last fall, the 东精影业 (COH) launched a special project interviewing Native Hawaiians who were enrolled in the school鈥檚 boarding program from the 1950s to 1990s. Since last year, Tengan鈥檚 team has connected with Lahainaluna graduates who still recall the generosity of Lahaina residents.

“They shared a deep love and connection for the school and the people of Lahaina who took them in,” said Tengan. “They relied on a classmates鈥� family who would take them in for the weekend. Many of them shared how loving and how open families in Lahaina were.”

Tengan said given the tragic events that wiped out much of the beloved town, the mission to complete the Center鈥檚 Lahainaluna Boarders project is now more important than ever.

Upon completion, interviews will be made public on COH鈥檚 website.

—By Moanikeʻala Nabarro

Tara Sutton鈥檚 path to the commencement stage hasn鈥檛 been easy. The 46-year-old University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 senior didn鈥檛 get the support to attend college early on. It was through her second marriage that she gained the encouragement to pursue her dreams of higher education.

“My first husband of 13 years didn鈥檛 let me go to college. It was always ‘his turn’ to attend school, never mine,” Sutton shared. “I was never seen as equal with respect to education or career鈥� I met my second husband in Alaska—we鈥檝e been married for four years—and when we moved to Oʻahu in 2019 with my daughter and son, I started classes at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 two weeks later.”

Passion awakened

Sutton originally declared as her major, which taught her theories of intergroup and intercultural communication, as well as persuasion, specifically, persuasive message construction for social justice contexts. It was pursuing her passion that eventually led to her adding not just one, but two more majors.

“My general education electives, like Linguistics 102 and Religion 150, awakened a passion to learn about peoples, cultures and languages of the world,” Sutton said. “It prompted me to add as a second major, which led to training in ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative research. I also sought out courses in , my third major, which offered transformational learning experiences with a solid background in social justice and community engagement.”

After her four years at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, Sutton will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and a long list of accomplishments.

After her four years at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, Sutton will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and a long list of accomplishments. Among them, she was awarded the College of Social Sciences鈥� 2023 Outstanding Graduating Senior; she is vice president of Pi Gamma Mu, the College of Social Sciences honor society; a College of Social Sciences student ambassador; service chair for the Speech Communication Society; and volunteer coordinator and former president of the Anthropology Undergraduate Student Association. In April, she won the Joseph Fielding Smith Memorial Award for outstanding communicology undergraduate; in October 2022, she was the only student panelist at the 东精影业 Innovation Conference on Water Resilience in Hawaiʻi.

Sutton credited many people at the College of Social Sciences with helping and encouraging her throughout her academic journey, including Department of Ethnic Studies Professor Davianna McGregor, Assistant Professor Aurora Kagawa-Viviani and Leah Bremer, director of the and associate specialist鈥嬧��. Sutton also said through experiences at the North Shore Field School and Nā Koʻokoʻo: Hawaiian Leadership Program, she helped create a short public service documentary video on the Red Hill water crisis.

东精影业 spring 2023 commencement schedule

“Going to school in Hawaiʻi allowed me to evaluate my positionality as a settler in an Indigenous space,” Sutton said. “This was not easy, as I challenged myself to reevaluate much of what I had learned through my childhood education in mainstream public schools on the continental U.S., with social norms that I grew to accept in the predominantly white cities where I lived.”

Pursuing a graduate degree

Now with her three degrees in hand, Sutton will continue her dream and embark on her quest for a master鈥檚 degree at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in geography and environment. Her research thesis will focus on: instances when the U.S. Department of Defense polluted the environment, identification of patterns in their response tactics and the resulting relational impacts on host communities.

I waited a long time for ‘my turn’ to go to college. My husband and kids have shown me the kind of love that says, ‘We are all in this together.
—Tara Sutton

“These past four years have been an incredible journey,” Sutton said. “I hit the books in my forties after living a full life that included single parenthood in Alaska, and decades of rich work experiences at places ranging from a bakery to mortgage processing company to medium security prison.”

Sutton concluded, “Having to wait to go to college was a bummer, but the silver lining is two of my kids are college students, too. Dinner conversations can get very interesting at our house! This has been so exciting, especially for me. I waited a long time for ‘my turn’ to go to college. My husband and kids have shown me the kind of love that says, ‘We are all in this together.’ Because of their support, I鈥檓 earning my bachelor鈥檚 degree, receiving this award and transitioning to graduate school, which is incredibly humbling. I鈥檓 looking forward to my mom, husband and kids saying they鈥檙e proud of me.”

