Birthplace: San Francisco, CA

Ethnic Background: Native Hawaiian

Basic Life Facts: author, activist

Community Contribution(s): founded the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Keynote Speaker Topic/Title: We are not American!

Birthplace: Guam 1959

Ethnic Background: Chamorro

Basic Life Facts: Served 13 years in the US Air Force. Served 6 Months in federal prison for trespassing on federal land he claimed belonged to his family. Former senator for Guam Legislature.

Community Contribution(s): Implemented the Land Trust Act, fought against inequalities and advocated for the protection of the Chamorro culture, language, and heritage. Organized protests on behalf of the Filipino Community. Made it more socially acceptable to protest for injustices.

Key Note Topic: Decolonization of Guam, Environmental effects on people due to military occupation.

Birthplace: Ebeye Island, Marshall Islands in 1951

Ethnic Background: Marshallese

Basic Life: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Bachelors & MPH

Community Contribution(s): She is the activist behind the awareness for the nuclear testing at the Marshal Islands.

She researched nuclear testing impacts on the small downwind outer islands, which led her to reveal to the world the existence of birth defects and "jelly-fish" babies in Marshallese communities. Through speaking tours in the U.S., Canada and Europe, she told the story of Marshall Islands nuclear test survivors — their forced relocations to allow the nuclear weapons to be tested, the exposure of thousands of people to radioactive fallout, and the damage to the islands from the testing and fallout.

Keynote Speaker Topic/Title: Birth Defects in Nuclear-test survivors from Radiation; Unrecognized health issues on Marshall Islands

Ethnic Background: Chamorro

Basic Life Facts: 7th of 10 children. Started researching Chamorro history and dance in 1971. University of Guam, San Mateo Community College, Seattle Central Community College and University of Washington.

Community Contributions: In 1983, he formed the Taotao Tano’ Cultural Dancers organization. He created the nonprofit organization Pa’a Taotao Tano’ in 1998. The organization aimed to apply for federal grants to further the mission of cultural preservation, perpetuation, promotion, and education of the Chamorro culture. He wrote a book about traditional Chamorro dance moves called “Bailan I Taotao Tano’” or “Dances of the Chamorro People.

Keynote Speaker Topic: Dances of the Chamorro People - Chamorro cultural dance, history, traditions, and language.

Born ~ 1848 and Died 1915

Ethnic Background: Samoan

Basic Life Facts:

Orator Chief

-First in Family to hold both titles

-Two Chief Titles

(Namulau'ulu - Samoan, Lauaki - Tongan)

-one son

-exiled to Saipan for his resistance to colonialism

-First Samoan to show nationalism, patriotism for Country

Community Contribution(s):

First Leader of the Mau Movement (A Resistance Movement of high chiefs protesting against losing their traditional Samoan authority under German colonial administration)

Keynote Speaker Topic/Title:

Samoan Independence: Resistance & Resilience in the face of Colonialism

Birthplace: 3/13/1900 in Sālote Mafileo Pilolevu

Ethnic BG: Tongan

Life facts: Longest-reigning Tongan Monarch (almost 48 years from 1918-1965) ; Tall – 6’ 3”; led Tonga through World War II- supported the Allied cause and provided resources. She was a composer and poet.

Community Contributions: assisted with the mapping of the Tongan Islands in 1920-21;

She was very knowledgeable not just of Tongan tradition (which she was already well-versed from prior to her marriage), but also of specific family histories.

She was focused on preserving the history, culture and heritage of the Tongan people. Tongan is primarily oral culture – she engaged elders to share their knowledge. She foresaw that Tonga, being a small Island community, needed to retain its history, culture and heritage.

Driving force behind the establishment of the Tonga Traditions Committee.

Keynote Topic/Title: Keeping Our Culture Strong in a Changing World