Center for Pacific Islands Studies

Center for Pacific Islands Studies. It is a premier academic and research unit within the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the peoples, cultures, and contemporary issues of Oceania. Founded in 1960, it is widely regarded as a leading institution for fostering critical understanding and scholarly exchange about the Pacific Islands region. The center supports a vibrant intellectual community through its degree programs, publications, and extensive network of partnerships across the Pacific Ocean.

History

The center was established in 1960 through the vision of scholars like Leonard Mason, who recognized the need for a dedicated academic hub focused on the Pacific Islands at a major research university. Its creation was influenced by the post-World War II era of decolonization and the growing movement for self-determination in territories like American Samoa, Guam, and French Polynesia. Early leadership under figures such as Norman Meller helped shape its interdisciplinary approach, connecting studies in anthropology, history, political science, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Over the decades, it has evolved in response to regional dynamics, including the independence of nations like Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, and the signing of treaties such as the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.

Academic programs

The center administers a Master of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies, an interdisciplinary graduate program that draws on faculty expertise from across the University of Hawaiʻi System. The curriculum emphasizes critical engagement with themes of colonialism, sovereignty, environmental change, and cultural revitalization across regions including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Students often conduct research in affiliation with institutions like the East-West Center or through field studies in places such as Papua New Guinea, Aotearoa New Zealand, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The program also collaborates with the University of the South Pacific and supports the development of Pacific Islander scholars through fellowships and teaching assistantships.

Research and publications

Research initiatives are central to the center's mission, often focusing on pressing regional issues such as climate change, political ecology, migration, and the preservation of Indigenous languages. It is the publisher of the influential journal The Contemporary Pacific, a peer-reviewed publication founded in 1989 that features scholarship on modern Oceania. The center also produces the Pacific Islands Monograph Series in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi Press, which has published seminal works by authors like Epeli Hauʻofa, Vilsoni Hereniko, and Terence Wesley-Smith. These publications are frequently presented at major academic conferences including those of the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania and the Pacific History Association.

Notable faculty and alumni

The center has been home to distinguished scholars who have shaped the field of Pacific Studies. Notable former and current faculty include David Hanlon, an historian of Micronesia; Katerina Teaiwa, known for her work on Banaba and phosphate mining; and Teresia Teaiwa, a pioneering poet and scholar of Fijian and Kiribati heritage. Prominent alumni hold influential positions across the region, such as Malia Talakai, former CEO of the Pacific Community (SPC), and Julian Aguon, a human rights lawyer from Guam. Other alumni contribute to cultural institutions like the Bishop Museum, international organizations like the United Nations, and universities from the Australian National University to the University of Guam.

Partnerships and outreach

The center maintains a robust network of institutional partnerships to advance its educational and research goals. It collaborates closely with the East-West Center on joint seminars and the Pacific Islands Development Program. Key regional partnerships include formal agreements with the University of the South Pacific, the University of Guam, and the National University of Samoa. Outreach activities include hosting the annual Pacific Islands Conference and supporting community initiatives like the Pacific Islander Student Association at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The center also engages with policy forums and cultural festivals, connecting academic work to broader public dialogues across the Pacific Rim.

Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Category:Area studies organizations Category:Research institutes in Hawaii Category:Pacific Islands studies