About Us

Located in the Campus Center 307, the Pacific Islander Student Center was established in 2010 through the generous support of a $1.9 million grant by the US Department of Education to facilitate the success of Pacific island students at UH Hilo. In 2012, UH Hilo received a 5-year AANAPISI grant to fund staffing, services, and programs of the Center.

Mission & Goals

Recognizing that under-represented students are sometimes marginalized on college campuses, the Pacific Islander Student Center at UH Hilo encourages and supports the achievements and contributions of Pacific Islanders on campus and in the surrounding community.

The goals of the Center include:

provide a welcoming, supportive and safe environment
facilitate the retention and graduation of Pacific Islanders
increase interaction and dialogue among students from different cultures
support intercultural understanding and social justice in the pursuit of a more just society
enable students, faculty and staff from all cultural backgrounds to learn about Pacific peoples, histories, languages, cultures and contemporary issues
combat stereotypes and ethnocentrism

These aims are to be realized in part through educational programming, which promotes changes and growth in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors throughout the campus community.

Meet the Staff

Vidalino Raatior, M.A.

Director, Pacific Islander Student Center & AANAPISI Project
raatior@hawaii.edu
808.933.3857
PISC, Campus Center 307

Vid comes to UH Hilo from Santa Clara University where he worked as the Assistant Director in the International Programs Office and as Associate Director of the Center for Multicultural Learning for over 10 years. He has also worked as Assistant Director and as a teacher at Xavier High School in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), widely regarded as the best high school in all of Micronesia. Originally from Chuuk, FSM, Vid received his bachelors degree in communication from the University of Guam and a masters degree in school administration from University of San Francisco. He co-founded the Micronesia Dental Support Project (MDSP) and the Fanapi Foundation to help the outer islands in his home country of Micronesia. Vid has been very involved in public educational reform efforts in Chuuk State and social justice, which you can read about on his website and blog at www.raatior.com.

Desha Staley-Raatior, M.A.

Educational Specialist, Pacific Islander Student Center & AANAPISI Project
deshasr@hawaii.edu
808.974.7616
Student Services Bldg 211 & PISC, Campus Center 307

Desha provides various support services to Pacific Islanders and is affiliated with Student Support Services Program. She received her BA in psychology from Arizona State University and her MA in international and multicultural education from University of San Francisco. Desha comes to UH Hilo with experience working as Assistant Director of Student Activities and as a Projects & Training Specialist at the University of San Francisco (USF). In her capacity at USF, she taught college success courses, coordinated leadership development programs, assisted with implementing orientation programs, advised student organizations, and organized and implemented professional and student staff development programs. She also worked as Assistant Principal at Xavier High School in the Federated States of Micronesia and has worked as a community health educator in Arizona and California. She is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Micronesia Dental Support Project.

Denise Uehara, Ph.D.

Researcher, Pacific Islander Student Center & AANAPISI Project
duehara@hawaii.edu
808.933.3857

Denise serves as a part-time Researcher on the project, conducting studies, investigating factors that facilitate the success of Pacific Islanders in higher education. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at UH Manoa, where she has worked since 2005, and previously worked for many years with Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) in Honolulu as a Senior Research Associate. Dr. Uehara has conducted numerous studies and evaluated many programs in education, including throughout the Pacific Islands region. Her extensive experience in the area of research, evaluation and assessment will not only enable her to make significant contributions to the project, but will also enable UH Hilo to develop and disseminate best practices to the nation on facilitating the success of Pacific Islanders in higher education. In addition, we will be utilizing her expertise to assist Student Affairs personnel with building capacity in evaluation and assessment, such as with developing and assessing learning objectives and outcomes.

Jim Mellon, M.A.

Director, International Student Services & Intercultural Education
Principal Investigator, AANAPISI Project
mellon@hawaii.edu
808.974.7313
Student Services Bldg 206

The Pacific Islander Student Center & the AANAPISI Project was made possible through the efforts of Jim Mellon who has had a long-standing interest and commitment to the Pacific island students after having served as a volunteer teacher in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Jim began serving as the Director of International Student Services & Intercultural Education in July 2011. He is the Principal Investigator for the AANAPISI Grant and oversees the staff, services, and programs of the PISC. Having previously worked as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at UH Hilo, he is very familiar with the University and its students. Jim earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University and master's degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he was immersed in intercultural learning and programs as a grantee with the East-West Center. His goals are to facilitate the success of international students, as well as to promote the development of intercultural competence among all students with an emphasis on social justice.

Program Assistants

The Student Assistants work at the reception desk at the Center to welcome visitors and to help manage the Center's services and programs.

Jonathan Chugen

Position: Marketing Coordinator
Email: jchugen@hawaii.edu
Major: Political Science
Class: 2014
Island: Yap, FSM

Jonathan is a Junior from the State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. A graduate of Xavier High School, Jonathan is a political science major. He loves to work at the PISC to create a safe and welcoming environment for the Pacific islanders and to help new students in their transition to college. Jonathan has served as the Vice President of the International Student Association (ISA) and President of the Waap Student Organization (WSO). Jonathan's unique experience of living in the Residential Halls at UHH has helped him understand the needs of Micronesians adjusting to the dorm life. He is very friendly, outgoing, charismatic, and looks forward to welcoming Pacific island students to the Center and to UHH.

