UH Manoa's Pacific Business Center Program hosts sustainability summit

UH Manoa's Pacific Business Center Program presented the 2009 Pasifika Energy Summit on Thursday, April 9, at the Sheraton Waikiki. The summit brought together prominent global speakers and influential leaders, and was aimed at "reaffirming traditional wisdom with modern knowledge for a sustainable future."

The Stars of Oceania event was inaugurated in 2006 as a fundraising effort to support scholarships for Pacific Island students attending UH and graduate research development in the Pacific, with an academic or developmental focus on Pacific Islands studies, the physical sciences, marine sciences, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, energy sciences, information technology, business and engineering. The first scholarships were awarded in 2007.

2009 STARS OF OCEANIA AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO:

Paramount and ranking traditional leaders: His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi, Head of State of Independent Samoa; Iroij Lotak Loeak, Paramount Chief of the Marshall Islands and representative of the Micronesia Traditional Leaders Conference; Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Ranking Chief of Fiji and holder of the Roko Tui Bau title; and Ramsay Taum, Kupuna with ancient ties to Ka‘u.

Publicly elected officials: Sens. Kalani English and Mike Gabbard; Rep. Hermina Morita.

Arts Award: Witi Ihimaera, author of "Whale Rider" and storyteller.

Institutional Recognition Awards: Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie; and Hawaiʻinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawaii-Manoa.

Guiding Star Award recognizing pioneers: Al Harrington.

For more information about the Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP), visit http://www.pbcphawaii.com.