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We highlight inspiring Pacific Islanders across academic and professional fields.

 
2023 Spotlight
Chloe Delos Santos, Building Pacific Islander Presence in the Medical Field
Chloe Delos Santos, Building Pacific Islander Presence in the Medical Field

Chloe Delos Santos, student at Colorado State University, discusses the resilience and passion needed to pursue a path in the medical field. 

Malia Camero, Building Pasifika Representation in the Nursing Field at Azusa Pacific University
Malia Camero, Building Pasifika Representation in the Nursing Field at Azusa Pacific University

Malia Camero, born in O’ahu and raised on the Big Island, shares how she chose her career path in nursing at Azusa Pacific University

Samoan STEM student, Elzira Noga's Path to Civil Engineering at University of Southern California
Samoan STEM student, Elzira Noga's Path to Civil Engineering at University of Southern California

Elzira Noga shares how Pasefika representation in STEM and family support led her towards Civil Engineering and Building Science at the University of Southern California. 

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo student Kailena Akau, on the path to becoming a Hawaiian language and studies teacher
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo student Kailena Akau, on the path to becoming a Hawaiian language and studies teacher

Kailena Akau, born in Waimea and raised in Kawaihae, shares how her family and Hawaiian culture have brought her on a path to becoming a Hawaiian language and studies teacher. 

Student-Athlete Braeden Samura, From Kamuela to Pacific Lutheran University
Student-Athlete Braeden Samura, From Kamuela to Pacific Lutheran University

Discover student-athlete Braeden Samura’s journey from Kamuela to Pacific Lutheran University.

Ka'iulani Bento, a Native Hawaiian from the Big Island's Journey to USC
Ka'iulani Bento, a Native Hawaiian from the Big Island's Journey to USC

Meet rising USC sophomore, Ka’iulani Bento, and discover what it took for her to navigate her way to higher education.

