Faculty, students, and community members joined in person and online with guest speaker Ibu Ellen (front row, center), who spoke about Indonesian tourism in a lecture celebrating language, culture, and learning across the Indo-Pacific.
(Photo by Justine Afaga)
The Department of Indo-Pacific Languages & Literatures at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosted the 2025 Indonesian Language & Culture Lecture on September 26 at Moore Hall 155A, with a hybrid option for online participation. Guest speaker Ibu Ellen presented on Historical Tourist Destinations in Indonesia, focusing on Candi Borobudur in Magelang, Central Java.
Ibu Ellen explained Borobudur’s role as bothL a Buddhist temple and dynastic monument, noting that it was abandoned between the 10th and 15th centuries before its rediscovery in the 19th century and restoration in the 20th century. Today, it serves as both a Buddhist pilgrimage site and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark. She also addressed challenges such as stone deterioration, visitor impact, and threats from Mount Merapi’s volcanic ash.
The lecture also introduced students to the keris or kris, Indonesia’s traditional asymmetrical dagger regarded as both weapon and spiritual object, and traced its craftsmanship, symbolism, and decline in contemporary society. In addition, Ellen reflected on Indonesia’s independence struggle against Dutch colonial rule and highlighted linguistic connections.
Through this lecture, students gained insight into Indonesia’s heritage, its ties to the Philippines, and the shared cultural histories of Southeast Asia.