Photos: Delegation from UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College visits Yap and Palau
The group met with educators, community leaders, cultural practitioners, and UH Hilo alumni to help strengthen connections between UH and the Asia-Pacific region.


A six-member delegation of faculty and staff from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College traveled to Yap and Palau this month to meet with educators, community leaders, cultural practitioners, and UH Hilo alumni to strengthen connections between UH and the Asia-Pacific region.
The trip was part of UH Hilo’s Hoʻokahua Project, a U.S. Department of Education, Title III Alaska Native-Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions program funded under the Office of the Chancellor to facilitate student engagement in applied learning experiences. Ho‘okahua helps with implementing the UH System initiative Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao, a plan to make UH a leader in indigenous education. The program focuses on community engagement both locally and throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with particular attention to building collaborative partnerships in education and research.
The UH delegation met up with several notable UH Hilo alumni while in Palau. In the photo at the top of this post:
- Kathleen Salii, BA English, 1988. Associate Justice, Palau Supreme Court. (Third row from bottom, third from right in red blouse.)
- Lourdes Materne, BA Liberal Studies, 1989. Associate Justice, Palau Supreme Court. (Third row from bottom, seventh from right in pink blouse.)
- Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau, BA English & BA Philosophy, 1988. Senator, Palau National Congress and Chairperson Judiciary & Governmental Affairs Committee. (First row, far left in turquoise blouse.)
- Marvin Ngirutang, BA Political Science, 1998. Governor Anguar State. (Second row, sixth from right.)
- Kevin Polloi, BA Biology,1996. Research Dept. Head, Palau International Coral Reef Center. (Second row left in black t-shirt.)
- Laura Ierago, BA Psychology, 1980. Former Governor of Sonsorol State. (Third row, second from left in turquoise blouse.)

Not in the group photo but attended the alumni gathering is Charlene Mersai, who received a bachelor of arts in biology and bachelor of arts in anthropology in 1996, and is now National Environmental Planner for the National Government, Republic of Palau.
The delegation
The delegation from UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College:
- Gail Makuakāne-Lundin, UH Hilo Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Director of Hoʻokahua.
- Taupōuri Tangarō representing the UH Hilo collaboration with Hawaiʻi Community College and the joint work on the Uluakea Faculty Development Program.
- Ākeamakamae Kiyuna, Lecturer of Hawaiian Language and Linguistics at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language, UH Hilo.
- Marques Hanalei, Kanilehua Scholar-in-Residence and Cultural Specialist with Bishop Museum.
- Kealiʻi Reichel, Kanilehua Scholar-in-Residence and musician, kumu hula and an expert in kokopuʻupuʻu or knotted carrying nets for holding wooden bowls.
- Holo Hoʻopai, UH Hilo graduate student and Hoʻokahua Student Experience Coordinator.
More photos
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About the writer of this story: Susan Enright is a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
Courtesy photos via Gail Makuakāne-Lundin.