Press Release
Pacific
Presented by the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Business Center Program
University of
Contact: Renata Matcheva, (808) 956-7275
Business Development Specialist,
Web: http://www.pbcphawaii.com
Posted: April 23, 2009
On Thursday, April 9th, 2009, leaders from the
The Stars of Oceania event was inaugurated in 2006 as a fundraising effort to support scholarships for Pacific Island students attending the University of Hawaii and graduate research development in the Pacific with an academic or developmental focus on Pacific islands studies, the physical sciences, marine sciences, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, energy sciences, information technology, business and engineering. The first scholarships were awarded in 2007.
This year’s event recognized and honored (1) paramount and ranking traditional leaders representing Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, and the importance of their traditional wisdom in the conversation affecting the Planet; (2) elected public officials who advocate regional collaboration in sustainability, environmental, economic and social responsibility; (3) pioneers in community leadership who have created greater opportunities for those that followed, (4) artists of the region who personify the celebration of story telling as a core form of Pacific communications through which history, navigation and kinship ties are sustained using chants and dance; and (5) institutions that promote indigenous knowledge and wisdom through cultural practices and support scholarship and educational opportunities for Pacific island students.
The Stars of Oceania Luncheon’s keynote speaker, Her Highness Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese Efi, delivered a captivating speech on Oceania’s heritage and the importance of traditional culture in the Pacific Regions today. Her Highness spoke on behalf of His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi whose health condition required medical observation and treatment in Aotearoa preventing his attendance.
The Stars of Oceania Luncheon was coupled with the Pasifika Energy Summit as a single event to provide a forum connecting traditional wisdom with modern knowledge. The Pasifika Energy Summit featured prominent speakers as well as moderated panels of traditional leaders from the Pacific, to share their thoughts on the current status in the Pacific regarding global warming, traditional economics, excessive consumption, environmental degradation, near collapse of the earth eco-systems, alternative, renewable and sustainable energy, applications of modern technology, and the importance of traditional wisdom and guidance.
The group of distinguished speakers included: Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Stephen Schneider; international best-selling author Dr. David Korten; Witi Ihimaera, the first Maori novelist and author of "Whale Rider"; and Ted Peck, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Energy Administrator for Strategic Industries Division.
Pacific Island leaders included: Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, ranking Chief of Fiji; Iroij Kotak Loeak, Chairman of the Council of Iroij of the Marshall Islands; and Ramsay Taum, Kupuna with ancient ties to Ka’u – all of whom dignified their cultural presence by sharing traditional wisdom and reminding all that the islands of the Pacific will be the first impacted, the least able to cope, and the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
2009 STARS OF OCEANIA AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO:
Paramount and ranking traditional leaders:
His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi, Head of State of Independent Samoa
Iroij Lotak Loeak, Paramount Chief of the
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Ranking Chief of Fiji and holder of the Roko Tui Bau title
Ramsay Taum, Kupuna with ancient ties to Ka’u
Publicly elected officials:
Senator Kalani English
Senator Mike Gabbard
House Representative Hermina Morita
Arts Award:
Witi Ihimaera, Story teller and author of “Whale Rider”
Institutional Recognition awards:
Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie
Hawai‘inuiakea
Guiding Star Award recognizing pioneers:
Al Harrington
Mahalo to all of our sponsors!
Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawaii School of Pacific and Asian Studies; School of Travel Industry Management, UH Manoa; International and Exchange Programs, UH Manoa; Honolulu Minority Business Enterprise Center, UH; The Center for Islands Climate Adaptation and Policy, William S. Richardson School of Law, UH Manoa; Hawaii Geographic Society, Chaminade University; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, State of Hawaii; Hawaiian Electric Company; Polynesian Cultural Center; Bess Press; Pasifika Foundation of Hawaii; Sustainable Hawaii and Pacific Islands in Communications.
Special acknowledgements are extended to: Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of the Interior and Director of Insular Affairs, Nikolao Pula and key staff Angela Williams, Marina Tinitali, Joe Gecan, former Commissioner of the US Federal Trade Commission and decorated war hero Orson Swindle, former PBCP Administrative Manager Dorothy Chen, Cynthia Quinn of the William S. Richardson School of Law, Pacific Business Center Program, Honolulu Minority Business Enterprise Center, QLCC, Kamehameha Schools and University of Hawaii student volunteers from the School of Architecture, Shidler College of Business, William S. Richardson School of Law, Center for Pacific Islands Studies, School of Tropical Agriculture, Hawai’inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, and Chaminade University students and volunteer members from the Fijian, Micronesia, Samoan, Tongan and Hawaiian communities.
