Pacific Islander Student Center (PISC)

News and Events

COFA Residents in Hawaiʻi Are Eligible for Medicaid

COFA islander health care Hawaiʻi is now accepting Medicaid applications from residents who are citizens of Palau, the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia. Medicaid is a federal public health insurance program for low-income people. Contact Kuʻu Makuakane-Salavea at (808) 348-4410 (or jmakuakane-salavea@dhs.hawaii.gov) or Rachelle at (808) 896-5051 to apply. View more information.

"Real IDs"

Starting May 7, 2025, everyone will need to present a Real ID-compliant license/ID or another acceptable form of identification (like a passport) to board a domestic flight and to access U.S. federal facilities. How do you know if your driver's license or state ID card is Real ID-complaint? If it is Real-ID compliant, there will be a star in the top right corner like those pictured below:

Gold Star Drivers license and state identification cards with stars on them

You do not need a Real ID-complaint ID unless you want to board an airplane using a driver's license or state ID card. If you have a valid (unexpired) passport, you can use a passport to board a plane. But if you want or need to get a REAL ID-complaint ID such as a driver's license or state ID card, Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens need to have a valid, unexpired passport and an I-94. An I-94 is a record of your arrival date into the United States. Access and print a copy of your I-94. Please be aware that I-94 records are only available online for 5 years. If you cannot access your I-94 form online because your most recent arrival date into the U.S. was longer than 5 years ago, you have to file Form I-102 with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to obtain a duplicate copy. The fee for the Form I-102 is currently $455 and may be subject to change.

Upcoming Events & Activities

young people dancing and smiling

Youth Dialogue on Gender in Micronesia

Monday, August 7, 2023
2:00-5:30 pm online

Young people ages 18-25 who are citizens of the Pacific Islands Forum Member countries of the Marshall Islands, FSM, Palau, Nauru, and Kiribati are invited to join an online dialogue focused on gender in Micronesia. Sponsored by the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center. Register here.

Group of smiling students

New International Student Welcome & Check-In Meeting

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
8:00 am at the Student Services Center Room 201

Welcome to UH Hilo! All new international students are required to check-in at this short meeting. Breakfast will be provided. Immediately following the meeting, we will take you to get a TB test and any other required vaccinations you may need before the campus-wide orientation program begins. Bring your passport (and cash or card if you need to get a TB test and/or other vaccinations).

welcome in many languages

New International Student Orientation Meeting

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
4:00-5:00 pm online on Zoom

All new international students are required to attend this online meeting on Zoom to learn about important information such as visa regulations, health insurance, important dates and deadlines, and upcoming events and activities. Check your UH email for the Zoom link and passcode.

group of students in front of a waterfall

Tour of Hilo and Waterfalls

Saturday, August 19, 2023
12:00-5:00 pm

Join us for a tour of Hilo and nearby waterfalls as you get acquainted with your new island home. Space is limited. Check your UH email for more information and to sign up.

university of hawaii at hilo campus

Meeting for New Pacific Islander Students

Tuesday, August 22, 2023
7:00-8:00 pm online on Zoom

Join this follow-up orientation session on Zoom for new Pacific Islander students and learn about how to get a job on campus, a US social security number, and health insurance. Also learn about upcoming events, activities, and deadlines, and resources on campus to help you be successful! Check your UH email for the Zoom link and passcode.

man with artwork

Changing Oceans, Changing Minds

Thursday, August 25, 2023
5:00-7:00 pm at Campus Center Room 301

George Nuku is currently one of the leading contemporary artist in Aotearoa/New Zealand who will visit with our Hilo community to share about his newest installation that will be exhibited at the Volcano Art Center. His installation project explores the issue of the proliferation of plastics both in the ocean and on the land, created from thousands of re-purposed empty plastic bottles and pieces of re-used carved transparent plexiglass.

students eating at a party

Welcome Party for International Students

Friday, August 25, 2023
5:30-8:30 pm at the Student Life Center swimming pool

All new and returning international students are invited to this welcome and welcome back party at the Student Life Center swimming pool. Free food, prizes, and games, including volleyball and basketball! Bring your UH ID card.

Group of students

PacYes Promotion

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
11:00 am-3:00 pm at PISC

Drop by to learn about the PacYes youth empowerment event scheduled for October and learn about opportunities to volunteer at the event. Free pizza.

