UH West Oʻahu sponsors forum about underrepresented narratives

Flyer for AANHPI forum

The University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu and the Academy for Creative Media at West Oʻahu are co-sponsors for an upcoming public forum designed to foster conversations about underrepresented narratives from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. Registration is open for the forum.  

The Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage in the Hawaiian Islands forum scheduled for Jan. 26 and 27 at the Imin Conference Center at the East-West Center.

UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Maenette Benham is scheduled to give the forum’s opening welcome and overview on Jan. 26, and will also participate in a Community Workshop on Saturday, Jan. 27, titled “How to Engage the Youth Voice in the Power of Story Telling and Expression.” Sharla Hanaoka, associate director of Creative Media at UH West Oʻahu, will also appear on the panel.

The forum begins at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, with a free presentation of short films from the Youth Video Project from Waiʻanae Searider Productions.  The project was a program created for the forum and is a partnership between college students at the Academy for Creative Media at UH West Oʻahu and juniors and seniors enrolled in Waiʻanae High School’s Searider Productions video production program.

The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion by Searider Productions members and the UH West Oʻahu Academy for Creative Media. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

On Saturday Jan. 26, the forum will begin at 8 a.m. and include guest speakers, discussions about telling all of Hawaiʻi’s stories and empowering community voices.  There will also be lunch, cultural performances and community workshops. Early Bird Registration $65 until January 5; General Registration Jan. 6 – 19 is $85.

Speakers will include UH Mānoa Professor of Ethnic Studies Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor, Shangri La Center for Island Arts and Cultures Executive Director Konrad Ng, Columbia University Prof. of International and Public Affairs Gary Y. Okihiro, and others from Hawaiʻi and the Mainland.

 

Image courtesy of AANHPI