PILOT Summer Institute

Photo Story by Alesi Meyers-Tuimavave

This summer I had the opportunity to participate in the annual PILOT summer institute, held by Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), a national organization. PILOT stands for Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow, where a group of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) students are selected to participate in a four-day program of bonding, workshops, and other leadership development and social justice-related activities. Each PILOT institute is held at a college campus, this years being at Cal State University of San Marcos.

More information on EPIC and PILOT can be found at their website: https://www.empoweredpi.org


Students' visual of what Oceania looks like to themStudents' visual of what Oceania looks like to them

Projector screen reading "PILOT Graduation Ceremony 2024"

Projector screen reading "PILOT Graduation Ceremony 2024"


Bai, Cassidy, Leighani and Alesi working on lifelines in the mana roomBai, Cassidy, Leighani and Alesi working on lifelines in the mana room

Malia making a ti leaf lei in the mana roomMalia making a ti leaf lei in the mana room

Alesi and Craig Santos-Perez throwing up their shakas at the PILOT 16' graduationAlesi and Craig Santos-Perez throwing up their shakas at the PILOT 16' graduation


Daja, T.M., Nani, Cassidy, Bainivalu, Aiyiana, Hector, Mele, Tane, Fehi, Leighani, Malia, Alesi, Mercy, LindaMae, Melia, Craig Santos-Perez, Jada, Taelani, Jimina, Tanya taking a group photo(Back row, left to right) Daja, T.M., Nani, Cassidy, Bainivalu, Aiyiana, Hector, Mele, Tane. (Middle row, left to right) Fehi, Leighani, Malia, Alesi, Mercy, LindaMae, Melia. (Front row, left to right) Craig Santos-Perez, Jada, Taelani, Jimina, Tanya.

Nani and Hector making a ti leaf lei togetherNani and Hector making a ti leaf lei together