2020 Spotlights
Te Aue Addison-Valaau, Principal Advisor for Plant & Food Research, Advocates for Māori and Pasifika Science Innovators in Aotearoa
Te Aue Addison-Valaau, Principal Advisor for Plant & Food Research, Advocates for Māori and Pasifika Science Innovators in Aotearoa
Reina Kapiolani Pahulu, Producer of The Mo’unga Project and Manava Circle | “I’m a First-Gen American, Queer, Tongan, Brown Diaspora Kid Learning to Navigate Those Identities”
Reina Kapiolani Pahulu, Producer of The Mo’unga Project and Manava Circle | “I’m a First-Gen American, Queer, Tongan, Brown Diaspora Kid Learning to Navigate Those Identities”
Oakland-Raised Tongan PhD Candidate, Marlena Wolfgramm, Researches Pacific Islander Retention and Persistence in STEM
Oakland-Raised Tongan PhD Candidate, Marlena Wolfgramm, Researches Pacific Islander Retention and Persistence in STEM
Asena Tolungamaka, Director at Navigators of Success | “We need more Māori and Pacific people in leadership and policy roles”
Asena Tolungamaka, Director at Navigators of Success | “We need more Māori and Pacific people in leadership and policy roles”
Kanaka Maoli - M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Michael Tui | “Remember the aloha that has been passed down from generation to generation”
Kanaka Maoli - M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Michael Tui | “Remember the aloha that has been passed down from generation to generation”
Educators for Equity & Inclusion | Dean of Culture and Instruction at Uplift Education, Michael Green, Jr.
Educators for Equity & Inclusion | Dean of Culture and Instruction at Uplift Education, Michael Green, Jr.
Founder of Save PNG and the Healthy Pacific Campaign, Jennifer Baing-Waiko | “We need to hold on to traditional knowledge”
Founder of Save PNG and the Healthy Pacific Campaign, Jennifer Baing-Waiko | “We need to hold on to traditional knowledge”
#2020SPIOSummit | A Global Virtual Gathering Highlighting Pacific Presence in STEM, Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Education
#2020SPIOSummit | A Global Virtual Gathering Highlighting Pacific Presence in STEM, Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Education
Pasifika Bay Area Artist Launches Social Justice Collection, Proceeds Go To Nonprofits Fighting Against Systemic Racism
Pasifika Bay Area Artist Launches Social Justice Collection, Proceeds Go To Nonprofits Fighting Against Systemic Racism
Lorna-Lei Sua'ava, Samoan Biochemistry Pre-Med Student, Urges U.S. Pasifika STEM Scholars to Apply for National Science Foundation Internships
Lorna-Lei Sua'ava, Samoan Biochemistry Pre-Med Student, Urges U.S. Pasifika STEM Scholars to Apply for National Science Foundation Internships
Free Digital Directory of Educational Resources for Pacific Scholars
Free Digital Directory of Educational Resources for Pacific Scholars
Youth Worker at Le Mana Pasifika, Patricia Leilua | “If you feel strong enough, challenge the systems that you are in”
Youth Worker at Le Mana Pasifika, Patricia Leilua | “If you feel strong enough, challenge the systems that you are in”
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Community Leadership Scholarship Recipient, Wilbert Alik
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Community Leadership Scholarship Recipient, Wilbert Alik
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Extracurricular Excellence Scholarship Recipient, Lessei Perelini
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Extracurricular Excellence Scholarship Recipient, Lessei Perelini
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Academic Excellence Scholarship Recipient, Teiana Rose Uʻimailani Gonsalves
Meet SPIO's Inaugural Academic Excellence Scholarship Recipient, Teiana Rose Uʻimailani Gonsalves
2019-20 SPIO Scholarship Award Recipients
2019-20 SPIO Scholarship Award Recipients
Founder of Tonga Youth Leaders, Elizabeth V Kite, launches Oceanic Leaders Alliance and Pacific Lead
Founder of Tonga Youth Leaders, Elizabeth V Kite, launches Oceanic Leaders Alliance and Pacific Lead
Activist and Founder of Brown Girl Woke, Doris Tulifau | “With consistency, resilience, and the right team, the impact of your hard work will come through”
Activist and Founder of Brown Girl Woke, Doris Tulifau | “With consistency, resilience, and the right team, the impact of your hard work will come through”
Director of financial aid empowering scholars to reach financial freedom, Eli Jennings: “You are in control of your financial destiny”
Director of financial aid empowering scholars to reach financial freedom, Eli Jennings: “You are in control of your financial destiny”
Tongan healer, writer and entrepreneur, Elizabeth Kaloumaira : “If you’re following your passion, it will never feel like work”
Tongan healer, writer and entrepreneur, Elizabeth Kaloumaira : “If you’re following your passion, it will never feel like work”
Award Winning Samoan Actress Advocating for Authentic Pacific Representation in Hollywood, Tiana Masaniai | “We Need to Let our Brilliance Shine”
Award Winning Samoan Actress Advocating for Authentic Pacific Representation in Hollywood, Tiana Masaniai | “We Need to Let our Brilliance Shine”
Native Hawaiian and Tongan Doctor of Behavioral Health, Leolani Ah Quin | “Know where you come from to know where you’re going”
Native Hawaiian and Tongan Doctor of Behavioral Health, Leolani Ah Quin | “Know where you come from to know where you’re going”
American Samoan Harvard Law Student, Joseph V Langkilde | Applying Tautua in Higher Education Spaces
