MEDIA RELEASE

Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo will be hosting a free talk presented by Micronesian cultural expert Josie Howard.

The Pacific Islander Ministry Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii and the Micronesian Cultural Awareness Program (MCAP) is sponsoring the event 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 31 at the church’s campus on 1407 Kapiolani Street. Light refreshments will be served.

Howard came to Hawaii from Chuuk in 1988 under the Compact of Free Association Treaty between the Federated States of Micronesia and the U.S., to attend the University of Hawaii.

Her initial plan was to get a degree and return to her home country, but after finding both a job and a husband she has stayed on in Hawaii and now helps coordinate job training programs for new immigrants.

Howard, with a background in anthropology, is able to explain Micronesian thought patterns to Westerners and vice versa. She designed the acculturation course for newcomers from Micronesia and trains service providers on how to acculturate and work with Micronesian immigrants.

She will speak on various aspects of Micronesian culture as well as the many cultural challenges Micronesian immigrants face settling into life in Hawaii.

The Micronesian immigrant population, the newest immigrant population in Hawaii, has been on the rise because of environmental changes, medical issues and poverty that necessitate that many Micronesians seek out a better life elsewhere. In the 1990s the estimate was around 3,800. Today the estimates are 12,000 to 13,000.

“The culture of Micronesia is becoming a vital and vibrant part of life in the Hawaiian Islands and Church of the Holy Apostles is grateful for the opportunity to share this presentation with the Hilo community,” said Reverend Moki Hino, Rector of Church of The Holy Apostles.

For more information, call Church of The Holy Apostles at (808) 935-5545.