Podcasts about Native Hawaiians

The City of Seattle is holding its inaugural Indigenous Civic Engagement Day for urban Natives Friday. As Brian Bull of Underscore Native News reports, the goal is to help the city's Native population connect with officials, services, and funding opportunities. Since 2023, Seattle has held a bi-annual Tribal Summit for members of recognized tribes within the state of Washington, but feedback from several attendees said they would appreciate an event for those Natives who are not necessarily from that group, including Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and tribes from other parts of the United States. So Kolbi Monasmith (Cherokee), who is with the Indigenous Advisory Council, says all day Friday, Seattle's city hall will be open for those interested in learning more. “Starting on a base level of: How does the City of Seattle work? How do you advocate for policy within that system? How do you advocate within the city budget system? How does that budget system even work? To build up the knowledge and also build those connections.” Tia Yazzie (Diné), who is also with the Indigenous Advisory Council, said Native voices often go unheard within local politics, so organizers wanted a day and space for people to participate, advocate, and learn about the processes within the Seattle system. “But also to have a fun day. We know learning about these things can be very hard and complex, but we want things to be fun for our families and for also the youth to be involved. So that was one of our big goals, was to have the native community, but also youth involved into this whole community event.” To that end, there will be bingo cards, and demonstrations on beading and making lanyards, as well as headshots taken during the event. It is also the five-year anniversary for the nine-member Indigenous Advisory Council. Yazzie says this has encouraged engagement. “Seattle’s unique in that we have a very special urban native environment and community here that wants to engage in these processes more often than not, and then also to create these programs such as the civic engagement day for or make a space for us, and I think that’s one of the reasons why the IAC was created.” Surveys will be sent to attendees of Friday's civic engagement day to see how effective the City of Seattle was at educating and connecting with its urban Natives. (Courtesy College of Menominee Nation) Tribal Colleges and Universities are a valuable resource for both Native and non-Native residents, but a new report finds the institutions are facing a growing funding squeeze, as Judith Ruiz-Branch reports. A new analysis finds TCUs in Wisconsin are producing measurable economic returns while struggling with longstanding funding disparities. Now, one is focusing its efforts on philanthropy to secure a successful future for students. Findings from the Brookings Institution and the American Indian College Fund show federal support for Tribal campuses has fallen more than 7% over the past decade, despite treaty and trust obligations. College of Menominee Nation President Chris Caldwell says despite their economic value and community impact, Tribal institutions have long needed to advocate for equitable funding and resources that mainstream institutions more readily access. “In grant programs, often times we wear a lot of hats here that mainstream institutions don’t have to wear just because of lack of staffing or resources. So being competitive in that context is always a challenge.” The report says every $1.00 invested in TCUs returns $1.60 in tax revenue and public sector savings. A separate economic impact study found CMN generated $16 million for surrounding counties in one year. Caldwell says the college is now increasing its focus on securing philanthropy contributions and demonstrating the impact on students' lives. A graduate of CMN, he says his experience as a student helped put him on the path to becoming its president. “If we were to look around before the college started to today, you would see a big change in how many Tribal members are in high leadership areas, and not just on our reservation, but in surrounding communities.” The report recommends Congress make greater use of mandatory funding when supporting Native communities, suggesting that strategy would help Tribal colleges plan ahead. American Indian College Fund President Cheryl Crazy Bull says investments in Tribal communities are once again becoming an afterthought – and warns proposed cuts could threaten schools just as they’re finding new ways to reach students. “We’re becoming very adept at online education, so the Tribal colleges are able to bring that culturally rich education that Native people want, where they see themselves and they go to school with each other, even online.” Advocates note the federal government also does not provide enough detailed information about how much money is actually reaching Tribal communities. Crazy Bull says they are pushing for improved data access so Native-serving institutions can determine where the biggest unmet needs remain. And on this day in 1790, a presidential proclamation concerning treaty violations against Native nations appeared in a U.S. newspaper. President George Washington responded to violations of treaties between the United States and the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations. The proclamation came during the early years of U.S. treaty-making with sovereign Native nations. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, September 18, 2026 — Native Playlist: Kole Galbraith and Laura Ortman

Army Major Mandy Feindt says Navy jet fuel contamination from the Red Hill water crisis poisoned her family — and when she spoke out, the military came after her.In this episode of Urban Valor, Mandy breaks down what happened after her family moved onto Ford Island in Hawaii, began getting severely sick, and later learned they had been exposed to contaminated water connected to the Red Hill fuel spill.She talks about her son's health issues, more than 800 family medical appointments, confronting Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, filing for whistleblower protection, and the retaliation she says followed.Mandy also shares what happened years later when her son was mistreated at a military Child Development Center, the fight to obtain video and records, and why she believes military systems too often protect the institution before the family.This is a story about Red Hill, military toxic exposure, whistleblower retaliation, military families, institutional betrayal, and what happens when a career Army officer decides she can't stay quiet.Mandy's message:Take a mess and turn it into a message.If you or your family were impacted by Red Hill, military toxic exposure, or a similar situation while serving, share your story below.Subscribe to Urban Valor for more unfiltered veteran and military stories.Chapters:0:00 Navy Jet Fuel Poisoned Our Family1:29 Meet Army Major Mandy Feindt2:43 Growing Up in a Military Family4:00 How 9/11 Changed Her Life6:17 Becoming an Army Officer8:07 Afghanistan & Casualty Operations12:48 Command, ROTC & Special Operations16:25 Moving to Hawaii18:50 The Dream House on Historic Ford Island20:19 Her Family Suddenly Gets Sick21:20 The Red Hill Fuel Spill24:39 The Navy Said the Water Was Safe27:54 Her Entire Family Ends Up in the Hospital29:23 Fighting for Military Children34:08 Speaking Out as an Active-Duty Officer38:40 From Hospital Bed to Public Advocacy41:06 Walking the Halls of Congress42:45 When the Retaliation Escalated44:55 Confronting the Secretary of the Navy46:52 “Nothing in Life Is Pure”48:31 Investigated After Confronting Navy Leadership49:08 Filing for Whistleblower Protection55:22 The Military's Flushing Operation58:21 More Than 800 Medical Appointments1:00:48 The Psychological Trauma of Contaminated Water1:01:15 “An American Military Asset Poisoning Americans”1:04:47 The Red Hill Lawsuit1:06:51 Why Long-Term Medical Monitoring Matters1:09:39 The VA Finally Recognizes Red Hill1:11:20 “There's the Door”1:12:39 Why She Refused to Stay Silent1:14:46 Native Hawaiians & Military Families Unite1:16:15 How Does This Happen in the U.S. Military?1:20:26 Why Families Weren't Properly Tested1:22:39 Institutional Betrayal1:27:26 Trusting the Military Again1:28:24 Her Son's Daycare Incident1:30:00 Discovering the Abuse1:34:34 The Army Promises to Handle It1:37:08 The Same Teacher Comes Back1:38:01 Fighting to Preserve the Evidence1:41:48 The Military Says It Wasn't Abuse1:44:03 Why the Secretary of the Army Wouldn't Meet Her1:46:24 Parents Barred From the Hearing1:47:16 The Video Evidence Disappears1:49:39 What the Remaining Video Showed1:51:28 Military Daycare Oversight1:53:36 CPS Substantiates Child Abuse1:56:30 The Teachers Returned to Work1:59:02 The FOIA Records2:00:18 “You Poisoned My Kids”2:01:06 The Fight Is Still Ongoing2:03:31 Retaliation Over Protecting Her Son2:06:52 Why Speaking Up Comes With a Cost2:07:12 Her Whistleblower Case Is Substantiated2:09:43 Will Her Children Ever Serve?2:12:36 The Military Recruiting Problem2:14:14 What Military Families Need to Know2:14:51 What's Next for Mandy2:16:13 Turning a Mess Into a Message

Loved ones of a Southwest flight attendant found dead in Waikiki say her death appears suspicious. A congressional candidate is sparking outrage across the islands after using AI to generate a fake campaign endorsement from the late Native Hawaiian activist Haunani-Kay Trask. Plus owners of a beloved, long-running bake shop in Naalehu are vowing to rebuild after a devastating storm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does respectful cultural representation look like—and who gets to decide?Eva and Marcus discuss the protest surrounding the Hale Koa Hotel's lūʻau, exploring cultural authenticity, institutional responsibility and constructive engagement with Native Hawaiian organizations. They also examine the controversial Haleʻiwa welcome sign, Hawaiʻi's outdoor-signage laws and whether the sign reflects the community's broader identity.The conversation then turns to the upcoming election, voter participation and concerns about Hawaiʻi's mail-ballot system. Eva previews a future episode explaining constitutional amendments and Honolulu City Charter questions.Finally, the hosts examine the continuing legal uncertainty surrounding the Johnson Amendment and political endorsements from the pulpit. They discuss a recent legal challenge, its limited agreement and subsequent jurisdictional ruling, while encouraging churches and pastors to seek qualified legal counsel before endorsing candidates.This conversation is presented for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Questions or comments are welcome by email, and additional election resources will be available at HawaiiFamilyForum.org.Don't forget to subscribe to the FFF podcast for more in-depth discussions on social and political issues that matter to you! 