4 students smiling

PISC Open House & BBQ

Friday, September 1, 2023
Time & location to be announced

All new and returning Pacific Islanders students are invited to this BBQ to get to know the Pacific Islander Student Center, meet new friends, and enjoy good food.

man teaching a student how to make a lei

Ku'u Lei Hilo

Thursday, September 7, 2023
5:00 pm at Campus Center Room 301

Join us for an introduction to the Hawaiian language and other activities to introduce you to Native Hawaiian culture. Check your UH email for details and to sign up. Space is limited.

people on a rock wall by the ocean

Community Service Trip at Hale O Lono

Saturday, September 9, 2023
Time to be announced

Give back to the local community while learning about Native Hawaiian stewardship of the land and ocean. Help restore a Native Hawaiian fishpond in beautiful Keaukaha in Hilo. Check your UH email for details and to sign up. Space is limited.

Court interpreters needed - helps limited English-speaking defendants

Court Interpreter Information Session

Monday, September 11, 2023
10:00-11:00 am at Campus Center Room 301

Come to this information session to learn about opportunities to become an interpreter in the courts in Hawai'i. Interpreters are needed for speakers of Pacific Islands languages and training is provided. Interpreters can earn $25+ per hour. It is critical for people involved in legal matters to have access to information in their own languages. The session will be conducted by Debi Tulang-DeSilva and Melody Kubo of the Office of Equality and Access to the Courts with the Hawai'i State Judiciary.

map of the world Constitution Day
Friday, September 15, 2023
5:00-7:00 pm at UCB Room 100

In recognition of Constitution Day, join us for special presentations from students from FSM, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea about their constitutions. View a complete schedule of the international Constitution Fellows here.

ocean with palm trees

Roots & Routes along the Keaukaha Shoreline

Saturday, September 16, 2023
Time to be announced

Join us for a huaka'i hele” (a sightseeing tour in which a knowledgeable guide takes others along a route to reveal the stories surrounding a particular land area) with Halena Kapuni-Reynold in the Keaukaha area to learn about the cultural and historical signifcance of thia area in Hilo. Reminiscing about his childhood experiences, Kapuni-Reynolds reminds us of how we can connect to the lands and water that surround us and that these places are meant to be cherished. Check your UH email for more details and to sign up. Space is limited.

lava flowing in a caldera

Lava Viewing Trip

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 6:30-9:00 pm

Join is for a trip to Volcanoes National Park to view the lava flow in the evening. Check your email for more information and to sign up.

Group of students from the Pacific Islands

PacYes Youth Empowerment Gathering

Saturday, October 7, 2023
Campus Center

High school students from throughout the Big Island will visit UH Hilo to learn about educational opportunities after high school and get inspired to pursue higher education.

students working in a wetland

Community Service Trip

Saturday, October 14, 2023
Time to be announced

Join us for a morning of service to the Hilo community with the 'Aina Ho'ola Initiative. Embrace the spirit of aloha 'aina and contribute to the revitalization of our precious wetlands. By volunteering with the ʻAina Ho'ola Initiative, you’ll be immersing yourself in a meaningful journey of conservation and community engagement. You’ll get hands-on experience with restoring native habitats, learn about our unique ecosystem, and make a tangible impact on our environment. Check your UH email for details and to sign up. Space is limited.

group of students wearing traditional clothes from around the world

United Nations Day

Friday, October 20, 2023
10:00 am-1:00 pm on the Library Lanai

Celebrate United Nations Day on campus with UH Hilo international students who come from 40 different countries around the world! The event features a parade of nations, tabling, and ends with a special performance from the Samoan club. Visit the United Nations Day website for more details.

Halloween pumpkins

Halloween Costume Contest

Tuesday, October 31, 2023
10:00 am-2:00 pm

Come by PISC on Halloween in your costume! Prizes for best individual costume and best group costume, and candy goodie bags!

