Schedule Highlights
Date: October 22, 2016
Location: University of Hawai’i at Hilo
6:45 am – Volunteers Arrival
Pre-registered volunteers arrival & check-in at the Pacific Island Student Center for breakfast and last-minute instructions/preparations.
8:30 am – Participants Arrival & Check-In
Registration & check-in for participants & parents. Room: Campus Center Plaza | Facilitators: Registration Team & Hospitality Team
Special Performance
Music by Buster Fritz & The Crew
9:00 am – Opening Session
All conference participants will assemble in the Campus Center Plaza to listen to opening remarks and the keynote address.
Unity Song
Buster Fritz & The Crew will lead all in our conference unity song, “We Are Oceania”
Welcoming Remarks
- Jermy Uowolo (President, Micronesians United – Big Island)
- Adam Nakoa Tuifagu (Vice Principal, Kalanianaole School)
- John Alokoa (Student Speaker)
Keynote Address
Andrew Polloi
Andrew Ngiratewid Polloi is originally from the Republic of Palau. He is the youngest son of Juan Franz Polloi and Lynn Polloi. He is an alumni of UH Hilo, graduating with his M.A. in counseling psychology. He currently serves as the Clinical Team Leader of UH Hilo’s Counseling Services. He also serves as the faculty advisor for UH Hilo’s Men of Strength and Ngelkel Belau (the Palauan club at UH Hilo). Andrew volunteers his time and serves as the Vice President of Micronesians United Big Island. His career journey has been one of happenstance and he looks to share some of the lessons and wisdom he has gained from this journey.
10:00 AM – BREAK
10:10 am – Session I: Career-Readiness
Workshop 1: PACIFIC ISLANDER PROFESSIONALS
Ever wonder if you can have a career in the US? What kind of careers are possible for Pacific Islanders in Hawaii? Come listen to a diverse panel of Pacific Island professionals from Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI) who will share about their jobs and the paths they’ve taken to get to where they are today.
Presenters: Lori Reuney (Health Insurance), Amy Smith (HI State Government), David Ueda (USDA), Jesse Robert (Education), Josie Howard (We Are Oceania), Kathy Martin (We are Oceania).
Room: Campus Center 301 | Facilitator: Tulpe Day (Hawaii County Immigration Office)
Workshop 2: ENTERING THE JOB MARKET AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
Panelists from different employers will share their stories about finding a job and working their way up to management positions.
Presenters: Bensis Henry (Retail Manager), Sita Gonzales (Small Business Owner), Jermy Uowolo (Environmental Conservation), Emma Mori (Goodwill Industries)
Room: Campus Center 306 | Facilitator: None
Workshop 3: IS THE MILITARY FOR YOU?
A panel of Pacific Islander veterans and currently serving personnel will discuss their experiences in the US military service to hep you determine whether the US military is the right career path for you or not.
Presenters: Thomas Raffipiy (Army), Other military personnel.
Room: SSB 201 | Facilitator: Thomas Raffipiy (US Army)
Workshop 4: PACIFIC REGIONAL EDUCATION LABORATORY
Learn more about nature’s patterns and systems of food production, and how to apply that knowledge to community service learning opportunities, as a way to prepare you to contribute to the community and even find college and career pathways in sustainability/environmental education.
Presenters: Ming Wei, PREL Outreach
Room: Campus Center 307 | Facilitator: None
11:00 AM – BREAK
11:10 am – Session II: College-Readiness
Workshop 1: DREAM BIG & TAKE ACTION
A panel of Pacific Islander college students from UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College will share their college journeys and offer tips on how to choose, apply, and fund a college education based on their personal experiences.
Presenters: DeRobert Likiaksa (Kosrae), Eva Abraham (Pohnpei), Marli Klass (Palau), Atin Saburo (Chuuk), Cheryll Ligohr (Pohnpei), Sione Lam Yuen, Jr.(Samoa), Samantha Leon Bantol (Marshall Islands), Dilrae Mechol (Palau)
Room: Campus Center 301 | Facilitator: Malaefou Anesi (Samoa)
Workshop 2: LEADERSHIP TRAINING and ACADEMIC LIFE
Student leadership is an integral part of the college experience. Students that step into leadership roles and are active in fields that interest them can get exposed to aspects of the field of study. Come and learn from students that are in leadership roles at UH Hilo. You will also learn about a leadership development program called Ka Lama Ku. The Ka Lama Ku program can help you develop the tools to step into a leadership role and be involved on a college campus.