The wooden boards made by lifelong surfer and cultural practitioner Tom “Pōhaku” Stone (Kanaka Maoli) are heavy and cumbersome compared to the space-age composite boards most modern surfers prefer, but they are a connection to his father, a master board maker, and the generations of Kanaka Maoli surfers before him. Stone is among a growing number of Native Hawaiians nurturing the cultural significance of the sport at a time when many others are focused on technique, expensive gear, and image. Surfing's rise in popularity means pressure away from the spiritual and healing elements that are so important to Hawaiian culture. We'll talk with Native surfers about the origins of surfing and how that can map a more meaningful path for the sport's future. GUESTS Kaliko Kahoonei (Kanaka Maoli), waterman Tom “Pohaku” Stone (Kanaka maoli), cultural practitioner Sunny Kazama, surfer and college student at the University of San Diego Break 1 Music: He’eia [A Surfing Chant] (song) Halau Hula Ka No’eau [Hawai’i Arts Ensemble] (artist) Break 2 Music: Another Night to Cry (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)

Photo: Voters at the Black Coal Senior Center say they are voting for tribal candidates and those that support tribal programs like public transportation. (Melodie Edwards / Wyoming Public Radio) Voters in Alaska were not the only ones heading to the polls this week. Primaries were also held Tuesday in Florida and Wyoming. In Wyoming, some voters on the Wind River Reservation told Wyoming Public Radio that transportation to polling places remains an issue. Voters also expressed a desire for more tribal candidates and greater representation of Native culture in schools. Statewide, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, won her party’s nomination for U.S. Senate. In Florida, state Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, scored an upset in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, defeating former national security official Alexander Vindman. Nixon will face Republican Senator Ashley Moody in November. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Florida, also won his party’s nomination for Florida governor. California voters also went to the polls Tuesday in a special congressional election. Dallas Cowboys rookie Shiyazh Pete. (Courtesy University of Kentucky Athletics) It is NFL preseason and the Arizona Cardinals will take on the Dallas Cowboys this Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, you might see a Navajo rookie take the field at State Farm Stadium. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is optimistic for this season. “I'm even more excited today than I was when we started camp, that our team is going to be one that, if we can have some things go right for us, avoid some injury. We could really be something.” Among those fighting to make the Cowboys' roster is undrafted free agent Shiyazh Pete, who is believed to be the first Navajo player to sign an NFL contract. “I was quite, quite a specimen. I mean, really, didn't really have no one to kind of relate to in terms of height. I've always been asked questions of, you know, how tall are you? How's the weather up there?” Originally from Montana, the 6-foot-8 300-pound offensive lineman went to Shiprock High School on the Navajo Nation. He then walked on at New Mexico State University before transferring to the University of Kentucky, eventually signing with the Cowboys this spring. “It's a great honor – to put on the star is again surreal. But again, I have to earn that star. I wouldn't say I'm an official Cowboy yet.” But Pete has that chance to prove he belongs on “America's Team”. Robert Nutlouis stands in a completed hogan in Navajo Nation. (Courtesy WGBH Educational Foundation) A new PBS documentary is highlighting Indigenous scientific knowledge developed and passed down over thousands of years. The NOVA special “Knowledge Keepers” explores how Native communities have used observation, experimentation, and relationships with the natural world to develop approaches to science. The film looks at practices ranging from ancient sea farming and celestial navigation in the Arctic to ways of adapting to the harsh climate of the desert Southwest. The documentary also examines efforts by Indigenous knowledge keepers to preserve those practices and how that knowledge could help address challenges today. “Knowledge Keepers” was produced in partnership with Vision Maker Media and directed by Fort Yuma Quechan filmmaker Daniel Golding. It premieres September 23 on PBS. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, August 21, 2026 — Native Hawaiians keeping cultural connections to surfing

