Our Objectives:
Networking
Foster a supportive network for Pacific Islander faculty and staff.
Celebration
Celebrate member achievements and cultural milestones.
Mentorship
Provide mentorship opportunities and academic support.
Collaboration
Create a collaborative space for sharing and workshopping research.
Culture
Engage with and uplift our broader community, fostering meaningful connections between the university and Pacific Islander communities locally and globally.
Outreach
Promote cultural awareness and celebrate our diverse Pacific heritage.
Welcome to Pasifika Hui!
As a newly formed community, we’re thrilled to have this space to gather and share our vision, celebrate our journeys, and connect with those who value the Pacific Islander voice. Right now, our website is just beginning to take shape, so you may notice a few “under construction” corners and spaces where we’re excited to add more soon.
Our goal is to create a resource-rich, welcoming site that reflects the diversity, culture, and academic strength of Pasifika Hui. Over time, you’ll see updates like member spotlights, upcoming event information, resources for research and cultural support, and shared accomplishments from our community. This site will be a living, growing hub for Pacific Islander faculty, staff, and friends across BYU-Hawaii and beyond.
As our Hui takes root, please feel free to check back often! Each new addition will offer a little more insight into who we are, what we aim to achieve, and how we’re making a difference. If you’re interested in being involved or simply want to stay connected, don’t hesitate to reach out, or consider joining us at an upcoming gathering. We’re grateful for your interest and look forward to building a vibrant Pasifika Hui community—one page at a time.
You’re Invited to Our Next Pasifika Hui Gathering!
Date: Friday, November 15
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: HGB 135
We’re excited to invite you to our next Pasifika Hui gathering—a time to connect, share ideas, and build our community together. Whether you’re new to Pasifika Hui or a returning member, we welcome your insights and contributions as we continue to strengthen our Hui.
Agenda Highlights:
- Introductions: We’ll kick things off with introductions, focusing on interests we share as a community. Choose a couple of topics that resonate with you, as we quickly tally up common themes!
- Pasifika Hui Updates: Hear about our goals, see the new logo, and get a preview of the website designed to support our shared objectives.
- Talanoa Discussion Groups: Break into smaller groups to dive into topics that matter to you:
- Rank Advancement
- Publications (Articles, Books, etc.)
- Conferences, Research Travel, and Similar Events
- Teaching Strategies
- Presentation by Spencer Scanlan. “What really matters for school belonging among Pacific Island students at BYU Hawaii?”
- One of the more pressing areas for future research on school belonging is the exploration of cultural and context-specific ways that individuals experience belonging and social acceptance. This presentation reviews findings from an IRB-approved study at Brigham Young University Hawaii exploring how Pacific Island students experience belonging in college. Results from study provide an insider perspective from 97 Pacific Island students at BYUH on how they 1) define school belonging and 2) describe factors that both hinder and promote their sense of belonging to BYU Hawaii and to college in general. We hope to gather feedback from our Pacific Island faculty community on crafting actionable recommendations.
- Closing & Mingle: We’ll gather back to wrap up and have a chance to continue conversations until we close out the space.
Food & Potluck:
We’ll be enjoying a potluck with a “Breakfast” theme to kick things off. Use our sign-up form to let us know what you’d like to bring! We encourage you to bring something small to share as we build community over good food.
Cluck the link below to find the the potluck sign-up form. We look forward to seeing you there for an evening of connection and collaboration!
Featured Presentation
What really matters for school belonging among Pacific Island students at BYU Hawaii?
One of the more pressing areas for future research on school belonging is the exploration of cultural and context-specific ways that individuals experience belonging and social acceptance. This presentation reviews findings from an IRB-approved study at Brigham Young University Hawaii exploring how Pacific Island students experience belonging in college.
Results from study provide an insider perspective from 97 Pacific Island students at BYUH on how they
1) Define school belonging and
2) Describe factors that both hinder and promote their sense of belonging to BYU Hawaii and to college in general.
We hope to gather feedback from our Pacific Island faculty community on crafting actionable recommendations.
We invite you to review the full report, which is now available below, in preparation for Friday’s meeting. Your insights and feedback will be invaluable as we work together to craft actionable recommendations that support our students’ sense of belonging and success at BYU Hawaii.
Our Organizers
Pasifika Hui is led by a dedicated team of individuals who are passionate about building a supportive and inspiring community for Pacific Islander faculty, staff, and allies. Each brings unique talents and perspectives, working together to foster meaningful connections, academic collaboration, and cultural celebration. Our organizers are here to guide Pasifika Hui as it grows, and we look forward to bringing you along on this journey with us.
‘Inoke Hafoka
Daniel Tu’utau
