Presentation at the Hawaii P-20 HICAN Conference 2015 in Waikoloa, HI on September 18, 2015.

1. Pacific Islander Students
NAVIGATING SUCCESS
September 18, 2015
Waikoloa, HI
PANELISTS
Mary Therese Perez Hattori
Jocelyn Jose Howard
Vidalino S. Raatior
Denise L. Uehara
Jeremy Uowolo
Center for
PACIFIC ISLANDS
Studies
University of Hawai’i
MANOA

2. ALII!
BULA!
IAKWE!
KASELEHLIE!
MALO E LELEI!
MOGETHIN!
PAING KOM!
RAN ANNIM!
TALOFA!
HAFA ADAI!
ALOHA
Republic of Palau
Fiji
Guam / CNMI)
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Pohnpei, FSM
Yap, FSM
Tonga
Kosrae, FSM
Chuuk, FSM
Samoa

3. Agenda
Brief Introductions (10%)
– Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori, CPIS
– Jocelyn Jose Howard, WAO
– Jeremy Uowolo, MU-BI
– Vidalino Raatior, PISC
– Dr. Denise L. Uehara, AANAPISI
About the AANAPISI Research (10%)
– Methods
Q & A / Discussion (89%)
– Findings / Values / Implications / Takeaways
Closing (1%)

5. Mary Therese Perez
Hattori, Ed.D
Outreach Director
Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS)
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Faculty
College of Education
University of Hawaii at Manoa
PHONE: (808) 956-2658
EMAIL: maryh@hawaii.edu
WEBSITE: www.hawaii.edu/cpis

6. Jocelyn Jose Howard,
MSW
Program Director
We Are Oceania (WAO)
Partners In Development Foundation
Co-Founder
Micronesian Cultural Awareness Project
(MCAP)
- Micronesian Voices
PHONE: (808) 754-7303
EMAIL: josie@weareoceania.org
WEBSITE: www.weareoceania.org

7. Jermy Uowolo, M.A.
President
Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI)
Field Technician
Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance (MKWA)
Leadership Member
Remathau Community, Hawai’i Island
PHONE: (808) 365-2220
EMAIL: jermyuowolo@yahoo.com
WEBSITE: www.mu-bi.org

8. Denise L. Uehara, Ph.D
Researcher
AANAPISI Project
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Faculty
Center on Disabilities Studies
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa PHONE: (808) 956-7662
EMAIL: duehara@hawaii.edu
WEBSITE: www.hilo.hawaii.edu/pisc
BLOG: www.pacificstudents.org

9. Vidalino Staley Raatior,
M.A.
Director / Doctoral Student
Pacific Islander Student Center (PISC)
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
College of Education
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Consultant
Raatior Consulting
www.raatior.com
PHONE: (808) 932-7795
EMAIL: raatior@hawaii.edu
WEBSITE: www.hilo.hawaii.edu/pisc
BLOG: www.pacificstudents.org

11. Pacific Islander Student Center
www.hilo.hawaii.edu/pisc

12. Pacific Islander Student Center
www.help.pacificstudents.org

13. Pacific Islander Student Center
www.navigatingsuccess.org

14. Pacific Islander Student Center
www.pacificstudents.org

15. AANAPISI Project
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander – Serving
Institution (AANAPISI); US DOE funded, 5-year grant
• AIM:
To facilitate the success of Pacific Islander students in higher
education at University of Hawaii at Hilo
• PRIORITIES:
1) Develop and implement a comprehensive, culturally informed
student support program designed to strengthen student learning,
engagement, and success, with the goal of improving the
persistence and graduation rates of Pacific Islanders.
2) Conduct and disseminate research into best practices for
facilitating the success of Pacific Islanders in higher education,
with the goal of making a substantial contribution to higher
education resources.

16. Research Focus
• Importance of disaggregating information from
two distinct pan-ethnic groups (AAPI)
• Pacific Islander students as a sole unit of study
within the higher education context allows for the
extrication of specific information
• Offer a new perspective to the often one-sided
“Model Minority” term affiliated with Asian
Americans and specific subgroups of Asians
• Give voice to a population of students often
overlooked
Learn and Share

17. Conceptual Model 2012

18. Student Profiles
Baseline characteristics of current UH Hilo Pacific Islander
students (Spring 2015) N = 194
F
56%
M
44%
Gender
26%
63%
6%
3% 2%
Admission Type
F T R M Blank
MC
62%
SA
31%
MP
2%
OP
3%
TO
2%
Ethnicity

19. Appreciating Diversity
(Self-Reported)
Island States/Nations Frequency
American Samoa 68
Samoa (Western)
Upolu
6
Fiji
Viti Levu
2
Hawaii 4
Kiribati 1
Niue 1
Papua New Guinea 2
Solomon Islands 1
Tonga 3
Saipan 3
Vanuatu
Ambae
2
Island States/Nations Frequency
Kosrae 23
Chuuk
Fefen
Tonoas
Udot
Uman
Houk
Kuttu
Weno
Mortlocks
21
Pohnpei
Pingelap
Kitti
Kolonia
Madolenihmw
39
Yap
Fais
Satawal
Woleai
17
Island States/Nations Frequency
Palau
Hatohobei
Koror
Peleliu
Ngeremlengui
Ngiwal
25
Marshall Islands
Ailinglaplap
Ebeye
Jaluit
Wotje
Mili
Majuro
Maloelap
47
BLANK 18
Survey responses = 248Survey Fielded Fa2012, 2013, 2014,
Sp2014, 2015

20. Conceptual Model 2015
Note: 9/22/15
This model has ben removed by presenters for further
development.
Thank you.

22. Navigating Success
Refer to Handout
“TIPs for Supporting Pacific Islander Students in Higher Education Handout”
Concept/Cultural
Value/Research Finding
May be Manifested as May be Misinterpreted as
Humility/Respect for Elders Quiet demeanor Lack of interest
Family Support Absenteeism, tardiness Lack of commitment
Pre-College Preparedness Late/incomplete assignments Inadequate comprehension
Writing Low writing scores Inadequate comprehension
ESL and Minority Status Apprehension Need special attention
Avoidance of Shame Hesitant to respond Lack of English skills
Cultural Identity Range of behaviors Unaccepting
Self-Efficacy Hesitancy Deficient communication skills
Social Identity Socializing with ethnic group Inability to work independently

23. “We cannot control the
direction of the wind, but we
can adjust our sail to reach our
destination.”

24. MESULANG!
MAHALO
Republic of Palau (Palauans)
MALO!
Tonga (Tongans)
SI YU’OS MA’ASE
Guam (Chamorros / Guamanians)
KOMOL!
Marshall Islands (Marshallese)
KALAHNGAN!
Pohnpei, FSM (Pohnpeians)
KAMMAGAR!
Yap, FSM (Yapese)
KULO!
Kosrae, FSM (Kosraeans)
KINISOU!
Chuuk, FSM (Chuukese)
FA’AFETAI!
Samoa (Samoans)
Produced by Pacific Students Media, UH Hilo | Website: www.pacificstudents.org
KORABA!
Kiribati (Gilbertese)
SA HACHIGCHIG
Yap, FSM (Outer Islands)