Explore APSC's My Family Audio Series A story-driven 3-part audio project about Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian families doing everything possible to breathe with ease and live freely besides the people we love.  Created by the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and APEX Express, and hosted by writer and activist Michelle MiJung Kim, My Family seeks to answer many of the questions countless families in our communities are grappling with today. Mass deportation and family separation are fueled by isolation and silence. With My Family, we aim to dismantle both with stories full of heart, compassion, and an honest look at the tangled paths many of us take to reckon with the past, rebuild our lives, and make a new place home.  Our deep gratitude extends to all the community members who shared their stories with us, even while painful to recount. Their commitment to creating stronger, more informed communities is unparalleled.    My Family Ep. 1: How did we get here?  In our first episode, we talk to Roger Viet Chung to bring APSC's longstanding Restoring Our Original True Selves (ROOTS) program from inside San Quentin to listeners outside. Roger is faculty in the Department of Ethnic Studies at Laney College and a founder and faculty lead of Restoring our Communities (ROC), Laney College's program for formerly incarcerated students and justice involved juveniles. He previously served as the lead instructor and curriculum designers of ROOTS.  We also speak with NC, Pam, and T. NC was deported to Laos this past year. Pam was deported to Cambodia three years ago, and T was deported to Cambodia six years ago.  Music from episode 1, as well as related resources, can be found below in the show notes. If you are an impacted community member in California or have a family member who is directly impacted by detention and deportation, we encourage you to contact APSC at info@asianprisonersupport.com or our partners at New Light Wellness and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants.   Music: Somleng Tro Khmer by Satiya, a Cambodian Australia singer and songwriter Pka Kompong Thom by Satiya   Resources: My Family Episode 1 discussion guide  APSC Data Report on Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Asians and Pacific Islanders Asian Law Caucus legal resources and video explainers for Southeast Asians facing deportation threats Eddy Zheng's story    Transcript Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:00:00] All across the United States, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is terrorizing immigrant neighborhoods. Every time I scroll on social media, I see horrifying videos of children being ripped apart from their parents as they get shoved inside unmarked cars of ICE agents. You can hear the family's cries for help, children wailing, neighbors and protesters yelling at the abductors.   The scene is [00:01:00] pure chaos, swirling with desperation and fear. I notice I'm clenching my jaw as I imagine the trauma of the moment that will last a lifetime for these families. But the scene usually ends here, and not long after I scroll away, I'm met with another slew of videos of similar intensity. But what happens to the people after this painful moment?   What happens to the families after the protesters depart? What happens when their loved ones actually get detained, get deported? where do they go, and what happens to those who remain? I'm your host, Michelle MiJung Kim, and I'm partnering with the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and APEX Express to bring you stories from families who are grappling with the impossible choices amid the cruelty and horrors of mass detention and deportation, stories full of truth, understanding, and lived experiences that are too often hidden or silenced. [00:02:00]   Tony (pseudonym): Even though I don't have no family and I don't even have no family over there, and I don't even know nothing about Vietnam because I left the country when I was 10 years old.”   My dad raised all four of m- you know, me and my sibling all by himself. So just emotion and everything rush in, it's just like, you know, heartbreaking.   So every time, when my dad come to visit me, he always break down and cry because he just like, feel sad that his oldest son is gonna get shipped back to his country.   Pam (pseudonym): My son bought a car for me. He bought a car. He's like, “Mama, you're not getting deported. I got you a Honda Civic already. I got you a car. I got a place for you.” You know how, that affect me when your family member bought you stuff be thinking they'd be coming home?   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:03:00] Every family threatened by ICE is different, with their unique traditions, memories, and inside jokes. But there are also fears and questions that every community being ripped apart shares, whether our families are Asian, Latino, Black, or Arab. For many Southeast Asians in the United States, there's one other thing in common.   Their families found refuge here in the '70s and '80s, fleeing unthinkable genocide and war in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Most have loved ones who didn't survive. The ones who made it out, around one point one million, are the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States. Upon arriving here, families were forced into impoverished and under-resourced neighborhoods.   Parents who just lived through war and genocide never got the mental and physical healthcare they critically needed. To survive poverty and attacks in their neighborhoods and schools, some youth turned to gangs and [00:04:00] crimes. After serving their time, they've since grown up, transformed, and found their ways to heal.   They are now mentors, parents, small business owners, homeowners, just everyday neighbors who, like most of us, take their kids to school and pick up groceries and call this country home. And yet, around sixteen thousand of these Southeast Asian community members are facing imminent deportation based on convictions from years, if not decades ago, and despite the fact that they already served their sentence.   Today, California is home to the largest Southeast Asian American population, followed by Texas, Washington, and Minnesota. And these families are seeking answers. How did we get here? What can we do to keep our family safe and together? And their friends and neighbors are asking questions, too. How can this be?   What can we do? That's where these stories come [00:05:00] in. We're taking a closer look at what happens to families after the headlines pass and the blaring noise quiets down. You'll hear directly from people who are living on all sides of this nightmare, all trying to do what's best for their kids, their parents, their loved ones.   Welcome to My Family.   As some listeners may know, the Asian Prisoner Support Committee based in Oakland, California, was born out of the campaign to support the San Quentin 3, Eddy Zheng, Viet Mike Ngo, and Rico Riemedio. The San Quentin 3 advocated for ethnic studies in the California State Prison, and in retaliation, the prison administration sent them to solitary confinement.   Out of that struggle, they started the Restoring Our Original True Selves, or ROOTS program at San Quentin, which the Asian [00:06:00] Prisoner Support Committee continues today, teaching hundreds of people under the motto, ” No history, no self. Know history, know self.” Together in ROOTS, community members incarcerated in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation prisons, or CDCR, learn immigrant and refugee histories, address intergenerational and inherited trauma, and build lifelong leadership and community skills.   Many ROOTS alumni are now mentors and counselors in California, while others are working in reentry, violence prevention, faith, and other community organizations across the state.   To kick off our first episode, we'll start with some context from Roger Viet Chung. Roger is faculty in the Department of Ethnic Studies at Laney College in Oakland, and founder and faculty lead of Restoring Our Communities, Laney's program for formerly incarcerated students and justice-involved youth.   He has served as the lead instructor and curriculum developer of the ROOTS in San [00:07:00] Quentin.   A content warning for our listeners that in today's episode we'll be discussing war and genocide, inherited trauma and self-hatred, depression, and family separation. Here's Roger.   Roger Viet Chung: My name is Roger Viet Chung. Uh, I'm from Oakland, California, and I currently work for Laney College. At Laney College I instruct in the Department of Ethnic Studies, a range of classes that range from Southeast Asian studies all the way to courses like race, gender, and sports.   In 2013, um, I had the honor and privilege of, supporting and facilitating a course for Asian Americans and others in San Quentin State Prison, and which launched me on a, a journey of understanding more about incarceration, the prison industrial complex, abolition, the way pipelines form. And since 2013, I've been deeply involved in figuring out how to work reentry, how to support those in custody, how to help people come home, how to help people on parole tell their stories.   Um, [00:08:00] and so since 2013, uh, I've been working for a program called Restoring Our Communities, which is a reentry program at Laney College, where we support the reentry of folks coming home from prison, jail, juvenile hall and help them explore their post-secondary pathways and dreams. In addition to that, I also run our Laney College, a satellite campus inside the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center, where, we work with, uh, young people who are interested in going to college, transferring to four-year universities, um, and, uh, reuniting with their families.   Uh, I'm a Vietnamese American. I was born in, uh, 1978 and, born in the United States, my proximity to incarceration and the entire carceral landscape you know, was pretty distant up until I went to graduate school. Uh, when I was in graduate school in, um, the early 2000s, I heard a story about a person named Eddy Zheng, who at that time was incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison.   We heard this story about how Eddy and two other folks were asking for ethnic studies programming at their [00:09:00] prison when there was a growing movement for education inside CDCR. Uh, we understood that, you know, that movement, um, you know, landed Eddy in solitary confinement, got him transferred, uh, to another prison.   And I think for me, that was my first moment where as an Asian American, I connected both with this idea that Asian Americans were doing time, but also you know, it intersected with my field of study, ethnic studies. And so, that was probably my first moment where I saw myself possibly in the work.   Michelle MiJung Kim: Before we come back to Roger, we had a chance to talk to Eddy Zheng about his fight for ethnic studies at San Quentin, the early days of APSC, and how he continues to support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community members. Let's hear from Eddy   Eddy Zheng: Happy New Breath everyone. My name is Eddy Zheng.   The importance of ethnic studies, Asian American study, [00:10:00] is really focuses on the long tradition of the struggles, that many of the immigrants and refugees, the people who came to this country, uh, for multiple reasons, right? Some of them came voluntarily, and some of them came as refugee because the forced migration as a result of the United States' foreign policies, and then many of the push and pull challenges that came from other, uh, countries across the world.   The long tradition of, of that struggle really is a internal one, right? The internal struggle is finding a sense of belonging in a foreign country or in a country even though we may be born here sometimes, there's still this sense of being treated and being respected as an American versus a perpetual uh, foreigner.    And for many of the people who were impacted by the criminal legal system [00:11:00] and by this type of oppressive foreign policy and systemic racism oftentimes people don't necessarily get an opportunity to understand their culture and history that informs their identity. So therefore as even I was learning how to read and write and speak English and to eventually to become thinking critically I have experienced the power of when I was able to comprehend and articulate the connection that I have, right, with my ancestors and my culture and the history that informs my identity.   Immediately, I was able to, find confidence and find that sense of belonging that I was not alone, that there, there was a long lineage of the knowledge, The connected point to, not only who I am as an individual, but then who I am connected [00:12:00] to, the rest of the humanity, right?   I think when we talk about that lineage really ties back to the 1968 Third World Liberation Front, when students and people in the community, the activists that who stood up fighting for the opportunity to have curriculums and, or materials that really teaches a more well-rounded history around, the makeup of the United States of America, So the fight for the Asian American studies, women's studies, and global studies was very important, as it continue to 1969 in UC Berkeley, and then also later on in 1999, where students are also facing threats of having ethnic studies and Asian American studies eliminated, from the university curriculum, right?   So I have experienced all those lineage of struggles to fight for what the basic academic right, for people [00:13:00] to learn about each other's culture and history and how that historically has been continued to also trying to erase history. when I was in San Quentin State Prison, then once I was able to start to become a thinker, then I realized especially after September 11, the scapegoating of people of color, scapegoating of people that who came from other countries is perpetuated within the prison industrial complex, myself and three of my friends, we were advocating for, uh, the opportunity to be able to, uh, engage, in this process of, Asking to have Asian American studies or ethnic studies within the prison college program, And so that, that was when we signed a proposal, you know, advocating not only for the opportunity, to study, Asian American histories a- and cultures, but other people's culture and [00:14:00] histories at the same time, and then also honoring the prisoners' rights, right?   To choose, what we want to learn and how we participate in the decision-making process within the volunteer-ran college program in the San Quentin State Prison. The outcome was the three of my friends who signed the proposal you know, Mike Ngo Rico Riemedio we were, uh, put into solitary confinement uh, for signing that proposal.   And then my other friend that, who signed the proposal, Stephen Liebb, you know, even though he didn't go to solitary confinement, that he, but he was punished as a result of signing the proposal. That's when the forming of an unexpected Asian American movement, right, in the Bay Area, which is the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, where volunteers and activists that who have heard of the struggles, of the activism inside San Quentin advocas- in advocacy for Asian American studies, ethnic studies, and prisoners rights, that they [00:15:00] came together to support us, you know, inside the prison system.   And so it's very interesting in that, the dynamic, uh, between, we want you to, uh, learn and we wanna give you opportunity to learn, but then learning and applying what you learn comes at a price, that's where the importance of why ethnic studies of Asian Americans are important because it allow us to gain power, right? when we gain power of thinking, and critical thinking, then there's this fear from the, the people that, who have power and don't wanna share that power.   And so that's why it's very important. So fast-forward to post-incarceration after… first of all, I spent 11 months, uh, in solitary confinement as a result of that advocacy in San Quentin. And then later on, uh, when I was finally released after, uh, being incarcerated for 21 years, [00:16:00] I've never forgotten the importance of, creating more learning opportunities within the prison system for those that who are still incarcerated.   Around 2012, that's when we, you we meaning that, you know, that's when I me and members of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, we started thinking about how do we go inside the prison and create Asian American studies and ethnic studies program inside, We were able to went under you know, as volunteers, we were able to go into San Quentin State Prison to participate, uh, in in this program called, TRUST. I believe the acronym is, uh, Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training, uh, which is designed to transform incarcerated men, uh, from social liabilities into assets, right?   So, Uh, while we were participating, we were able to get an opportunity to engage The participants who are [00:17:00] AAPIs to ask them if they are interested into creating a program where we're able to, learn about our culture and history, And they all agreed that it's important.   After about, like, almost like a year or more of kind of like a collaboration, brainstorming, and advocacy from within the prison, finally in 2013, I think that's when, we started the first cohort of the ROOTS program. The ROOTS acronym is Restoring Our Original True Selves, uh, which is, really came about as a result of the brainstorming of the prisoners, a lo- of many of the lifetime prisoners who were inside.    Because they felt that along the way they have lost themselves, right, as they were trying to find a sense of belonging.   So the goal is to, uh, use that as a way to heal intergenerational trauma that many of the prisoners experience when they came to the United States, and that ended up, making poor choices and then, [00:18:00] uh, involved in the criminal legal system.   that's when the first ROOTS program was started in 20, uh, 13. And then what is interesting was that when it started, I wasn't allowed to go in to participate in the program that I co-founded with the people inside, it wasn't, uh- Until the graduation of the first cohort of ROOTS, uh, that they allow me to go in to do a keynote speech, right? Because the participants inside, advocated saying that, “Hey, we would like Eddy to come in to be our keynote speaker at our graduation.”   And so that's when I was able to go in and really, experience this fruition of all the advocacy. seeing many of those leaders and participants graduating from the first year of the ROOTS program really solidified why an Asian American study is so important, right? It really focuses on, uh, for the participant to [00:19:00] learn about the connection the, to the ancestors and the culture and, and the history.   I mean, That sense of belonging they had lost along the way or for many was not able to learn in traditional economic environment, and then part of this is also even though the curriculum focused Asian American studies, but then it also connects to other people's colors of histories and how the intersection of that of that experience domestically, internationally, are connected to the same systems of oppression in, in that space.   I think what, what is also important is that once they were able to learn about their own culture and history, they inform their identity. They're able to also learn about other people's history, other people's culture that inform their identities. So immediately there's opportunity to, humanize each other And so that's why this is so important that we must engage in the collective learning [00:20:00] process that allow us the opportunity for collective healing. And when the collective learning, collective healing is invested and engaged in racial solidarity, that's how we can embark on this journey of collective liberation.   The ROOTS program is the first ever Asian American studies ethnic studies program in the history of the penal system, and then this continues on to today, right? since 2013.   Michelle MiJung Kim: That was Eddy Zheng. In 2017, Eddy founded the New Breath Foundation to help underserved frontline groups empower, heal, and change the lives of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community members with a focus on the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and those who have been impacted by immigration and criminal legal [00:21:00] systems.   Let's return to Roger and what stood out to him when he first started working in San Quentin.   Roger Viet Chung: I think when I first went into San Quentin State Prison in 2013, um, again, I mentioned I was born in 1978, and, um, you know, I looked across the room to people who were around my age, um, none of whom were actually born in the United States. And so I think there's this really interesting question that needs to be pursued around Southeast Asians, Asian Americans that have immigrated at a young age, you know, largely through, the pathways of war that make that experience so much different than a, an experience like my own, right?   Born here in the United States, but also different than my parents, who immigrated to the United States as adults. And so the 1.5 generation as we will frame it today, we're gonna be talking about Asian Americans, Southeast Asians, refugees, immigrants that came to the United States at a, a young age, you know, all the way up until their adolescence. We're looking at a population that has had significant experience with [00:22:00] social institutions like schools, uh, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools that their parents may not have.   This was a time in California where we began to see more prisons being built, more apparatuses designed to be able to figure out how to work with young people, mainly through the lens of punishment and deterrence.   And so I think the idea of coming into, a state like California during a political landscape where, punishment, prisons and tough on crime positions were being applied to both adults and young people is something to consider when we're thinking about the 1.5 generation, um, that has been incarcerated.   I think that as the 1.5 generation immigrated into the United States you know, through various refugee and immigration policies, you know, they're inheriting a context in California where they've already been criminalized and their pathways into, uh, juvenile halls, into county jails, and into state prisons are being mapped out, without them really even knowing.   In [00:23:00] ROOTS, um, which was an Asian Prisoner Support Committee sponsored program, everyone has an, a unique and individual story, but, you know, the more we learned about people's stories, there just seemed to be a lot of collective threads that, tied everyone together. so if we were to talk about the 1.5 generation, you know, like a common collective journey would be something like this, right?   You know, whether a person escaped from Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos a lot of the common stories were, young people were born in Southeast Asia during or at the tail end of the wars in Southeast Asia, and most of them were not part of the original refugee exodus, which mainly featured, the elite and the educated.   And so one of the collective stories has been that a lot of the 1.5 generation, who would have otherwise left at much younger ages or even been born in the United States were experiencing significant transitions in countries that, were returning from civil [00:24:00] war. a lot of that destruction and a lot of the, the trauma and those experiences, right, began right around there.   And when people began thinking about, exiting, these positions, whether it be for political or, or class-based reasons or both, one of the collective stories that we tended to hear very often was that young people were really able to visualize, remember, right, even today, a lot of violence, a lot of trauma, that, you know, really propelled their, either their escape or, their emigration Young people met, went to camps oftentimes.   If they left Vietnam, they were in the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Thailand. And if, you left Cambodia or you left Laos, you ended up in a variety of different forms of camps in Thailand awaiting for United Nations sponsorship. I think this is an important part of understanding the journey, because a lot of the one point five generation that became incarcerated were exposed to a variety of different traumas at [00:25:00] young ages that they still had kind of these vivid memories of.   And so as they, they left camps, you know, many stayed in camps for months, some even years. They were resettled into the United States, often in places that didn't have a lot of Asian Americans. And so at the time, United States refugee policy really asked all the states to share, right, some sort of, right, burden in resettling refugees.   And so a lot of the one point five generation that we met inside San Quentin, you know, their story in the United States didn't actually originate in California. Many of them were in Wisconsin or Ohio or Florida or Arkansas as their first stop into the United States before their parents did a secondary migration into a place that had more support, had a stronger ethnic community, um, and in some cases, right, just had, more protection against racial discrimination.   And so as parents, moved into ethnic communities and, and sought spaces that could protect themselves from racial [00:26:00] discrimination, the young students, right, the one point five generation didn't have, those same protections. And so many of them were enrolled into public schools, oftentimes schools that were underfunded and oftentimes schools that, uh, were in districts that had young people of color competing for resources.   When it came to that, that 1.5 generation, that journey into United States schools, was, I think, the beginning of understanding how to survive in a place where, a unique form of racial discrimination, a unique form, right, of class identity had to be navigated as they began their journeys in education, a lot of them feeling a lot of pressure to be, strong students in order to, you know, deliver their parents out of poverty. A lot of themes came up. One of the approaches that we took in the ROOTS program was looking at trauma.   We're not the first program to look at this, but I, I do think that it's a very important and interesting way to think about, [00:27:00] understanding the stories of people who are incarcerated. You know, oftentimes the, the narrative of people who are incarcerated is that they have committed an act that has traumatized another person, and therefore, right, their own trauma is something that we often either don't allow, ignore, or outright say, right?   “You don't deserve your own trauma because of the things that landed you in custody.” And so I think one of the projects that we really wanted to look at was to help people kind of, like, name their trauma, explore it, and, right, heal from it. And so when we thought about, the activities and the curriculum design, you know, we had people kind of, share stories of immigration, share stories of how, their parents came to name them, stuff like that.   