China's engagement with the Pacific Islands

China's Engagement with the Pacific Islands

Monday, November 6, 2023
12:00-1:00 pm online

The Pacific Islands have been thrust into the spotlight recently due to intensifying US-China strategic competition. How is China’s engagement with the Pacific Islands evolving, and how are the Pacific Islands engaging with China on their own terms? Join us for a panel discussion with April Herlevi (Senior Research Scientist, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, CNA) and Tarcisius Kabutaulaka (Associate Professor of Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa). Click here to register.

nothing micro about micronesia

"Nothing Micro About Micronesia" Workshop

Tuesday, November 7, 2023
4:30 pm at the Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307)

TeAda Productions invites you to be part of its creative process for their next play called "Nothing Micro About Micronesia," set to premier in March 2024 in Honolulu. The workshop is aimed at amplifying the stories and experiences of Micronesians, and will help TeAda Productions to develop an amazing play. Like its highly successful "Masters of the Currents" play produced several years ago, this new work combines community based story collection and social justice practices with devised ensemble techniques to create a theatrical performance built with the involvement of the Micronesian community. Workshops will also be held on November 8 at the Old Gym and November 9 at the Performing Arts Center at 4:30 pm.

Chamoru people

Estorian Chamoru: The Chamoru Story (Guahan)

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
1:00-2:30 pm at Hale'olelo, Lumi Pāhiahia

Guest speakers Kenneth Gofigan Kuper from the University of Guam; Nolan Flores from the Guam Public Library System; Kisha Borja-Quichocho-Calvo from the University of Guam; Anna Marie Arceo from the Chief Hurao Academy; and Jimmy Santos Teria from the Guam Department of Education.

Group of friends

Friendsgiving

Friday, November 24, 2023
10:00 am-2:00 pm at the Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307)

Come enjoy a "friendsgiving" meal with the Pacific Islander student clubs.

Health care

Health Insurance Enrollment

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
11:30 am-3:00 pm at the Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307)

Sign up for health insurance! Professionals will be available to assist students and community members to enroll in health insurance.

two students in caps and gowns with lei

Pau Hana! End-of-the-Semester Dinner

Thursday, December 7, 2023
5:00-7:00 pm at the Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307)

Take a break before final exams and celebrate the end of the semester! Free food, fun, and fellowship!

Welcome with map of the world

Welcome & Check-in for New International Students

Thursday, January 4, 2024
8:00 am at the Student Services Center Room 201

Welcome to UH Hilo! All new international students are required to check-in at this short meeting. Breakfast will be provided. Immediately following the meeting, we will take you to get a TB test and any other required vaccinations you may need and get a UH ID card before the campus-wide orientation program begins. Bring your passport (and cash or card if you need to get a TB test and/or other vaccinations).

welcome in many languages

New International Student Orientation Meeting

Thursday, January 4, 2024
4:00 pm online on Zoom

All new international students are required to attend this online meeting on Zoom to learn about important information such as visa regulations, health insurance, important dates and deadlines, and upcoming events and activities. Check your UH email for the Zoom link and passcode.

group of students in front of a waterfall

Tour of Hilo and Waterfalls

Saturday, January 6, 2024
12:00-5:00 pm

Join us for a tour of Hilo and nearby waterfalls as you get acquainted with your new island home. Space is limited. Check your UH email for more information and to sign up.

Samoan students dancing

International Night

Friday, February 23, 2024 (tentative date)
7:30 pm at the Performing Arts Center

International Night features performances from the many different cultures and countries represented at UH Hilo. International Night is a long-standing tradition at UH Hilo that spans over four decades, and is a favorite event on campus among students, the community, and visitors. See the shows, see the world! For more details, go to the International Nights website.

Image of 5 women from different countries

International Women's Day

**Friday, March 8, 2024 (tentative date)

In observance of International Women's Day, hear the voices of UH Hilo women from around the world as they talk story about gender and women's issues in their countries and cultures and their experiences in the US.

two students in caps and gowns with lei

Pau Hana! Graduates Recognition and End-of-the-Semester Dinner

Friday, May 3, 2024
5:00-7:00 pm at the Pacific Islander Student Center (Campus Center 307)

Take a break before final exams and celebrate the end of the semester as we recognize students who are graduating this semester. Free food!

whale in the ocean

Whale Watching Trip

Date & Time To Be Announced

Take a boat trip in Hilo Bay to see the humpback whales! More details coming soon.

Guy zip lining over a waterfall

Zip Line Adventure Trip

Date & Time To Be Announced

Zip line over waterfalls on the Hamakua Coast! More details coming soon.