Our Blog
Keitani’s Memorial Projects
As we continue to mourn the death of Keitani Graham, we need to start discussing concrete ways to share in the work that he put so much time and love into for his beloved Chuuk. It would be great if our leaders in the FSM Congress, Chuuk State Legislatures, and the...
Fanapi Center
The people in the Northwest region need a non-governmental organization (NGO) to centralize the services and resources for Pattiw, Pafeng, and Namonweito in the areas of educational opportunities, economic development, health care, leadership development, and cultural...
Educational Reform
An educated citizenry is the key to breaking the cycle of disempowerment among the people in the Northwest region in Chuuk. No single issue deserves top priority in the outer islands today than the ensuring of adequate education for our children. It is imperative that...
Faith-inspired Leadership
“We cannot separate action for justice from the proclamation of the Word of God.” Inspired by the words of the late Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, Jesuit Superior General (1965-1983), we call for a political system that is inspired by faith. Our small island communities with...
Global Resources
Bridging Local Needs with Global Resources! Since the Compact of Free Association went into effect, there has been a steady exodus of outer islanders in search of better life for themselves and their families. Many of our outer islanders living overseas in Guam,...
Cultural Animation Film Festival
Raatior Ventures is proud to once co-sponsor the 6th Cultural Animation Film Festival (CAFF) on October 14-16, 2022 at the Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theatre. CAFF celebrates and showcases a unique collection of cultural based animated films from around the...
Inspiring Dreams Award Speech
I was humbled to be chosen by the APIA Scholars (formerly APIASF) organization to receive the 2018 Inspiring Dreams Award at the 15th Annual Strengthening Communities Gala on September 28, 2018 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC. ...
Get Your RESPECT shirt
Want to wear our positively messaged t-shirt containing the various Pacific Island greetings? Join the Pacific-focused movement to teach others about the proper way to greet people from your island. It's one way to start conversations about the diversity of cultures...
Island Soldier – our new trailer
https://vimeo.com/203928301 Iʻm proud to serve as the Consultant and Cultural Advisor for the newly released documentary film, Island Soldier. Directed & produced by Nathan Fitch (former Peace Corps Volunteer in Kosrae, FSM), Island Soldier is about Micronesian...
Support multilingual education in Hawaii
Aloha! Alii! Bula! Hafa Adai! Iakwe! Kaselehlie! Malo e Lelei! Mogethin! Paing Kom! Fairo! Olomwaai! Ran Karea! Talofa! Wenimomoto! The Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) will be searching for a new superintendent for the Department of Education (DOE). Dr. Patricia...
Things Pacific Islander Students Must Know Before Starting College!
A college education is a big investment in money, time, energy, and resources for any high school graduate. For the Pacific Islander students who are afforded the chance to leave the relative calm of their home islands in pursuit of a college degree, this experience...
Give Micronesian Youth in Hawaii a Chance to Rise
As we prepare for the new year amidst climate change summits and anti-immigrant sentiments from Republican presidential candidates, we pause to reflect on our lives as Micronesians in these United States. In this season of giving, our community continues to suffer...
“Someplace with a Mountain” of Scam
Update: June 5, 2017 - This article was originally posted in December 2011 when the film was first released. I am re-posting it because the film is once again showing on PBS and the stupid Trump Administration has decided to pull out of the Paris Accord. Yet, the...
Navigating Success: Pacific Islander students embrace possibilities
Our Navigating Success - 3rd Annual Pacific Islander Youth Empowerment conference for high school students of Pacific Island ethnicities was a complete success. What I started with our Marshallese Iakwe Club and a few colleagues from the Division of Student Affairs...
Why I Support Island Soldier
I invite all my friends, colleagues, and family near and far to support Island Soldier, a film documentary project that was recently launched on Kickstarter. Directed by my friend Nathan Fitch, former Peace Corps Volunteer in my country of the Federated States of...
A Micronesian-focused Charter School in Hawaii?
I am blessed to be part of a consultancy team of doctoral students at the College of Education at UH Manoa who are working with several Hawaii-based Micronesian-serving clients on a project to study the feasibility of establishing a charter school focusing on...
FSM Congressional Scholarship for Northwest Region
The FSM Congress recently appropriated $20,000.00 to fund scholarships for students from the Northwest region of Chuuk State. This is by far the largest amount set aside to help students from the small and remote outer islands of Pattiw, Pafeng, and Namwonweito. But...
Help Tracy Poch, an Aspiring Chuukese Olympian
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHhHRbI8c8 The other day, I interviewed Tracy Kaleikehaulani Nakanelua Poch as part of the Pacific Students Media team's "What's Our Story?" project to combat negative stereotypes and misinformation about Pacific Islanders in Hawaii....
Kids Sharing Aloha Through Microlending
As a parent and an educator, I was very excited to receive the news from Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School that my daughter, Keala, was selected to receive 3 awards at the school's End-of-the-Year celebration. One of these was the much coveted Legislative...
Honoring the Indigenous Hawaiians
The 2014 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WiPC:E) is being held this week at Kapi'olani Community College on Oahu. As a native Micronesian raising a family on Hawaii Island, I try to be mindful of my place as a visitor in this society. What has my own...