And, you know, one humongous theme that came out in the ROOTS program was this idea of self-hatred and how much being in, right, the United States and being in places where you experience discrimination and you experience poverty led to really, really low concepts of [00:28:00] self and, , really resulted in, people, literally writing, right, reflections, saying things like, “I hated myself.   I hated how I looked,” right? “I hated my name.” Those are some of the themes that kind of were fleshed out as we explored the ROOTS program. And we wanted to take a look at, How that trauma not only would h-help people kind of understand their own trajectories more, but how that trauma could also be translated into, right, a more institutional form of advocacy for themselves and understanding how to do things like describe and explain, right, and be introspective about the things in their youth that led to, right, their incarceration.   Because one of the things we also noticed was that people were struggling to tell stories about their families because they didn't wanna bring shame, they didn't want to blame their families. And so, a lot of our 1.5 generation folks struggled with being able to tell a story to a parole board that kind of held their freedom in their hands.   And so being [00:29:00] able to have people tell their stories, right, to engage, right, some of the things that they experienced as traumatic, help them heal from those things, but also name them, , through ethnic studies concepts, through, history and through culture, was in a lot of ways, very freeing.   I think I'd be remiss to not mention that, you know, when we did programming inside ROOTS, there was a very, very, I think collective agreed upon, workshop that people inside wanted to do, and it was a workshop about gangs. Not just the criminalization of gangs and how gangs have become criminalized into the '90s, into the 2000s, but I think, incarcerated people, were really advocating around things like gang prevention. And so a lot of stories came out around, like, why people join gangs in the first place and, , it's not a brand-new story at all, but it was something that they wanted to explore and they were really, I think, very adamant about exploring among themselves.   And, you know, I think if you talk to incarcerated people, one of the things that they're so passionate about is [00:30:00] making sure their stories reach young people, which has also inspired me to go into juvenile hall to do a lot of work. But, one of the things that they wanted to develop, I think conceptually, was the idea of the migration to school-to-gang pipeline.   And, you know, whether or not the gang itself, should be conceptualized as, right, a protective, mechanism against racism, against bullying, against harassment, against exploitation. I mean, those are all things that we know, young people are looking for, as they join gangs, especially those that are immigrating from Southeast Asia or even, right, Latin America.   I think the folks inside were really, really adamant about making that connection and understanding that, not only their participation in gangs, but the criminalization of the gangs through that participation was one of the pathways that led them to places like juvenile hall, the California Youth Authority, the Division of Juvenile Justice.   I think the folks inside would, um, say that they need to be accountable to you know, the decisions that [00:31:00] they made and they wish that they were stronger about not making decisions to do things like join, criminal-based organizations. But, I think that there is a reality that, you know, there are a lot of social forces that, drove, that type of youth behavior.   And so, when we were in San Quentin, I think a lot of the folks were like, we need to improve this idea by, you know, understanding that, part of our journey has been, as 1.5 generation young people is , our responses to our trauma, our responses to racism, our responses to, disconnects between us and our families, particularly our parents, right, led us through a path, that was laden with policies that were designed to punish us.   You know, I think something that's really important that that I would wanna mention is, you know, the apparatuses that were designed to control and to rehabilitate and to correct youth, those apparatuses have been abolished because they didn't work.   And so when I think about the 1.5 generation that immigrated to the United States during a time of [00:32:00] heavy, heavy juvenile punishment, had they immigrated today, right, and, these systems not existing, you know, would they have done a significant time in state prison? You know, I don't know.   Would they been criminally adjudicated as adults? I don't know. And so I think that when we think about, you know, Asian Americans and Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders that are coming to the United States at a very specific time, specifically those guys we worked with in ROOTS, you know, history was just not on their side, and that's not something that individuals can control.   And so when we think about the situations that we're put in, I reflect on my own life about, you know, looking at people that look like me that were the same age as me and, just weren't born in the United States and had privileges like I did. You know, I think those are some of the things that, I would ask the community to reflect upon.   That, you know, we're looking at, such a traumatic and punished time in California and U.S. history to really kind of take, a broader approach and to be able to, you know, deconstruct some of the things that have happened to help understand the lives of people who, you know, are in ICE detention today   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:33:00] That was Roger Viet Chung, faculty in Laney College's Department of Ethnic Studies and founder of Restoring Our Communities. This is APEX Express. We'll return after a short break. [00:34:00]   NC (pseudonym): We were refugees. It was because of the, the war, the secret war in Laos, I guess.   Michelle MiJung Kim: This is NC. He grew up in California after his parents' harrowing escape from war and persecution in Laos. He was incarcerated for 24 years as a result of a conviction when he was a young person. He earned parole last year in [00:35:00] 2025.   NC (pseudonym): You know, I don't know for sure, but I'm just going off what people say and what they tell me is because- we were refugees, and we were hunted, and, so we fled, and crossed the river into Thailand.   And from Thailand we were, um, we were sent to the US. That's it.   When my, when I came here, my dad says, ” Well, you gotta learn everything here, know the language and everything, because this is your country now.   You're gonna live here.” So that's, that's what he told me.   Things were tough because my parents don't know nothing about this country, so they don't, You know, it's help was very, I would say, I think the best word I can use is help was very narrow, because we had, like, an…   I had, like, an uncle who knew the language, and they would help my, dad and my mom. And then, um, my dad actually went to a vocational training school to learn how to do auto body, This was in when we were in, in Long Beach, but they [00:36:00] came over to, uh, Stockton to open up a, um, garage, you to fix cars and do auto body. Growing up it was just hard because, you know, we were, uh, always poor and we didn't know how to adjust to the c- you know, the community.   America is, like, totally different, 'cause we go to school and then we read, write, speak English, and then we don't, we don't do none of that inside the house. So there's kind of that culture clash where, you know, the parents wanna teach you something and then you go to school and you learn something else, and then you're s- you struggle with your, um, you know, everyday life because, those are two different things   I was basically working while I was in prison, taking a lot of self-help classes and, um, earning certifications and trying to better myself, um, learning job skills. So when I, parole, I can, become a productive member of society. So while I was in, also incarcerated, I was taking college courses, to try to, attain a [00:37:00] AA degree.   So I was doing a lot of that stuff while I was in prison programming. My plan was… when I got out, as far as for work I would just like any job will do, just as long as I got work, any job will do.   But the goal was to continue my education, get my, uh, degree in, um, sociology, try to to open up a, a place and to be, um, LCSW certified, a licensed clinical social worker so I can help people, just like how, um, when I was, um, incarcerated, I was talking to, um, an LCSW so they can like, help you when you get back from this environment to the streets to help you adjust. First of all, it's helping people, and a lot of people, when you come out and get out, there's really nothing, like nobody's… the way I see it is, like- I don't see a lot of help, you know?   I don't see a lot of help or any [00:38:00] help, in my community that I'm at. I figured that, you know what? More help or help is always good, and a lot of times people… While, while I was in, um, incarcerated, you know, incarceration does affect you, it, in a way, institutionalizes you and makes you think a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way, and when you come out, you have to, like, try to adjust to, you know, the norms of, outside living.   When I was talking to my, um, social worker, she was giving me a lot of those pointers. So I was thinking, like, “Okay, you know what? This is something I could do.” I could help, you know, like, a youth who's been incarcerated or young people coming out or anybody of any ages from anywhere that has, um, cultural issues, You know, like, if they're coming from a different country and they're, they're coming to the US and they're having, like, cultural issues. it's just about transitioning from one place to another place.” when I paroled from prison and they told me that, I have a ICE hold, an immigration hold. And [00:39:00] then I wasn't sure, like, what that was, if it's happening or not. And then when they paroled me, uh, immigration came and picked me up and took me to a detention facility.    ICE came and picked me up at the prison and, um, I went to a detention facility in Bakersfield called Mesa Verde   Michelle MiJung Kim: We're gonna come back to NC and what he experienced at Mesa Verde on the next episode, and what happened after he was deported to Laos just four months ago. Right now, I want to introduce you to another community member, Pam. Pam also grew up in California. She was incarcerated for 16 years. Three years ago, she was detained by ICE and then deported to Cambodia   Pam (pseudonym): [00:40:00] So I'm gonna start it off when the day I find out that, um, I probably get deported in 2000… yeah, 2012. ICE came and see me, and they say, ” Well, we got you on record that, you know, you're on a list that you're gonna get deported when you parole.” So if I have any kind, like American citizen to prove that, you know, I can't parole, and this and that.   I was like, “Okay.” I really didn't pay attention. My mind was more like stuck. On that day, my mind was more like, “Wait, my attorney told me I'm not ever gonna get deported,” and it just, my mind is like wondering off, like, why is this happening now? So other than that, I started doing research. I just signed the paper.   I didn't even hear exactly what they told me because I, my mind's already like blow. So I just signed the paper. Didn't even know what I'm signing, so I just signed the paper like so they can leave me alone. I just [00:41:00] need to process something on my own.   When I finally process, I start doing research and…   But before I start doing research, I call my parent up and told them, “What's gonna happen?” And they, you know, and my parents tell me, “Just tell them you don't have a family over there. There's nobody over there that could support you, take care of you. You've been, uh, here in America all your life. There's nobody.   Nobody. So why they came and… why did someone send it to you, send you over there, and since you already did your time?” So it's some kinda- mixed feeling. It's a lot of mixed feeling as I can see there's a lot of hurt inside my family. I can see what they go through, and then I was like, “Okay, now just too much.”   So after I talk to my parent and then see how they feel about it, and I understand, and I do feel them, too.   And I do understand, and, um, ‘ cause I've never been really separate from my family that long until I got [00:42:00] locked up. So it's harder difficulty than anything. I don't even move away from my mom that far.   I live across the street. So it's hard for me to see that, I'm really, like, can't see my mom ever again. I started doing research for years and years and still, hoping that I could fight and why I'm in prison, but people keep on telling me, “You can't fight your case until you get through, um, the ICE detainer, and that's how you fight your case.”   And it's like, eh, I need to find a… You know, I started doing more research on the law library about ICE and, you know, about deportation, everything about the law. I did all that, but it's nothing that really helped me unless it's something against my life. So and I did more research about, like anything They say the only way you could get away from it is, like, something affects your life, something that danger you. It's like, it mean life or death. [00:43:00] But I even do research on that. They say if they stop the war in Cambodian… So it was hard. It was just a lot. It was just a lot of paperwork that I would have to go through and try to do the research and find out.   So I started talking to more about with my family about that, and then my dad say, “You know, I can see this is really stressing you out, and I can see that you're looking through a lot of stuff that don't help you to get out. But we still have hope that you're gonna come home to us.”   Michelle MiJung Kim:  Every person who shared their story with us talked about the family members and friends who supported them through these traumatic experiences, those who have stood with them in the darkest of times. Those relationships are what keeps people going, and it's no different for the person you're about to hear from, T.   T served his time in prison many years ago. After he got out of prison, he led a [00:44:00] full life. He got married, became a father, and grew in his career as a superintendent of a welding business, including jobs for the US Navy. And then one day, everything changed.   T (pseudonym): You know, I, I'd been reporting, uh, as scheduled, to the, you know, the ICE agent e- every, you know, I start out once a month, once every three months, once every six months, once every year.   And I, I, I've been reporting perfectly how they want. And then one day, you know, I, I came home and I went look at, check my mail and, there's a, a mail from them. So I opened the mail up and it tells me, the mail tells me they're gonna detain me. They give me a date to be there, and they say they're gonna detain me.   You know, I, and my, my heart just sank, you know. When I saw that letter- Mm … I'm like, “Oh my God.” And you know, I, I, it broke me down right there, standing over there by the mailbox. And then I told my wife and, , we [00:45:00] both, sat and, you know, did a little, a little crying.   And it's just like depressed knowing that they can, uh, detain me, that scheduled date that they gave me, yeah, it, it, it was tough. It's like a, a little… I think they gave us like a, a month or something. No, three weeks, half a month, something like that. it, it, it was tough 'cause I, I, me, me and my wife and my two daughter we, you know, we have family.   They, they okay, you know. yeah, I, I've checked in and, uh, they, they, they did detain me and, uh, of course my wife's all crying and, you know, my daughter, my, both my daughters young at that time. They're still young. They don't know what, what happened, you know. They asked my wife, “Hey, where's Dad?”   And you know, my, my wife didn't tell them what happened yet because they didn't, my wife didn't want them to, you know, worry. So my wife just told them, “Oh, you know, uh, your dad went to work. Maybe he'll be gone maybe a month or so.” She just don't want them to feel bad.   But yeah, my wife went through some stuff and trying to figure things out while I was in the detention center. and uh, [00:46:00] yeah, I got interview and got deported. and my wife, she was struggling at that time. She didn't work either because she's the, you know, she stayed home as a housewife, take the kids to school and stuff like that.   Michelle MiJung Kim: T's wife and daughter are now with him in Cambodia. He's currently serving as a staff member at New Light Wellness in Phnom Penh providing mental health and healing services to other people and families who are deported and separated   T (pseudonym): Yes. To me it's very important, to have someone to talk to 'cause when you're deported, uh, you, you already broken. you feel like you're a broken person, and, and sometime you don't know who to talk to because you're at a new, new place.   You don't really know no one, you know? And, uh, it, it, it's heartbreaking you trying to, uh, find someone to talk to. You, you feel like you're alone.   But at New Light, [00:47:00] we provide all that. You need someone to talk to, here. We, we, here you could pick one of our team here to talk to. You can go to the facility that we have over there and just talk to someone and just relax over there and just, you know, we, we have, always have someone there to help, talk about anything you want, to guide to bring closure, that, that's the thing, uh, about our team here.   We wanna make sure we have all that, everything Cause we understand, we understand, uh, being deported need someone to talk to, because that's what I, I did when, uh, the first couple years when I got deported here and I, I was so stressed out, and I don't know who to turn to, where to go.   Luckily, I found New Light, and I'm so glad, and I'm still with them now.   Deportation to me, I feel it is very cruel. It breaks families apart, and then it'll change the life and future of, your children. You know, it, it… Deportation, it, it's just a sad [00:48:00] word, it's just a sad word. It, it's just… It's like pain. It's a lot of pain, that word deportation.   It's a lot of pain. I mean, I, I… It, it's just… To me, it's just a lot of pain. It is just getting ripped off from your family, and affect everyone. It affect, you know, your brother and sister, your cousin, your niece, your nephew. You know, that's how, that's how I, I sees it,   Roger Viet Chung: Yeah, I think it's, um You know, I, I think it's important to, understand that, um, you know, deportation, isn't something that existed, since 1776, right?   Michelle MiJung Kim: That familiar voice is Roger, who you heard from earlier. Here's what he thinks about previously incarcerated people getting deported despite having already served their time.   Roger Viet Chung: And so I think when we kinda think about the logics of a [00:49:00] person who is serving a sentence and is being released by even authorities around in the carceral state and determining that they're not a threat to society, that they're no longer harmful to society, that they've done their rehabilitation in order to continue to contribute to, right, the nation and to their families and their communities, I think we have a very contradictory message where, you know, you actually have, a, a carceral apparatus naming a person as no longer a harm to society, but then, right, being deported.   And so when we think about these stories and, you know, I remember talking to a life term prisoner who has children who were born in the United States. And, he's going up to the parole board, and he has, an ICE hold. He has, you know, a mandatory deportation because of his conviction. He's asking the questions to himself, you know, “What do I do? do I fight to be released from prison? If that's the case, I might get taken to ICE custody right away and, [00:50:00] get my travel documents prepared to be deported. Or do I stay in prison so that my family can continue to see me in the United States, right?   And maybe, I don't do the types of things that are gonna win me my freedom in front of a parole board.” And I think those are the types of contradictions in the stories that I think illuminate the contradictions and, right, like, the problems with the way that we approach, deportation today.   There's, the idea of deportation, we often, I think because it's related to law, oftentimes, right, you know, our communities, see that as an objective or neutral phenomenon, that's always been that way. And so I think, when we try to get folks to kinda understand the ways that deportation and, you know, immigration policy, has been shaped, one of the things that I'll ask students, I remember being inside San Quentin, and I, I ask this of my Laney students all the time, you know, I ask them, “When was Immigration and Customs Enforcement founded?”, “What year was like the birth of what we understand now as ICE?” And, [00:51:00] students will guess, they'll guess, they'll guess, and maybe they'll look it up online, and they'll say, ” Oh, Roger, it's 2001.” Then I'll ask people, “Who's older, you or ICE?”   And most of the time, the people that I ask are older than ICE. And so I think one of the ways that we kind of approach this is, you know, by understanding that what's happening now is a, a very new and contemporary phenomenon immigration in its most brutal form, right? Or deportation in its most brutal form.   And I ask people, right, you know, “What was ICE called before it was called ICE?” There was an, a, an organization that existed before. And, you know, people will struggle a little bit, and then, you know, I'll say the initials, uh, INS. And then people will say, “What does that stand for?” INS stands for, uh, Immigration Naturalization Services.   And so you have this really significant institutional difference, just in the name itself around how a migrant is being treated and perceived. Right? On the one hand, right, you have enforcement through [00:52:00] ICE. But for the most part, right, immigration policy in the United States was not ICE. It was Naturalization Services, right?   It was about welcoming people to come to the United States, contribute, be taxpayers, right? And, become citizens, become naturalized. And so I think that's one of the ways that we begin thinking about how to deconstruct the idea that deportation is just a matter of law, it's a neutral idea, and that it's always existed in the form that it has.   And, you know, we know that the law that really is driving Asian American deportation or a- and other immigrant-based deportation today is a law that was designed in 1996. And so- The way that we see, right, immigration today is really kind of like a parcel, a very small piece of immigration history and deportation history for that matter in the United States.   And I think that's one way that I think helps people understand that you know, what we're seeing now is, a phenomenon that doesn't have to be what it is.   I'm lucky enough to be able to be [00:53:00] part of a post-secondary system that is, you know, one of the largest in the world and one of the most welcoming in the world.   I feel like part of my passion or my drive to keep going is I feel like there are some things that are still very much unexplored around this concept of re-entry. When I was in juvenile hall a couple of years ago, I met a young person who told me that he didn't have a good relationship with his dad.   His dad wasn't in his life. His dad has been in and out of prison and learned mostly about his dad through his sister, but began reconnecting with him a little bit. this young person had, a pretty significant conviction inside the juvenile hall which, like I mentioned earlier, which had it happened 10, 15 years ago, he would be in the California Youth Authority.   And, you know, he was telling me about his dad and, you know, there were so many things that felt like I knew him. He told me the job that his dad had, which was a very unique job [00:54:00] that is not very common. And I wrote who I thought his dad was on a piece of paper and I showed it to him and he said, “Yes, that's my dad.”   And so his dad, came to Laney College, um, joined the machining program after years in prison and got you know, a living wage job, in the steel industry, was able to buy a home and he was able to put his daughter through graduate school. but he never mentioned a son to me. And I left the hall that day and, I called him walking to my car and I said, “Hey, like, um, I think I met your son.   I didn't know you had one.” And he said, “Yeah, that's still a shameful part of my life that I'm, still trying to figure out.” And so I, I think that there's something that we're missing still. I think, you know, when in San Quentin we talked about, intergenerational trauma and the trauma that you can inherit from your parents and your parents' parents, and I think there's something here where, you know, we, we can engage both generations at [00:55:00] once to really kind of figure out some of this healing.   I feel like there's still something that, we as a team as a family and as a community are on the verge of understanding a little bit better and breaking those cycles.   Michelle MiJung Kim: I can't stop thinking about what T said about the word deportation. It's cruel. It's a painful word. It's a sad word that rips you off from your family. Many of our listeners are here because you believe a different world is possible, one that replaces isolation with kinship, trauma with repair, and loss with transformation.   You want a future full of families together and safe. That's the kind of future we at My Family want, too. Each story we share is not only a reminder about the violent systems that harm so many communities, but it's also a reminder of how much each of us is [00:56:00] needed in this fight for a more just and liberatory future.   There is so much pain and trauma in each person's story, there's also so much strength, resilience, and a steadfast belief in community and hope. I'm taking a deep breath as I reflect on these stories, and I invite you to do the same.   And if you're impacted by mass deportation and detention, there are organizations and advocates who can help you, from mental health and wellness to legal help and family support. In Northern California, where we are based, we encourage you to reach out to the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, and New Light Wellness.   You'll [00:57:00] find links to these organizations in the show notes at kpfa.org/programs/APEX-express. The music in today's program is by Cambodian Australian singer and songwriter Satiya. We'll include links to his songs in the show notes, too.   We hope you'll join us for episodes two and three of My Family, where we'll deep dive into what happens when our family and neighbors are detained, and what happens when they are forced to move to a country they've never known. Thank you for joining, and we'll see you next time on My Family.   I'm your host, Michelle Mijung Kim, and this podcast is brought to you by APEX Express and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee. APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam.   Have a great night.   [00:58:00]    The post APEX Express – 8.20.26 – My Family Ep. 1 appeared first on KPFA.