Kailani Jackson, the student speaker for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa May 13 ceremony, overcame decades of adversity and unexpected heart-breaking challenges.

“As I receive my degree, it is the dreams fulfilled of a little brown girl, who often felt alone and like an alien in this world. Who desired to make a difference in the lives of hurting, disenfranchised, and those who felt powerless,” said Jackson, a 65-year-old non-traditional student who lives on Maui. “Today, I live fully empowered in who I am.”

Jackson, who will receive, with distinction, a bachelor of arts in and with a concentration in peace and conflict resolution, graduated from high school in 1975 and always had a dream of getting her degree, but life鈥檚 obstacles put that dream on hold.

In 2018, Jackson鈥檚 husband of 30 years underwent elective surgery, but due to a medical error committed by the medical staff, he was left paralyzed and unable to breath on his own, she said.

“Despite fighting for his life for three months, he had a premonition that he wouldn鈥檛 make it,” said Jackson. “It was then that he called me to his bedside and made me promise to come to Hawaiʻi and pursue my PhD if he didn鈥檛 survive.”

Ten days later her husband died. In their 30 years of marriage, Hawaiʻi was a place they had visited frequently and had come to consider it a second home. One year after the tragic event, Jackson fulfilled her promise by enrolling in .

A long journey

Jackson always loved education, reading and writing since she was young. Growing up in Los Angeles, California, she credits her parents鈥� involvement in the Civil Rights movement for fueling her social consciousness. As a multi-ethnic person, identifying mostly as African American, Jackson gained a deep understanding of collective and cultural trauma. When she graduated high school, her goal was to pursue a PhD in psychology.

东精影业 spring 2023 commencement schedule

“My first semester in college took a challenging turn when I became pregnant and had to drop out, leaving my dream behind,” said Jackson. “Years later, I attempted to return to college (five times) as an adult, but only managed to accumulate around 18 credits. By my mid-thirties, I had given up on the hope of ever achieving my PhD and let go of pursuing it altogether.”

At the age of 60, Jackson moved to Hawaiʻi in May 2018, and in fall 2019 enrolled in 东精影业 Maui College, where she graduated with an associate鈥檚 in liberal arts and then transferred to 东精影业 Mānoa.

Jackson credits each individual along her academic journey who has played a vital role in elevating her to new heights. These people include her husband, parents, children, ancestors, family members, friends, peers, advisors, professors, deans, teaching assistants, campus communities, Maui and Honolulu communities, and the ʻāina and waters of Hawaiʻi.

“Each has nurtured and inspired me, I couldn鈥檛 have done it alone,” she said.

What鈥檚 next?

Jackson plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing her master鈥檚 and PhD after graduation.

“Until my last breath, I will be striving for empathetic engagement, seeking to establish equity for individuals of all backgrounds and identities,” said Jackson. “With a commitment to redefining what it means to truly belong, I plan to prioritize establishing meaningful connections and encourage disruptive learning, reflection, awareness and understanding.”

Jackson wants to encourage other students, or those who are considering education, to discover their reason “why.” She believes once you understand your “why” and get determined, then you will find the opportunities that are also seeking you.

I want my story to light a fire in you!

“I want my story to light a fire in you! Let it be an example of perseverance in the face of adversity,” said Jackson. “I won鈥檛 sugarcoat it—it hasn鈥檛 been easy or without its challenges. There have been times I gave up, times I wanted to quit, times I didn鈥檛 know how I was going to scrape together the funds, and times I didn鈥檛 have the energy to write one more paper! But you know what? I refused to let those obstacles define me or keep me from fulfilling my promise to myself, my husband, and to the world I know I鈥檓 here to serve, empower and inspire.”

Jackson has two sons, three grandchildren and a labrador, Hoku, who resides with her in Maui. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Ethnic Studies Student Association, Black Student Association, Sister Circle Mānoa and a participant in the 7th Annual Alice Ball Memorial Black Graduation.

