University of Hawaii Student Named Pacific Century Fellow

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Posted: Dec 10, 2002

Keliʻi Akina, a full time Ph.D. student studying East West philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, was selected to be a member of the Pacific Century Fellows Program‘s Class of 2003. The program is designed to identify, encourage and help develop future island leaders.

Akina is the CEO of Hawaiʻi Youth for Christ, a non-profit corporation that sponsors outreach work to teenagers. Akina also developed the Certified Youth Mentor program, which has trained more than 400 adults from over 100 community organizations and churches to provide mentoring to adolescents. Receiving a bachelor‘s degree in history and literature of world religions at Northwestern University, Akina went on to achieve a master‘s degree in philosophy at UH Mānoa and is currently working on his doctorate degree.

"I was delighted to hear that I‘d been named a Pacific Century Fellow because one of my deep passions is to see Hawaiʻi become a center for global solutions. The fellowship will give me the opportunity to partner with leaders who share this vision and to apply my graduate studies at UH to practical outcomes for society," Akina said.

Modeled after the White House Fellows program, fellows are chosen based on a written application and personal interview conducted by a selected panel of judges. The selection committee considers educational background, current career responsibilities, special achievements as well as the comments of superiors, involvement in community activities, communication skills and strength of character. The objective of the program is to select individuals who have shown the intellectual and leadership abilities in the early and mid-stages of their careers necessary to succeed and have the potential to contribute to the community in the future.

The Pacific Century Fellows Program will provide participants with direct contact with senior community, social and government leaders. The goal of the program is to nurture relationships among individuals who are committed to exploring creative and constructive solutions for challenges facing the state.

"Having selected our sixth and largest class of fellows to participate in this unique executive leadership training program, we are continuing to build a cadre of talented young professionals who will positively contribute to the betterment of our state in the years to come" said Mufi Hannemann, former White House fellow and chairman of the Board of the Fund for the Pacific Century Fellows Program.