Photo: Firefighters, first responders, and law enforcement officials escorted the body of Leslie Washington from Ely, Minn to Duluth, Minn. and then the Twin Cities on Tuesday. (Courtesy Scorched Earth Services) A wildland firefighter from the Northwest Arctic community of Noorvik, Alaska died Tuesday. Federal officials say 41-year-old Leslie R. Washington worked for a Huslia-based company called Scorched Earth Services. It was contracted to help fight a 30,000 acre fire on the Minnesota-Canada border in the Superior National Forest. Washington and his team were in northern Minnesota when he died after an undisclosed medical emergency. In a statement, U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said the agency is “heartbroken at the loss of a wildland firefighter who died while protecting others.” Washington's wife told KOTZ news she remembers her husband as humble, kind, and devoted to his family. She said the loss is being felt throughout Noorvik and across Alaska. She said she was not ready to talk further. The Department of the Interior says it is working with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to support Washington's family, coworkers, and the broader firefighting community as they grieve. Scorched Earth Services says Washington's remains will be sent from Minnesota home to Noorvik. Washington was one of dozens of firefighters from rural Alaska communities including Huslia, Selawik, and Fort Yukon, deployed this season through Scorched Earth Services. Officials say more information will be released in the coming days. Washington was assigned to the Bear Trap Fire. Officials said Thursday it is 44% contained. Lisa Smolenska, left, hands a bouquet to a customer on August 9, 2026 in Eugene, Oreg. as part of a fundraiser to help the Warm Springs Animal Relief Fund. (Photo: Brian Bull) While crews mop up wildfires on Oregon's Warm Springs reservation, a relief drive is underway to help affected horses and livestock. Brian Bull of Underscore Native News and KLCC reports. The goal of the Warm Springs Animal Relief Fund was to raise $15,000 for hay, feed, and care for animals who have lost forage and grazing land. At last check, they had nearly twice that amount. The fundraising efforts are extending beyond central Oregon. Last Sunday, Lisa Smolenska sold bouquets donated by Charles Little Flower Farm outside Lox, Stocks, & Bagels in Eugene, Oreg. She raised nearly $700. “This has got to be ongoing because the animals are going to need forage over the wintertime as well and beyond. I don’t think we really know how long it’ll take to regenerate.” Warm Springs rancher Shana Johnson says she is happy that there is a fund. Her horses and cows lost 99% of their grazing district to the Beachcomb Fire. “When the fire started they all started coming home in groups, and there is absolutely nothing to eat.” Smolenska says she will do another flower fundraiser this Sunday. Tribal member Franc Fernandez, left, addresses attendees of community dinner as Sasha Ivan Sobolef of the Alaska Native Brotherhood holds burning sage on August 4, 2026. (Photo: Baiz Hoen / KFSK) The Petersburg Indian Association recently announced that they will be repatriating the remains of a 6-month-old Tlingit girl. She is one of three ancestors the tribe plans to inter in Petersburg, Alaska. KFSK's Baiz Hoen has the story. Stephanie Aikins is the administrative assistant for Petersburg's tribal government, the Petersburg Indian Association. She spearheaded the repatriation project, and at a community dinner this month, she said she has been working on this since last May. “ This is uncharted territory. There’s a lot of clan objects that have been taken and returned, not many who are ancestors.” The tribe applied for a grant to help cover the cost of the repatriation efforts through the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a federal law that requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal money to return important remains and objects of cultural patrimony to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Petersburg's tribe received about $24,000 for this project. The infant will be one of three ancestors the tribe plans to inter in Petersburg. The other two have been in the tribe's possession for over 10 years. One is a male estimated to be about 300 years old. He was found when the City of Petersburg was building the City Reservoir in the 1950s, and was given to the local high school. After it was found that he was of Native descent, the ancestor was given to the local tribe in 2013. The other, a jawbone, was found around the 1980s about 10 miles south of town on the beach. Aikins says the USFS had possession until 2011, when the ancestor was transferred to the tribe. He is thought to be prehistoric, based on the report. Aikins says that the remains of the 6-month-old girl are currently being held at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. Aikins will be among a group of three traveling to Seattle on September 1 to receive the remains. They will return to Petersburg on September 4, and plan to host a ceremony at the airport that day for the infant girl's return. “She has been gone away from her land for almost 100 years, and she will be back on her land for the first time on September 4.” Aikins says that the tribe will host a larger ceremony later in the fall, where they will inter the remains of the girl along with the two other ancestors already in their possession. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode August 14, 2026 — Live at Santa Fe Indian Market 2026

