The Importance of the Micronesian Community in Hawaii

Due to social distancing guidelines, The Legal Clinic hosted a virtual benefit campaign and online live-stream event on Thursday, July 16, 2020. The event featured special guest video message questions with prizes, and speakers on current immigration topics such as DACA and COFA (the Compacts of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau). The Legal Clinic is a nonprofit organization based in Hawaii that offers free or low-cost legal services to our immigrant community. Featured speaker Senator Stanley Chang left this message for the attendees.
Filmmaker: Yasu Productions

[xaviermaras]

Thank you Senator Chang for trying your best to educate others about Micronesians. God bless you.

[ZedkahKinai]

God Bless you Senator Chang. Thank you for all you do

[basisiba]

Thank you Senator Chang for recognizing Micronesians 🌴🤙🏽

[doroshii]

Your last words were spot-on for me. As a Micronesian, even though times look tough, Hawaii is proof that immigrants can definitely rise up and be bigger than they ever dreamed. I have always believed that! Last year I was asked in my college class once what my legacy would be. At first I was a little nervous to say but I just did it. I said my legacy is that I am part of the wave of Micronesian children that are slowly starting to become the first in their families to hold Masters and PhD's, which is more common than people think. I have a Marshallese friend getting an M.S in the math field, just recently there was a young Chuukese man who graduated Harvard Graduate School, a Chuukese high schooler in 2021 graduated Hilo High & is en route to Columbia University- an Ivy League.

I knows lots of Micronesian women who hold nursing degrees now. My cousin is a software engineer and works for Amazon now. I guess my point is that I understand people have their experiences and it's okay. But I hope that your heart will stay open for those that embody the generosity and work ethic that Micronesian culture is all about. In the meantime, we'll be working hard in the background to lift us up.

[its_just_marvlus]

Out of all the polynesians in hawaii i met 1 native hawaiian who accepted me. He spread that aloha, sharing love and i told him i was born in oahu but recieving hate for being a micronesian so i said i might as well be hawaiian because if i told my actual nationality i would get bullied again. He said be proud of who i am, if i accept you so will my family and i said thank you, he taught me what aloha was again. After that i felt better. Like just growing up its samoan vs micronesian. Not much of a childhood to have in kalihi.

[sylvesteryaiuglig]

Thank you for standing up for what you believe and witness at first hand.

[GooneyJib]

thank you for your kind words sir🙏❤...

[Raiders]

A very wise man and wish more Hawaiians share his vision. May God bless you and your family

[palmtrees]

I lived in Hawaii from 2013-2014 I hope it’s better down there but I’m not fuckin going back there. People shit on Micros like it’s fashion. People make valid points here and there but for the most part I felt like I was Black in Mississippi or some shit. I’m rooting for all the micros that has to live there im fortunate enough to have other options. #MicroprideAllDay

[matthewmann]

Micronesians, Polynesians, Melenesians, Australian Aboriginals, And Papuans are all Native Oceanians and they should get along and not fight among themselves especially be wary of East Asians And Europeans who both try to put them in different rows, seats, numbers, countings, and findings

[annalik]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas for the future of the Micronesian community in the USA government and other opportunities to help them with lots of opportunities like work , education, citizenship, etc.

[house_greyjoy]

If it was Hawaiian there would be no multiple communities, no segregation. There would be one community that's the Hawaiian community regardless of your race etc. A big problem is people want to identify with their heritage rather than their nationality. How about you work on that? Don't consistently call yourself asian, chinese, korean, tongan, japanese, etc how about consistently calling yourselves americans, not Asian-american just american. You dont see white ppl calling themselves european american do we? This I believe will unite and bring people closer to each other. In Hawaii only exception to this rule are hawaiians and those who have privilege and right of maintaining their foreign national identity.

[yeoyeo]

Thank you senator for recognizing my people

[alvindurochermtl]

So when they get angry is it microaggression?

[Kingzman_]

Without Micronesia, everyone can say goodbye to all of their belongings. Micronesia is the checkpoint for your businesses, the trade routes go through Micronesia, in order to reach the other countires because of how big the pacific is.

[wilsonlaiso]

Wise man talking all you in the back please listen good…. Mahalo❤❤❤❤

[kbnamnok]

very well explained, i surely hope that every other person understands your true words...ty

[isangtao]

So- I saw this title and looked at the still. There is a severe disconnect with the title and image display. Seems self serving.

[MUTUNTE-]

I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU THANK YOU SIR!!

[jackyama]

Believe me us can't let micronesia go especially in these days cause they know that if they do...China will make a move and when China takes over it has advantage it will take over micronesian shipping route which most of the countries used nowadays to shipped to Asian Countries and military bases that close to us main land and last but not the least micronesia is made of up 30% of us military personnel..so trust me it's huge loss and a stupid move.