BYU–Hawaii’s students and professors from Pacific studies program showcase Pasifika scholarship at a national conference in New York City
Four representatives from BYU–Hawaii’s Pacific studies program—two students and two faculty members—participated in the 37th Annual National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), held May 27–31, 2025 at New York City. Lusila Leali’i E’e, a recent graduate from New Zealand who majored in Pacific studies stated, the five-day event brought together scholars, educators and activists across the United States to engage in conversations about equity, identity and justice—offering a rare platform for Pacific voices to contribute to national dialogue on race and culture.
Sione Funaki, an adjunct faculty member at the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian and Pacific Studies, said he hoped students would walk away from the trip with more than just memories. “I hoped the students would get the opportunity to hear about the different work and research involving race and ethnicity being done from all over the United States,” Funaki said. “I hoped it would inspire them and help them think about the work they would want to contribute to in the future.”
He emphasized the value of experiencing metropolitan spaces like New York City in helping students better grasp the complex realities of urban life, including issues related to poverty, migration, race and ethnicity. One of the key goals, he added, was for students to build meaningful connections, especially with other Oceanian educators. “I wanted the students to gain real work experience and broaden their perspectives by visiting one of the world’s most well-known metropolises, New York City.”
Kava, fonua and knowledge-sharing
Reflecting on his personal highlight from the trip, Funaki shared his experience presenting research on social and cultural traditions involving kava—a drink made from the roots of a pepper plant native to the Pacific Islands—and their cultural significance. “Getting to present my research on kava practices and its use to connect people to fonua was particularly meaningful,” said Funaki. He explained that it gave him a chance to connect with his ancestors and reflect on their endless sacrifices. Their labor, he said, made it possible for him to find confidence and strength in presenting a sacred part of his culture.
“Getting to present my research on kava practices and their use to connect people to fonua was particularly meaningful,” said Funaki. His research highlights that kava is more than a drink — it is a sacred practice deeply rooted in cultural identity, land and ancestral ties. Through his work, Funaki explored how fonua — a Tongan concept encompassing land, body and spiritual connection — remains central to kava ceremonies and their ability to strengthen community and lineage.
He said the concept of fonua is related to other Indigenous Oceanian ideas, such as whenua, fanua, vanua, and honua. “It encompasses not only the land, but the people who belong to the land, the culture that comes from the land, as well as the ancestors and descendants that come from the fonua,” he added.
At the NCORE conference, Funaki was invited to create a kava space where he said he could “educate people about kava’s role and significance in Oceanian societies, while also offering them a unique space for rest and connection.”
The students, he noted, played a key role in that experience. “I think being part of the kava space and helping me with conducting the kava rituals helped them learn about the importance of our indigenous practices and epistemologies,” he said. “Our practices and cultures also hold significant knowledge and wisdom that can contribute not only to fields of education, but also in any space or work centered on racial and ethnic equity.”
Exposure to global contexts and city dynamics
Funaki said exposing Pacific Islander students to global cities like New York is essential. “It’s important because they can broaden their understanding of different people, perspectives and cultures,” he said. “By engaging in social networking and sharing their work and research in places like New York City, students gain the understanding and tools they need to apply to their own work in the future,” he continued.
As an educator, one of Funaki’s biggest takeaways was witnessing the power of representation and exchange in academic gatherings. “Conference spaces like this are important places where we could gather and source connections,” he said. “Our Oceanian participants represent a wide range of work being done in higher education on behalf of Oceanian people, and students need the opportunity to connect with and be inspired by that work.”
For Funaki, these gatherings are not just academic—they echo deeper cultural practices rooted in Oceanian ways of knowing. Just as traditional voyaging involved navigating vast oceans to exchange knowledge, goods and relationships, he said academic spaces allow for a similar exchange of ideas and inspiration. “We voyage out into the world and return to our islands and people filled with knowledge to share,” Funaki said. We carry with us the wisdom we’ve gained from our island cultures, people and environments, taking it out into the world to share with others, he added.
Finding community and belonging in unexpected places
E’e said the trip to New York offered her an unexpected yet powerful sense of belonging. For her, the most memorable part of the trip was seeing a strong Samoan presence—something she hadn’t expected, having typically seen Tongans more prominently represented in academic and professional spaces.
That moment of cultural pride, she said, left a deep impact. “I felt very much at home around them,” she expressed. “It was amazing to see my people thriving and leading the way. It not only strengthened my desire to further my own education but also increased my love and pride for my culture and the people of Samoa.”
E’e said one of the most transformative moments came during the final session of the conference. “The final keynote panel who closed the conference consisted of Pasifika women,” she shared. “It was so inspiring to see people like me on stage giving arguably the most important presentation of the conference.”
She said the experience shifted her perspective on Pacific cultures, helping her realize the value of ancestral and cultural knowledge. “Though small in number and minuscule to the world, our contribution to the world is great,” she shared.
Representation from within: Inspired by peers
E’e said much of the inspiration she gained during the trip came from her peers. One example she shared was Nanasi Heimuli, a fellow representative from BYU–Hawaii, whose confidence in such an elite academic setting challenged her to deepen her understanding. “Her example taught me not to let your societal or professional status define you and that even an undergraduate student can contribute greatly to the conversations at hand,” she said.
As she looks ahead, E’e said the trip changed how she views the accessibility of academic and professional spaces. “My mindset that spaces like academia aren’t made for people like us has shifted,” she said. “Though the stigma and stereotypes around Pacific people remain in those spaces, we should not let them decide whether we belong there.”
“We are meant to be in all spaces,” she voiced. “There is a need for Pacific perspectives and ideologies in all spaces. So no matter where life takes me in studies or at work, I can be more confident and unapologetic about being a Pasifika.”
Oceania on the global stage
Nanasi Heimuli, a senior from Tonga studying Pacific studies and a teaching assistant in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said the trip deepened her belief in the power of Pasifika knowledge.
“We sat in on a panel led by activists who were Latinx, Palestinian and Native Hawaiian who discussed the importance of showing solidarity and support for struggling communities beyond our own,” she said. “I learned so much and was so inspired.”
She said the experience changed the way she viewed Pacific cultural frameworks in a global context. “I took for granted the way we view things as Pacific Islanders,” said Heimuli. “Our cultural perspectives on community, connection and our various forms of knowledge inspired other attendees. Seeing that inspired me—it showed me the effect of what our cultures in Oceania teach us.”
Heimuli stated, “There is much to be gained from taking up space in these Western places,” she said. “Our views, creativity, ideas and insights inspire so many,” she continued.
Conversations over dinner and dreams for the future
One moment from the trip that stood out for Heimuli was having dinner with the Ambassador of Vanuatu, Odo Tevi. “He shared how the decisions we make in our youth affect the future,” she said. “It was inspiring to see a Pacific Islander represent Oceania in the middle of this huge concrete jungle. It made me excited to see how I can hopefully make my own difference in the future.”
Looking ahead, Heimuli said she wants to help others find and share their voices. “Every culture, every race, every person has something different yet valuable to share,” she said. “I want to help others use their unique voices to enrich the spaces they enter by making sure they have a chance to speak and be heard,” she said. She explained that creating a safe and comfortable space for individuals to share their opinions can empower them to feel heard and valued.
Photos from Sione Funaki, Lusila E’e, Nanasi Heimuli