Winchester, Indiana's Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival brings together musicians from across generations and cultures, welcoming Native Hawaiian artists alongside performers from across the continental United States. Kyle Long visited the festival and spoke with some of this year's performers including the Williams Twins, 96-year-old twin sisters who have been singing and playing guitar together at the festival for nearly 50 years.

3 years after the Maui wildfires, signs that recovery efforts have hit a snag. What a new report reveals about financial assistance and employment. A new future for Sea Life Park. Details on the attraction's acquisition, as it is now under Native Hawaiian stewardship. Have you seen this large yacht recently cruising around the state? You aren't alone. Where it's from and why some residents are expressing concern. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Jo Reed and Kirkus young readers' editor Laura Simeon discuss three audiobooks for young listeners that use sports to explore identity, family, culture, and social change. In Medicine Wheels by Byron Graves, narrator Meegwun Fairbrother captures both the turmoil and the exhilaration of an Ojibwe teenager who discovers skateboarding—and a new connection to his late father. Eva Kaminsky brings clarity and urgency to Elizabeth Rusch's A Greater Goal, a gripping account of the U.S. women's soccer team's fight for equal pay and the solidarity that sustained it. Finally, in Malia Maunakea's The Shark Prince, narrator Noah Keawekane captures the humor and vulnerability of a Native Hawaiian teenager trying to understand both his changing body and his dangerous inheritance as a descendant of the shark king. Together, these audiobooks move beyond the action of skateboarding, soccer, and surfing to explore family ties, cultural identity, and the power of solidarity.   Audiobooks Discussed: Medicine Wheels by Byron Graves, read by Meegwun Fairbrother (Harper Audio) A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women's Soccer—And Beyond by Elizabeth Rusch, read by Eva Kaminsky (Harper Audio) The Shark Prince by Malia Maunakea, read by Noah Keawekane (Listening Library) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Roshi Norma Wong, a Zen priest of Native Hawaiian and Hakka Chinese descent, offers a Zen and indigenous perspective on spirituality and governance. Norma grounds the talk in an unbroken relationship to place and lineage, opening with the Hawaiian chant E Ho Mai, calling in the ancestors and declaring: “There is no human on the face of the Earth who was not… Source

A protest occurred over the weekend, claiming a hotel is misusing Native Hawaiian culture. We'll tell you where these claims stemmed from. Plus, it's been nearly 3 years since the Lahaina fires, and a new study shows that survivors are still struggling with their mental health, especially children. And he's one of HPD's newest officers as the department continues to step up recruitment efforts. How he was inspired to take this path by his daughter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Hawaii state official indicted in a public corruption case remains on the job—and continues collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck. Meanwhile, Council Chair Tommy Waters is fighting back after a judge ruled he cannot seek another term. Plus, the Native Hawaiian community is mourning the loss of legendary leader Kamaki Kanahele.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to practice detachment while staying deeply engaged in the work of collective transformation? What is the significance of cultivating a discipline of care? And how might we understand our breath as a foundational practice?In this episode, Green Dreamer's Kaméa Chayne speaks with Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi, a Native Hawaiian and Hakka life-long resident of Hawaiʻi and an 86th generation Zen Master.Join us as we explore the courage, wisdom, and Aloha that this timeplace of collapse is asking of us, and more.We invite you to…tune in and subscribe to Green Dreamer via any podcast app;tap into our bonus extended and video version of this conversation on Patreon here;and read highlights from these conversations via Kaméa's newsletter here.This episode's musical feature is "I am" by Beautiful Chorus ft. India Arie