–By Sarah Hendrix

Both chambers of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature paid homage to the groundbreaking efforts of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (ES) and one of the program鈥檚 early directors, Franklin Odo, and his colleagues, at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on March 31.

Related story: 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 ethnic studies celebrates 50 years

The House of Representatives issued a recognizing the department and its leadership—past and present—for their achievements in bringing the state to the forefront of academic and cultural conversations surrounding the issues of social justice and race relations. Acknowledged for their tremendous impact on the department were: Odo; current faculty Roderick N. Labrador, Davianna 笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 McGregor, Ethan Caldwell, Monisha Das Gupta, Ulla Hasager, Richard C. Rath and Ty P. K膩wika Tengan; and emeritus faculty Ibrahim G. Aoude, Noel Kent and Jonathan Y. Okamura.

Located in the , ES emerged as a response to the tumultuous civil rights, anti-war, ethnic empowerment and students鈥� rights sentiments of the 1960s. In the resolution, the House acknowledged ES鈥� storied past, as well as the leadership role it plays today in learning, research and community service connected to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 multiethnic population.

Recognizing ethnic studies pioneer

The Hawaiʻi State Senate honored the life and legacy of Odo, who died at the end of 2022. Witnessed by members of Odo鈥檚 family, along with his friends and colleagues, the Senate expressed its appreciation for his commitment to social justice throughout a career that spanned more than 50 years.

A nationally recognized scholar and professor of Asian American and ethnic studies, Odo was instrumental in elevating the ES program to department-level status at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. He also organized numerous exhibits, studies and projects featuring the histories and experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander immigration, acculturation and experiences in the U.S., and led a delegation of panelists to testify before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC).

Related story: In memoriam: Founding ethnic studies director Franklin Odo

The CWRIC was established to review the facts and circumstances surrounding the forced relocation and internment, and the impact it had on American citizens and permanent resident aliens. Odo鈥檚 efforts led to the consideration and documentation of the wartime experiences of Japanese Americans interned in Hawaiʻi as part of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The act provided $1.8 billion in appropriations and a presidential apology for the unlawful internment of Japanese Americans.

The Senate noted that Odo鈥檚 greatest legacy, however, will forever be embodied in his students. He was a teacher, mentor and friend to thousands of college students who were awakened and inspired by his experiential and activist teaching style. He not only challenged their way of thinking in evaluating events and how those events were relevant to current day events, but also instilled the need to create their own history in their own way in his students.

A quote by Odo, taken from a 1990 interview conducted by Ethnic Studies鈥� , perhaps best distills Odo鈥檚 impact, his colleagues and the Department of Ethnic Studies on the world. It was read on the Senate floor by 东精影业 alumna Sen. Carol Fukunaga: “If you don鈥檛 control your own culture and your own vision of life, and your own participation in life, then you don鈥檛 control anything. And that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e about. The true spirit of any kind of democracy is to have people be autonomous at the same time that they know they are dependent on the community around them.”

Video from the Hawaiʻi State Senate on the recognition for Franklin Odo and the Department of Ethnic Studies

Two University of Hawaiʻi authors published in The Hawaiian Journal of History will present their articles at separate events in March and April. The Hawaiian Historical Society and 鈥檚 library are co-hosting.

Jonathan Y. Okamura will present his article, “The Lasting Significance of the Majors-Palakiko Case” (vol. 54, 2020), which covers the case behind Morgan鈥檚 Corner and the abolishment of capital punishment in Hawaiʻi, on Wednesday, March 22, 1–2 p.m. at Windward CC鈥檚 Hale Laʻakea Library.

Okamura is professor emeritus at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Department of Ethnic Studies. He is author to a number of landmark publications including, Raced to Death in 1920s Hawaiʻi: Injustice and Revenge in the Fukunaga Case (University of Illinois Press, 2019).

On Thursday, April 20, 1–2 p.m., Ralph Thomas Kam will present “Remembering the Royal Residences of Kap膩lama: The Homes of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani and Queen Liliʻuokalani” (vol. 47, 2013), looking at the forgotten royal residences of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani, Queen Liliʻuokalani and Prince Albert K奴nui膩kea.