Presenters: Juvette Kahawaii, Catherine Ui Amantiad, Bill Yang, Vester “Boomer” Robester, Jackie Yuw, Felicia Andrew
Room: 306 | Facilitator: Andrew Polloi
Workshop 3: SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID
Learn different ways to pay for college (FAFSA, grants, scholarships, etc), important forms and deadlines, scholarship strategies and more.
Presenter: Kolby Santiago
Room: Student Services 201
Workshop 4: PURSUING GREATNESS – PACIFICA PASSION PIPELINE
Learn about the Pacifica Passion Pipeline (3P) project at UH Manoa aimed at increasing recruitment of Pacific Islander high schoolers to UH Community Colleges in collaboration with the Office of Vice President for University of Hawaii Community Colleges and find out about the application process for HCC and how to apply for financial aid.
Presenters: Samalaulu Lam Yuen (Sociology), Aovai Cole (Biology), Carol Carl (Biochemistry), Tracy Lawechresh (Public Health), Lelia Mona Chang (Public Health), Fa’ala’a Lauina (Public Health)
Room: Campus Center 307 |
11: 50 AM – BREAK
12:00 pm – Resource Fair Lunch
Get card stamps for door prizes and visit as many of the resource tables as possible.
Student Clubs:
Chuukese Student Association (CSA), Kosrae Hilo Organization (KHO), Ngelekel Belau Club, Marshallese Iakwe Club (MIC), Pohnpei Kasalehlia Club, Tupulaga O Samoa mo a Taeao (TOS), Waab Student Organization (WSO), International Student Association (ISA)
Community Resources:
We Are Oceania (WAO), Blue Zone Project, Micronesians United-Big Island, Pacific Resources for Education & Learning (PREL), County Immigration Information Office, DOCARE (Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement), Immigration Resource Center, Employment Core Services for Immigrant, United Nations Association – USA, Gongfuball Athletic Achievement Development
Campus Resources:
Minority Access & Achievement Program (MAAP), Student Support Service Program (SSSP), Pacific Islands Studies Certificate Program, Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES), Financial Aid Office, Admissions Office, Counseling Service, Ka Lama Ku Student Leadership Program, Hawaii Community College Information Center, UH Manoa.
1:00 pm – Session III: Community Readiness
Workshop 1: SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Representatives from various social services, youth agencies, community churches will share ways to get engaged in community service.
Presenters: Waerin Edwin (Goodwill Industries Hawaii), Kimie Musrasrik (YWCA), Carmina Alik (President, Hilo Marshallese Community), Jermy Uowolo (Environmental Conservation), Nelly Killion (Hilo Medical Hospital)
Room: Campus Center 301 | Facilitator: Tulpe Day (Hawaii County Immigration Office)
Workshop 2: INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO CAREERS
UHH Pacific Island students who have completed internships will share their experiences, and what they gained from the internship experience in agencies and in projects related to their majors.
Presenters: Josie Tupu (Samoa), Marli Klass (Palau), Axel Defngin (Yap)
Room: Campus Center 306 | Facilitator: Moana “Ulu” Ching
Workshop 3: HAVE FUN, BUILD A TEAM
The Gongfuball International Alliance LLC along with Wilson Digital Media will provide an introductory STEM presentation on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as drones. The technology which makes them fly, how they’re used, and the developing UAV industry will be discussed. There will also be an interactive showcase presented on the fundamentals of flying UAVs.
Presenters: Steven Martin (Founder, GAAD)
Room: Campus Center 307 |
Workshop 4: WE ARE OCEANIA
Learn how to serve your community by understanding family needs, community needs and ways to find a career in community service.
Presenters: Josie Howard and Kathy Martin (WAO Staff)
Room: SSB 201 | Facilitator: None
1:45 PM BREAK
2:00 pm – Closing Session
Conference participants will gather in Campus Center Plaza for the closing remarks and cultural performances.
Speaker: Celeste “Cesi” Manuia Ha’o, Hokule’a Navigators
Pulling Islands From the Sea: Navigating with Confidence Celeste “Cesi” Manuia Haʻo is an Education Associate and the Outreach Coordinator at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi. An alumni of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, she graduated with her degree in Culture-Based Education with a specialization in Astronomy. She is also an apprentice navigator who recently co-navigated the famed voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa, from Aitutaki, Cook Islands to her family village in Samoa as part of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
Mitch Roth, Prosecutor, County of Hawai’i
Room: Campus Center Plaza | Closing Remarks: Andrew Polloi
2:30 – 2:45 pm – Cultural Performance
Performers: Tupulaga O Samoa Mo A Taeo (The Samoan Club)
3:00 pm – Group Photo
All participants, volunteers, performers, speakers will gather right after the performance for a group photo in the Campus Center Plaza.