Kaloa Robinson is a Hawai'i development leader from the island of Oʻahu. After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Shidler College of Business, he joined Stanford Carr Development, where he's spent more than a decade helping lead some of the state's most impactful projects. He currently serves as Vice President and Lead Project Manager for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, a transformational multi-billion-dollar redevelopment that will help redefine the heart of Honolulu for generations to come. Along the way, he also led the development of Hale Mōʻiliʻili, Oʻahu's first high-rise affordable rental community built exclusively for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and was recently recognized by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of its HB20 honorees, celebrating leaders helping shape the next 20 years of Hawaiʻi. In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hawai'i, his education, how he got started working for Stanford Carr, affordable housing, the new Native-Hawaiian housing in Mōʻiliʻili, the new Aloha Stadium project, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kaloa here:https://www.instagram.com/kaloaloa/Full episodes:

Why This Episode MattersThe Guys taste ʻŌkolehao, a nearly lost Hawaiian spirit made from kī root, and explore its unusual history and revival.Why Michelin retired its Green Star—and why judging sustainability is far more complicated than judging what arrives at the table.The economic problem facing bars devoted exclusively to non-alcoholic cocktails.A simple way to uncover better bottles and better values when restaurant wine-list prices are climbing.The BanterMark Pascal and Francis Schott welcome two of their favorite guests: each other.Longtime listener Kelvin sends the Guys bottle number 125 of 150 from an early release of Ola ʻŌkolehao. They taste the Hawaiian spirit, find notes reminiscent of Scotch and Irish whiskey and dig into its history from its roots in Native Hawaiian culture to its disappearance and modern revival.Naturally, a discussion of spirits aged while being agitated at sea gives Mark an opening Francis never sees coming.The ConversationThe Guys begin with Michelin's decision to retire the Green Star. Recognizing restaurants for responsible sourcing and sustainable practices may be admirable, but Francis and Mark question whether such broad claims can be verified with the same confidence as food, service and the guest experience. That leads to a larger debate about Michelin's expanding reach, changing standards and whether professional restaurant critics still matter in the age of online reviews.Next, they consider the wave of mocktail-only bars and why so many have struggled to stay open. Both believe serious non-alcoholic drinks belong on every good cocktail list, but Mark questions whether a venue serving only zero-proof cocktails can compete economically with restaurants, traditional bars and coffee shops already serving the same audience.Finally, Francis shares a useful restaurant wine hack discovered in Aspen. When the bottle list starts at an uncomfortable price, look at the wines offered by the glass. Ask how many glasses the restaurant pours from a bottle and whether you can order a full bottle of one of those selections. You may find a more interesting wine at a substantially better price.Mark then reveals he has been using essentially the same strategy with pizza since the 1980s.Timestamps00:00 Tasting the revived Hawaiian spirit ʻŌkolehao05:35 The history, disappearance and return of ʻŌkolehao12:15 Why Michelin retired the Green Star16:25 Is Michelin diluting its restaurant standards?19:00 Can mocktail-only bars survive?26:20 Rising restaurant wine prices and the by-the-glass bottle hack31:20 Mark's remarkably similar pizza hackInfoOla ʻŌkolehao Distillery https://thespiritofhawaii.com/Restaurant Guys' Regulars https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/If you want a chance to get two tickets to our Bourbon, Beer & Beefsteak and live recording with Sother Teague and Jack McGarry in New Orleans on July 21, 2026,sign up to be a Restaurant Guys Regular (our paid subscribers) here  https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/ Then email TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com. Put "beefsteak" in the subject line. We'll pick the winner and let you Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

At the 2026 hōʻike for the the Hoʻākea Source art regranting program, Puʻuhonua Society executive director Emma Broderick asked each awarded artist the question "Why art now?" as a prompt to share about their practice. In the first part of this episode, we speak with Emma about that question and about Puʻuhonua Society's mission to cultivate space(s) where Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi-based artists, cultural practitioners, and those rooted in the archipelago can continue creative practices for the collective transformation of Hawaiʻi. In the second segment, we speak with artist collaborators Malia Osorio and Kauwila Mahi about their Hoʻākea Source awarded project "Kaahupahau." Websites: Puʻuhonua Society, Hoʻākea Source Artists' IG: @malialia, @olapakauwila.wilz Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii  

Original airdate: October 18, 2022 What if one of the oldest living wisdom traditions could help us navigate the challenges of modern life? My guest, Kainoa Daines, is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, educator, and author of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living. Drawing on generations of ancestral knowledge, Kainoa shares the timeless principles of Hawaiian wisdom and explains why they remain as relevant today as they were centuries ago. In this conversation, we explore the true meaning of aloha, our relationship with nature, the importance of community and responsibility, and how living in alignment with these values can bring greater peace, purpose, and fulfillment. Kainoa also shares practical ways to apply these teachings in everyday life, reminding us that some of life's greatest lessons are also the simplest. If you've ever felt disconnected from yourself, others, or the natural world, this episode offers an inspiring invitation to slow down, reconnect, and discover a more meaningful way of living.

Big dreams and real help for local families, plus a new challenge for Hawaiʻi’s next changemakers. We’ve got a big announcement today: a campaign launch with a chance to win up to 100,000 Atmos Rewards points, and a closer look at support helping Native Hawaiian families stay rooted through homeownership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HFD crews remain on scene this morning mopping up and working to increase containment of the South Kohala fire. In Pearl City, emergency crews rescued a driver trapped in a crash early today. Plus, hundreds of Native Hawaiian families could be one step closer to homeownership on Hawaii Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carolyn Woodard covers the UN's first-ever independent scientific assessment of AI — and what its findings mean for nonprofits navigating questions of data rights, economic disruption, and who actually benefits from AI's rapid rise. This episode connects the global governance conversation to practical tools and timely opportunities your organization can act on right now.From the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement to a free geospatial tool built by a nonprofit, to two fellowship programs with deadlines this week, there's a lot here for organizations at every stage of AI engagement.This episode covers:Released July 1, the UN's Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI — co-chaired by AI scientist Yoshua Bengio and Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa — warns that AI is advancing faster than governments can keep up, and that the window for effective global governance is open but closing. The US controls 75% of the world's top AI computing power; China holds another 15%.The Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement holds that data about a community belongs to that community, not to whoever collected it. This principle, developed largely by Indigenous communities, is one of the most fully realized frameworks for data rights globally and directly informs broader movements like the Better Deal for Data (discussed with Jim Fruchterman last Friday). The Indigenous Data Alliance has an open application for its year-long paid Indigenous Data Champions Fellowship, open to Indigenous individuals working with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native communities, Native Hawaiians, or Indigenous Island Territories. Deadline: August 1.Beacon, from nonprofit DataKind, is a free geospatial platform that you can use to overlay public data on health, housing, food access, demographics - with your own program data, to generate maps and insights. DataKind does not sell your data, doesn't share it without consent, and writes its privacy policy to GDPR standard. As with any platform, consult your privacy officer before uploading sensitive constituent data.GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the EU's gold standard for data privacy, and it applies to your organization if anyone in the EU interacts with you, regardless of where you're based. Core principles: collect only what you need, be transparent, get consent, tell everyone in your database if you have a breach, and honor deletion requests. Note: California's CCPA/CPRA is modeled on similar principles, though most nonprofits are exempt from that law. Even if neither applies to you, these are excellent data hygiene standards for any organization that wants to maintain community trust.UBI (Universal Basic Income) gives individuals direct cash payments with no strings attached. UBC (Universal Basic Capital) gives people an ownership stake in AI companies, so they share in the wealth AI generates. Senator Bernie Sanders recently introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would give the public a 50% ownership stake in major AI firms. Anthropic's June 2026 Economic Policy Framework also proposed sovereign wealth funds and equity-sharing as potential redistribution mechanisms — acknowledging that the companies building these tools see real policy problems ahead.Two fellowship deadlines this week: the OpenAI People-First AI Fund offers grants to US community nonprofits in legal aid, community arts, and local journalism — no AI experience or OpenAI tools required, deadline July 15. Claude Corps from Anthropic places early-career fellows at nonprofits for one year at $85K; both fellow and host org applications for the October 2026 cohort close July 17. Note: host orgs must currently be Claude for Nonprofits customers to apply.Resources Mentioned:Executive Summary – Independent International Scientific Panel on AI – United Nations – https://www.un.org/independent-international-scientific-panel-ai/en/preliminary-reportIndigenous Data Champions Fellowship – Indigenous Data Alliance – https://indigenousdata.org/indigenous-data-championsBeacon – DataKind – https://explorebeacon.orgGDPR for Nonprofits – Whole Whale – https://wholewhale.com/tips/gdpr-for-nonprofits/GDPR Compliance Checklist for Charities – Usercentrics – https://usercentrics.com/knowledge-hub/gdpr-for-charities/California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – California Attorney General – https://www.oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpaBernie Sanders on the AI Sovereign Wealth Fund – WIRED – https://youtu.be/qJo12OP0xlU?si=QrXlo4bP5MiCdbrtAmerican AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act – Senator Bernie Sanders – https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-legislation-to-create-7-trillion-ai-sovereign-wealth-fund/Economic Policy Framework – Anthropic – https://www.anthropic.com/policy-on-the-ai-exponential/epfThe Atlantic: Universal Basic Capital revival – https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/2026/07/universal-basic-capital-ai/687759/ (paywalled; free account access available)Forbes: Could Americans Build Wealth Through AI? https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/06/06/could-americans-build-wealth-through-ai-why-trump-may-be-considering-equity-sharing-scheme/People-First AI Fund – OpenAI Foundation – https://openaifoundation.org/news/2026-people-first-ai-fundClaude Corps – Anthropic – https://www.anthropic.com/claude-corpsBetter Deal for Data – Tech Matters – https://bd4d.orgAI Acceptable Use Policy Template – Community IT Innovators – https://communityit.com/template-acceptable-use-of-ai-tools-in-the-nonprofit-workplace/ _______________________________Start a conversation :)Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.comon LinkedIn on reddit/r/nonprofitITmanagementon the Community IT websiteThanks for listening. 