American Samoan Harvard Law Student, Joseph V Langkilde | Applying Tautua in Higher Education Spaces
Samoan Biochemist, Dr. Andrew Pati Ah Young | “Samoa had so much to offer a young, curious mind”
Samoan Biochemist, Dr. Andrew Pati Ah Young | “Samoa had so much to offer a young, curious mind”
Founding Director of Pasifika Film Fest, Kalolaine Uechtritz Fainu “We have a new generation of storytellers, and their voices need to be heard”
Founding Director of Pasifika Film Fest, Kalolaine Uechtritz Fainu “We have a new generation of storytellers, and their voices need to be heard”
Tahitian Obama Foundation Leader, Vehia Wheeler | Co-Founder of Sustainable OCEANIA Solutions
Tahitian Obama Foundation Leader, Vehia Wheeler | Co-Founder of Sustainable OCEANIA Solutions
Tongan Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, Kapono Faitau: "Surround yourself by peers you admire”
Tongan Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, Kapono Faitau: "Surround yourself by peers you admire”
Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
Samoan Biomedical Engineer in Silicon Valley, Saeni Lele'a | “You know you’re in the right field when you can’t see yourself doing anything else”
2019 Spotlights
Native Hawaiian MMA Champion, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | “I use my platform to highlight Mauna Kea and uplift Indigenous communities”
Native Hawaiian MMA Champion, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | “I use my platform to highlight Mauna Kea and uplift Indigenous communities”
Samoan Harvard student, Gabrielle Langkilde | “We need our presence to be felt and known”
Samoan Harvard student, Gabrielle Langkilde | “We need our presence to be felt and known”
Tongan-American Stanford alum and Duke MBA candidate, Jon Lautaha | Fail fast and bounce back
Tongan-American Stanford alum and Duke MBA candidate, Jon Lautaha | Fail fast and bounce back
Samoan MBChB, Mosana Evagelia | Raising Pasifika Health Awareness in Aotearoa
Samoan MBChB, Mosana Evagelia | Raising Pasifika Health Awareness in Aotearoa
Fijian PhD, Dr. Sereana Naepi | Researching Pasifika Women in Higher Education
Fijian PhD, Dr. Sereana Naepi | Researching Pasifika Women in Higher Education
First-Generation Tongan Law Student, Jullian Sekona | Breaking Pacific Islander Stereotypes
First-Generation Tongan Law Student, Jullian Sekona | Breaking Pacific Islander Stereotypes
Black and Samoan First-Generation Stanford Alumna, Teyonna Jarman | “Stay Rooted in Culture”
Black and Samoan First-Generation Stanford Alumna, Teyonna Jarman | “Stay Rooted in Culture”
First-Generation Kānaka Maoli Stanford Student, Jaysha Kuuipoaloha Alonzo-Estrada | Using Community Resources as a Tool for Academic Empowerment
First-Generation Kānaka Maoli Stanford Student, Jaysha Kuuipoaloha Alonzo-Estrada | Using Community Resources as a Tool for Academic Empowerment
Director of Mana at College of San Mateo, Finausina T. Tovo | Validating Oceania Student Voices in Higher Education
Director of Mana at College of San Mateo, Finausina T. Tovo | Validating Oceania Student Voices in Higher Education
Tongan PhD in Developmental Studies, Faka'iloatonga Taumoefolau | “Remember that college isn’t the only means to a fulfilling life”
Tongan PhD in Developmental Studies, Faka'iloatonga Taumoefolau | “Remember that college isn’t the only means to a fulfilling life”
Fijian entrepreneur with M.A. in Gerontology, Ana Jones | Launching an app that connects elders with caregivers
Fijian entrepreneur with M.A. in Gerontology, Ana Jones | Launching an app that connects elders with caregivers
Tongan-American valuation analyst, Daniel Tonga: “Take advantage of local resources”
Tongan-American valuation analyst, Daniel Tonga: “Take advantage of local resources”
UCLA’s Pacific Islands' Student Association (PISA) | Addressing Pacific Islander Educational Disparities in Los Angeles
UCLA’s Pacific Islands' Student Association (PISA) | Addressing Pacific Islander Educational Disparities in Los Angeles
Tongan EdD Student and Gates Millennium Scholar, Anita Kiteau-Tuiaki | Conducting Research on the First-Year Experience of Pacific Islander College Students
Tongan EdD Student and Gates Millennium Scholar, Anita Kiteau-Tuiaki | Conducting Research on the First-Year Experience of Pacific Islander College Students
I-Kiribati and Tuvaluan PhD, Dr. Buriata Eti Tofinga | “Be daring and strategic in pursuing a graduate degree”
I-Kiribati and Tuvaluan PhD, Dr. Buriata Eti Tofinga | “Be daring and strategic in pursuing a graduate degree”
Micronesian and Makah Health and Education Advocate, MichaeLynn Kanichy | Supporting indigenous students to become successful community contributors
Micronesian and Makah Health and Education Advocate, MichaeLynn Kanichy | Supporting indigenous students to become successful community contributors
Keani Hin - A Filipino-Polynesian’s Journey to Google
Keani Hin - A Filipino-Polynesian’s Journey to Google
Polynesian McKinsey Business Analyst, Aidan Reiri, encourages students to “break the mold”
Polynesian McKinsey Business Analyst, Aidan Reiri, encourages students to “break the mold”
Samoan Mechanical Engineer, Emily Sataua Lautoa: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there”
Samoan Mechanical Engineer, Emily Sataua Lautoa: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there”
Tongan-American Stanford PhD student, Esiteli Hafoka: “We are few but we are mighty”
Tongan-American Stanford PhD student, Esiteli Hafoka: “We are few but we are mighty”