Kam is the interim director of the Historic Preservation Graduate Certificate Program at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

Read the articles

Borrow from

Purchase from Hawaiian Historical Society: HHSoffice@hawaiianhistory.org

For more information, contact Windward CC Hawaiʻi Resource Librarian Cindy Texeira at (808) 235-7340 or ctex@hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CSS) honors the legacy of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) through faculty and graduate student research grants that recognize his indelible mark on the state and work to shape the U.S. into a more tolerant and inclusive society.

Leanne P. Day, an assistant professor of English at and a research affiliate in the CSS , was the inaugural DKI faculty research fellow in 2020. Day鈥檚 research project was titled, “Gestures of Apology, Reparations, and Comparative Racial Formations in Senator Daniel K. Inouye鈥檚 Congressional Papers.”

“My research focused on the still unresolved issue of 2,300 Latin American Japanese who were forcibly deported and incarcerated in U.S. detention centers under suspicion of being Japanese spies, and Filipino veterans who served in World War II and did not receive full veterans鈥� benefits,” said Day. “My most exciting research findings were the fascinating declassified intelligence documents from World War II that articulated the strategic moves to forcibly deport Latin American Japanese, and how the Senator referenced these documents as ‘an extraordinary effort by the U.S. government’ to relocate, intern and deport them.”

The 2022 DKI fellow is Colin Moore, chair of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 .

Applications now accepted

To commemorate the advancement of democracy, public policy and good government, faculty researchers and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 graduate students may apply for $5,000 grants through the and . The application deadline for both is November 30, 2022.

Selected fellows and graduate students will conduct archival research using DKI collections housed at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Library鈥檚 : ; and 东精影业 West Oʻahu鈥檚 . Selected fellows are faculty researchers who will be in residence at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, such as Day.

“We are proud that the college houses the , which is the hub for programs like the Congressional Archives Internship, Distinguished Visiting Scholar and special events,” said CSS Dean Denise Eby Konan. “The initiative is a living tribute to the man whose public service leadership, democratic ideals and global awareness remain relevant and impactful years after his passing. We are especially grateful to our partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye Institute, which makes this possible.”

The Daniel K. Inouye Institute was established in 2013 to preserve Inouye鈥檚 papers and tell his life story; support STEM education, civics learning and international educational-cultural exchanges; and establish a repository of the Asian American/Pacific experience.

“Senator Inouye was a proud alumnus of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补,” said Jennifer Sabas, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Institute. “We are so pleased that 东精影业 students and faculty will be able to access his archives for original research and be inspired into public service.”

Franklin Odo, who helped found the at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, died after a short bout with cancer in Northampton, Massachusetts on September 28. He was 83.

Odo was appointed director of the 东精影业 Mānoa ethnic studies program in 1978 and also served on the editorial board of . He returned to the islands after spending years in college campuses around the country promoting Asian and ethnic studies programs.

“ Franklin was a smart, passionate and committed leader whose vision of a more just future rivaled only his sense of historical humor,” said Professor Ty Tengan, acting director of the Center for Oral History, Department of Ethnic Studies. “ He fought to establish Ethnic Studies as an internationally recognized program and later a department that was (and continues to be) grounded in activist research and community-based teaching of ‘Our History, Our Way.’ He will be dearly missed; we in ethnic studies will continue to honor his legacy .”

From 1989 to 1991, Odo served as the president of the Association for Asian American Studies, and during the 1990s, he held visiting professorships at the University of Pennsylvania, Hunter College, Columbia University and his alma mater Princeton University.

Odo became a board member of the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in 1981 and served as its chair from 1986 to 1989.

In a 1990 interview with the , he described the role of cultural activities in mobilizing and empowering people: “ If you don’t control your own culture, and your own vision of life, and your own participation in life, then you don鈥檛 control anything. And that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e about. The true spirit of any kind of democracy is to have people be autonomous at the same time that they know that they鈥檙e dependent on the community around them.”

Smithsonian, Library of Congress

From 1997 until 2010, Odo served as founding director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program in Washington, D.C., where he worked to bring more attention to Asian American and Pacific Islander history, arts and culture. Odo also served as the first Asian Pacific American curator at the National Museum of American History.

After a year as interim chief of the Asian Division at the Library of Congress, he returned to teaching, this time at Amherst College. Odo also spent time at serving as a distinguished visiting scholar in December 2011.

The family is holding a private memorial service, and asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the to carry on his legacy at 东精影业.