Today, The Diplomat magazine published an article entitled, "America’s Micronesia Problem: The end of the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia would have serious repercussions." Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Tom Matelski, the article sets out the problem facing the … [Read more...]
Multilingualism Policy Approved in Hawaii
On February 16, 2016 the Hawai’i State Board of Education unanimously adopted BOE policy 105.14, Multilingualism for Equitable Education. With this new policy, the Hawaii Department of Education has joined many states in the US that honor the positive impact of multilingualism on student … [Read more...]
Guamʻs Congresswoman Bordallo Seeks Compact Impact Relief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_e54_iYYCQ On January 12, 2016, Congresswoman Madeline Z. Bordallo from Guam introduced legislation in the US Congress seeking help for Guam, CNMI, and Hawaii for social services impacted by Compact migrants from FSM, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. While this … [Read more...]
Xavier Entrance Exam in Hilo, HI
The Entrance Exam for Xavier High School is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at UH Hilo's Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307). The exam is open to 8th - 12th graders who are interested in attending the college preparatory school whose alumni … [Read more...]
FSM Resolutionʻs Implications on FSM Citizens in CNMI
Today, the Saipan Tribune published an article entitled, "Resolution has implications on FSM citizens," in which CNMI and Guam leadership weigh in on the congressional resolution from the FSM Congress. The article quoted Governor Eloy S. Inos through Press secretary Ivan A. Blanco, US Congresswoman … [Read more...]
Give our 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 continue to suffer from a deficit narrative that … [Read more...]
Senator Romolow Responds to Compact Termination Questions
On December 3, 2015, Senator Robson Romolow emailed to me his official response to my blog about his sponsorship of a congressional resolution to terminate the Compact of Free Association (COFA) treaty with the United States. In his written response which he also posted on his Facebook page, Senator … [Read more...]
Chuuk Congressmen Call for Compact Termination
On November 19, 2015, two members of the Chuuk delegation to the FSM Congress, Senators Romolow and Fasy Nethon along with Senator Figir from Yap co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution 19-155 (Download Now) requesting the FSM President to terminate the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the … [Read more...]
Help Support Island Soldier: Micronesians Fighting in US Military
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, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Kosrae, Island Soldier is "a feature-length documentary that tells the … [Read more...]
Chuukese AmeriCorps Members Seek Answers to Disqualification
Hats off to two strong Chuukese youth, Grace Billimon and Erusa Perkin, for questioning their recent disqualification from the Guam-based AmeriCorps program due to their COFA citizenship. This is an unfortunate problem as now the program will now lose valuable Chuukese-speaking volunteers who can … [Read more...]