Carli Owan

Position: Workshop & Events Coordinator
Email: owan@hawaii.edu
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Science (pre-pharmacy concentration)
Class: 2012
Island: Maui, HI

Carli is a senior from Maui majoring in kinesiology and exercise science (pre-pharmacy concentration). She graduated from Kamehameha School, Maui campus in 2008. She advises students to get involved on campus for they make college experience a lot more exciting. She has been part of the Work Hard Play Hard Program, a community-based club, the Hawaiian Club, Pre Pharmacy Club, and participated in the National Student Exchange program where she studied for a year at UNLV. Working at the Center has been eye-opening and has helped her understand different cultures. Take advantage of all the resources out there for there are many....Student Support Services, Kilohana, Minority Access Program.

Paia Toeava

Position: Community Outreach Coordinator
Email: ptoeava@hawaii.edu
Major: Administration of Justice & Political Science
Class: 2013
Island: American Samoa

Born and raised in American Samoa, Paia graduated from Tafuna High School and received an AA from Fullerton College in Southern California. Paia hopes to continue his education at UH Manoa to finish up his ROTC training and complete a masters degree. He is actively involved in the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a member of the Samoan Club, the Kamehameha Canoe Club, and plays for the Hilo Blue Rugby Team. He is an easy to get along with and want to help any assistance. He advises Pacific island students never to give up on their education or in life.

Tutors

The tutors hold office hours at the Center to help Pacific islander students with their academic work.

Jesse Robert

Position: Math Tutor
Email: jesse20@hawaii.edu
Major: Mathematics
Class: 2014
Island: Kosrae, FSM

Walk-in Tutoring Hours: Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 4:30 - 7:00 pm

Jesse comes to UH Hilo by way of Kosrae High School and the Upward Bound program and has been actively involved in leadership opportunities. He is the President of the Kosrae Hilo Organization and Vice President of the International Student Association (ISA). He also served as a Orientation Leader for the New Student Program and a member of the Men of Strength program and the Political Science Club. Academically Jesse has been on the Dean's List for three semesters and was the only Micronesian to be selected for the Pacific Undergraduate Research Experience in Mathematics (PURE) Math Program for the past 2 summers.

Ruby Tupuai

Position: English Tutor
Email: rtupuai@hawaii.edu
Major: Marine Science
Class: 2013
Island: American Samoa

Walk-in Tutoring Hours: Monday & Wednesdays: 4:30 - 7:00 pm

Ruby comes to UH Hilo with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts degree from American Samoa Community College (ASCC) where she assisted in the drafting oft he American Samoa Youth Policy and coordinated the Hope House Canned Food and Penny Drive and tutoring. She is currently the Vice President of the Samoan Club at UH Hilo and works at the Mokupapapa Discovery Channel for PMNM (NOAA). Ruby was also active with the Marine Science groups especially in their beach clean up programs.

PISC Advisory Council

The PISC Advisory Council advises the Director on the Center’s services, programs, and its capacity to support Pacific islanders succeed in higher education. It is representative of the uniqueness of the Pacific island groups, cultures, and needs at UH Hilo. Members include the presidents of the various Pacific island student organizations, members of the faculty and staff, partners in the local community, Pacific island alumni.

Purpose

The council is created for the purpose of advising, leading, and preserving the ideals upon which the Pacific Islander Student Center was created and helping to ground the Center's services and programs in the reality of our unique island cultures and the challenges of our respective communities.

Members (2012-2013)

Austin Asiata - President, Tupulafa O Samoa mo a Taeao ( The Samoan Club)
Deltalei "Lei" Bernard - President, International Student Association
Samelda Leon - President, Marshallese Iakwe Club
Jonathan Gaan - President, Waab Student Organization
Jesse Robert - President, Kosrae Hilo Organization
Staisman Sadang - President, Ngelekel Belau
Kenmore Salvador - President, Pohnpei Kaselehlie Club Association
Herry Kiman - President, Chuukese Student Association
Dr. Craig Severance - Faculty, Anthropology
Thomas Raffipiy - Community Member, UH Hilo Alumni
Jim Mellon - Director, International Student Services & Intercultural Exchanges
Vid Raatior - Director, Pacific Islander Student Center

Activities

liaising with their student clubs, organizations, departments
networking with the community at-large regarding the programs and services of the Center
assessing the needs, trends and success of the Center's programs and services
conducting needs assessment of individual or groups of Pacific island students
advocating for the needs of the Pacific island students at UH Hilo
attending council meetings

Friends of Pacific Islanders

Mission

A network of faculty, staff, and community leaders who support and promote the Pacific Islander Student Center's mission, services, and programs.

Activities

Members of this network will be invited to participate in any number of the following activities as time permits:

Welcome Reception: Annual reception during the 2nd or 3rd week of the Fall term to officially recognize and welcome all new Pacific island students to UH Hilo.
Pacific Speaker Series: Guest speakers from throughout the Pacific region who will talk about pertinent issues regarding the region.
Conferences: Conferences that address the needs of Pacific Islanders in higher education.
Engaged Learning Project: Enabling Pacific islander students at UH Hilo to create meaningful jobs or projects that impact their learning while fulfilling the needs of the Pacific islander community on campus, in Hawaii, or the region.
Pacific Islander Senior Ceremony: Annual ceremony prior to commencement to recognize graduating seniors from the Pacific islands.

Join

Friends of PISC is open to anyone who wishes to join our mailing list. To join please email Vid Raatior (raatior@hawaii.edu) with the following information:

Full Name
Position
Organization / Department / Company
Email
Phone
Website (if any)
Any questions, comments, or resources that you can offer for the Pacific island students at UH Hilo.