Center for the Advancement of Pacific Islanders (CAP) is a program within the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS), at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). The principal focus of CAP is on Pacific Islander students in secondary schools and community colleges, as well as those transitioning to UHM and other four-year schools offering baccalaureate degrees. CAP provides a holistic support system to facilitate college-to-career and entrepreneurship connections to help lift Pacific Islander communities out of poverty and reduce income inequality. A holistic support system entails focusing on student health and wellbeing, academic achievement and social skills, financial literacy and financial aid, mentoring and coaching, as well as internships and other opportunities for career development. Family, community, and cultural values and practices play significant roles in the lives of many Pacific Islander students and their parents. CAP will, therefore, create relevant cultural programs and strategies that would forge deeper connections and understanding between parents and college education. With CAP's commitment to enhance the lives of Pacific Islanders through knowing and doing through post-secondary education, it is envisioned that significant gains will be made in closing inequity gaps in pay and employability of Pacific Islander college graduates, especially for first-generation students.
We are committed to building and advancing the social and economic standing of the Pacific Islander community in Hawai‘i. Through viable access to services, resources, opportunities and mentors, students who are willing to learn and do the work can successfully attain post-secondary education. With the passion and persistence of our program staff, students will be supported to actualize their full potential on their journey to achieve greatness. CAP believes that greatness is already within Pacific Islander students, they just need to be aware that they have the capacity to overcome any barrier that stands in the way of achieving success and personal fulfillment.
Our mission is to work closely with Pacific Islander youth in secondary schools together with their parents and families, as well as community leaders, church leaders and civic organizations that promote socioeconomic equity and upward mobility. We also build strong connections and networking with state and federal government agencies that are mandated to provide support, resources and services for ethnic minority and underrepresented communities in Hawai‘i.
As one of the winners of the 2022 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Provost’s Strategic Investment Competition, CAP is committed to boost enrollment, retention and graduation success of Pacific Islander undergraduate students, particularly in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), and to integrate indigenous values into STEMM education and mentoring to foster inclusive excellence. UHM has invested heavily in programs aimed at increasing enrollment and graduation success of Native Hawaiian and Filipino students, resulting in significant gains. Similar initiatives to create opportunities for Pacific Islanders are urgently needed. CAP is therefore excited to work with many UHM programs, as well as those outside the UH System, to support its vision and mission.
Through the $250,000 award, Pacific Islander college students at UHM and other UH campuses will participate in efforts to enhance the lives of their families by promoting the value and significance of post-secondary education. CAP will hire Pacific Islander college students to serve as tutors, peer mentors, graduate assistants, coaches and leaders. CAP represents a collaborative partnership between OMSS with the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), Online Learning Academy (OLA) with Student Academic Success, College of Natural Sciences (CNS), College of Engineering (ENG), and Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health (TSSWPH) to boost enrollment of Pacific Islander students who interested and committed to pursue careers in STEMM.
CAP will also provide support and services to all Pacific Islander high schoolers who are interested in enrolling at UHM or any other UH campus. Pacific Islanders in Hawai‘i are grossly underrepresented in college education and many are fearful or reluctant to try because of lack of confidence and a dearth of role models. CAP’s college student employees are well trained to provide personalized support to students and their parents as they navigate the complexity of various aspects of college enrollment, retention, successful graduation, as well as figuring out the kinds of careers they would like to pursue.
Although funding for CAP’s STEMM initiative is allocated for only 18 months, the CAP staff is confident that the goals and objectives will be achieved. Also, additional funding and resources will be sought to expand and sustain the program.