Hawaii Conference Makes Eight Policy Recommendations to Assist Micronesians

Yokwe Online
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

-by Aenet Rowa

The "Micronesian Voices in Hawai'i" Conference drew several hundred education, health and social service providers to hear about ways they could help new migrants from the Freely Associated States. Micronesian leaders described the challenges faced by those who have moved to Hawaii from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

Director David Hanlon, of the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, said they have spent several years planning and working with Micronesian representatives for this event -- the first of its kind in Hawai'i.

MORE:

• MICRONESIAN VOICES IN HAWAI'I CONFERENCE: Presentations and Resources

The two-day session, held the first week of April at the Imin Conference Center, addressed four broad areas of need -- strengthening communities, increasing effective communication, building programs for health and education, and educating for rights and responsibilities.

While health and education programs are available to Micronesians, opportunities are missed due to language and cultural differences. Getting the word out to individuals is a major issue faced by service providers.

Another problem is conflicting information and lack of uniformity about Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants eligibility for state/federal services, said Dr. Hilda Heine, the conference's keynote speaker.

Marshallese consultant Ben Graham, who delivered a pre-conference talk, indicated that rising unemployment and hardships back home in the islands will continue to push Micronesians to emigrate.

The program also featured presentations from Hawaii State Senator J. Kalani English and Andon L, Amaraich, Lead Negotiator for the first Federated States of Micronesia Compact of Free Association.

Representatives from the Governor's Office and other state agencies were on-hand during the closing session to hear the policy recommendations and answer questions.

Panelists and audience members participated in five breakout discussion groups and developed recommendations for helping the Micronesian communities which were combined and summarized in eight overarching policy recommendations:

1. Establish a centralized, physical place for better dissemination of information, resources, material, etc., a sort of one-stop shop
2. More accurate data on Micronesian population (census)
3. For Hawai'i State service providers to have more clear, consistent information on what programs and services Micronesians are eligible for
4. Establish a larger pool of qualified, certified, readily available interpreters in all major Micronesian languages
5. Continued funding for cultural competence training for service providers
6. More frequent meetings and dialogue between all of the key stakeholders
7. Strengthen training, bridging, mentoring programs, especially for youth (workforce development)
8. Increase collaboration between Hawai'i and Freely-Associations States (FAS) governments on health, education, and other major issues; Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) governments to better prepare and orient people prior to their departure, especially in English language.

Original article URL: http://www.yokwe.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2126

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