A conversation with Laura Toyofuku-Aki from Project Koa Yoga and Kāhealani Collins from Kalauokekahuli about how each of their hui works in support of collective wellbeing and liberation. Project Koa Yoga educates, trains, and mentors a generation of resilience-centered health educators, equipped to reintegrate the people, land, and culture of Hawaiʻi through a trauma-informed lens. Kalauokekahuli encourages the healthy growth of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families by supporting and enhancing the well-being of birthing people, parents, and their infants with holistic, multi-generational, and culturally-rooted care. To learn more, check out our previous interviews with these organizations: 19. Kalauokekahuli: A New Dawn for Hawaiʻi 37. Project Koa Yoga: Creating Space for Belonging 61. Kalauokekahuli: Becoming a Koʻokua   Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

  The Death of a Legend at Kealakekua Bay. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. Cook returned to Hawaii in 1779, arriving during the Makahiki festival. The Hawaiians perceived him as the god Lono, and Cook played along to restock his ships. Tensions rose after the festival ended and a broken mast forced a return to the bay. The theft of a boat led Cook to attempt to kidnap the Hawaiian King, resulting in a violent melee on the beach. Cook, who could not swim, was killed by warriors. Today, a monument stands at the site, though it remains a place of controversy for Native Hawaiians who view Cook as a symbol of colonialism. The voyage concluded as a foundational event of the Enlightenment and a tragic end for a complex explorer. 81860 COOK MONUMENT

In this episode, host Ken Fong sits down with Dr. Jonar de Guzman, a board-certified Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician and founder of 4 Truth Health. Dr. de Guzman shares his journey from witnessing the devastating, end-stage complications of chronic disease as a Southern California hospitalist to shifting his focus toward prevention and reversal. We dive deep into why type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are quietly devastating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, often going undetected due to unique biological and cultural factors. Dr. de Guzman also breaks down his transformative 4 Truth approach—a sustainable, habit-rebuilding framework designed to help individuals reclaim their health and reverse chronic conditions.

A conversation about loko iʻa restoration and transformative ʻāina-based education with Hanohano and Maile Naehu, who are the head kiaʻi loko and the program director respectively at Hui o Kuapā. Based in the ahupuaʻa of Kūmimi on the east end of Molokai, Hui o Kuapā educates local and global communities about Native Hawaiian biocultural resource management through the restoration, use, and maintenance of Molokaiʻs loko iʻa (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) and their adjacent lands. If you listened to last week's episode and hear the first part of this conversation, jump ahead to 18:14. To learn more, listen to our first episode with Hui o Kuapā from 2021: 1. Hui o Kuapā: Restoring Fish Ponds on Molokai. Website: www.huiokuapa.org Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Today, my guest is Koliah Fuzzy Jardine. Fuzzy, as he's known, is the co-founder of HUI Mastermind. They empower Native Hawaiians and locals to build generational wealth through real estate investing in their homeland, the Pono Way. And in just a minute, we're going to speak with Fuzzy Jardine about his journey from prison to real estate investor.   https://www.instagram.com/hifuzz/  

A racial discrimination lawsuit by a non-Native resident of Hawaii threatens to dismantle a Native Hawaiian land benefit established by Congress more than a century ago. The suit challenges the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921, a federal law reserving more than 200,000 acres of land in a public trust for Hawaii’s Native population. Residents need to prove they have a 50% blood quantum to qualify for 99-year lease. The plaintiff argues he was denied a lease based on an unconstitutional racial preference. It is one in a series of challenges for similar benefits including school admissions and a health studies scholarship, all giving preference for Native Hawaiians, who do not share the same political protections as Native Americans. We'll discuss how the lawsuits brings issues of equity, blood quantum, and historic land dispossession to the forefront. GUESTS Robin Danner (Native Hawaiian), senior advisor to the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Association Elizabeth Ho’oipo Pa Nakea (Native Hawaiian), attorney, founding president of Hui Na’auao, and executive director of the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council Patrick Kahawaiolaa (Native Hawaiian), homesteader and elder Derek Kauanoe (Native Hawaiian), assistant professor of law at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Break 1 Music: Ke Aloha I Ka Pu'uwai / He ‘Ili ‘Ula Au a He Hawai'I (song) Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu (artist) Call It What You Like (album) Break 2 Music: Beauty Way (song) Summit Dub Squad (artist) The Beauty Way (album)

Photo: Nahaaygm Łagyigyedm (Spirit of Our Ancestors) sits ashore One Tree Island outside of Metlakatla, Alaska. (Hunter Morrison / KRBD) Wildlife across southern Southeast Alaska is emerging from wintertime hibernation, but in Metlakatla on Annette Island, animals are not the only things waking up. Canoes are hitting the water again, marking this year's start of a Tsimshian tradition that is tied to the village's history. KRBD's Hunter Morrison tagged along for a recent canoe journey, and has this story. About a dozen people are holding cedar boughs in a driveway on the outskirts of town. Seated atop a nearby trailer is a long, white canoe. David Nelson grabs his drum and begins singing. As the drumbeats echo through the subdivision, the mixed-aged crowd cleanses and awakens the vessel by brushing the cedar along its sides. The song's lyrics honor the canoe and welcome its paddlers. It has not been performed in three years. “We believe they’re like a living, breathing thing, so we treat it as such. We say ‘hello' to it, and when we put it away, we tell you ‘it was good to be you,' and we thank it for doing everything.” The ceremony marks the start of the canoe's spring and summertime journey. The 40-foot long Nahaaygm Lagyigyedm (Spirit of Our Ancestors) has navigated Metlakatla's waters and traveled to neighboring islands since 2013. Johon Atkinson, president of the nonprofit Liwaayda, says the organization's goal is to share Tsimshian culture and bring Metlakatla back to its canoeing roots, which dates back over 130 years. “So the whole reason why we got this canoe was to get our people in Metlakatla out on water.” While today's canoes are often used to educate people about Tsimshian culture, Atkinson says they are still important to traditional practices. Later this month, the Spirit of Our Ancestors will be used in Metlakatla to harvest seaweed from neighboring islands. “It’s that feeling of we’re going to be on the ocean, on the highways of our ancestors. And just that feeling is so comforting. I feel complete when it is canoe season.” Minutes after its blessing, the canoe is towed to a boat launch, from which they will paddle to nearby One Tree Island. Johon Atkinson, right, and family members cleanse the Spirit of Our Ancestors with cedar boughs before the canoe's first journey of the season. (Photo: Hunter Morrison / KRBD) Atkinson, who is joined by his son, niece, and nephew, hopes fun opportunities like these can help keep Tsimshian traditions alive for the next generation. “Having them experience this now is something that many of us adults have not experienced at their age. So the fact that they are here, learning and leading – there’s just no words on how amazing that is.” Atkinson says folks from all over the country visit Metlakatla each summer to experience the village's canoe journeys firsthand. (Courtesy Robert Nick family) Robert Nick was a man of the Southwest Alaska tundra – and much more. He died last month at the age of 84. His memorial service was at St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage last week where, as Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA tells us, he was remembered for a lifetime of public service. Robert Nick's Russian Orthodox service was fitting for a man who loved the harmonies of the Slavonic choir. He was known to pass out recordings of his favorite hymns to friends and fellow singers. For Andrew Guy (Yup'ik), president of the Calista Native Corporation, Nick represents the end of an era. “He's part of that group that came from having no electricity, no outboard, to where we are today.” (Courtesy Robert Nick family) Nick helped bring electricity to villages throughout Southwest Alaska through his work with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, an organization he helped found. He also ran a store in Nunapitchuk, a village near Bethel, Alaska where he grew up. Richard Jung (Yup'ik), who owned Jung's Trading Post, in the neighboring village of Napakiak, said Nick's leadership grew from the values he was raised in. “One of the things you're taught is to help people. You try to do what you can for your village and your region. And he was one of those guys that did that./ He knew that he could get things done and was one of the ones that knew he had to do it. He was just a fine person.” Robert Nick was very proud that he was the first in his family to receive a Western education and graduate from high school. That achievement became a foundation for decades of service on boards and commissions that focused on a wide range of causes: health, education, housing, economic development, job training, and protecting the Yup'ik subsistence way of life. (Courtesy Robert Nick family) His niece Karen Cooke Phillips (Yup'ik) says he was tireless. “Attending meetings, after meetings, for days and hours, and for continued years.” And yet, Phillips says, his home was filled with love, a reflection of his early life. Nick was the eldest of nine children. After his father died, he took over his father's store and helped to provide for his younger brothers and sisters – an experience Phillips says shaped his lifelong role as a father figure – not just within his family but across the region. “He has been in those arenas, leading in lots of different organizations and providing a voice for people from our region, or the lifestyle of the people of our region.” Nick had two twin passions, housing and education. He dedicated many years of his life to improving housing conditions in rural Alaska. Eventually, he became a national advocate for federal Indian housing programs and brought attention to the Third World conditions in Alaska villages. He also served on the Lower Kuskokwim School Board for two decades and became its longtime chairman. Steve O'Brien, a former school principal, remembers giving Nick a copy of Robert Rules of order to help him. “And he laughed, and he said, ‘Oh, I already have that book.' And he reached behind from the bookshelf, and he pulled down this very worn and earmarked copy of Robert's Rules with sticky pages and stuff. He was an expert about this stuff.” O'Brien says it is no surprise that Robert Nick was eventually asked to chair almost every board he served on. In 2014, Nick received an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (Courtesy Robert Nick family) Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, June 9, 2026 — Lawsuit threatens unique century-old Native Hawaiian land benefit

In this episode of CounterPunch Radio, Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Dr. Nadine Ortega, co-founder of Tagnawa Hawai’i, about grassroots mutual aid disaster recovery. Dr. Ortega breaks down the socio-economic and historical conditions that have led to the recent Kona Low flooding on O’ahu and the 2023 Lahaina, Maui fires, which have disproportionately affected Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and other immigrant communities. She shares stories about the importance of cross-class and interethnic organizing when state-run disaster response fails. Visit Tagnawa.org for more information. The post When State Disaster Response Fails w/ Dr. Nadine Ortega appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Recorded on May 16, 2026 at Boundless Mind Temple in Brooklyn, NY. Please enjoy this dharma talk by BZC teacher Sarah Dōjin Emerson. Sarah explores the teachings of Zen master and author Norma Wong about the wisdom of community and collective leading; and the teachings of Paula Arai on ceremonies of healing. Sarah's talk includes Norma Wong Roshi's chanting practice of calling in aloha through collective chanting, and shares Wong Roshi's connection between the indigenous Hawaiian meaning of aloha, and her Zen teacher's understanding of aloha as compassion manifested. Sarah reads briefly from Norma Wong's latest book, Who We Are Becoming Matters. Sarah also mentioned the podcast episode "Reverence for Death," with Prentis Hemphill and Alua Arthur, from the Becoming the People podcast. https://becomingthepeople.buzzsprout.com/1108100/episodes/19167987-reverence-for-death-with-alua-arthur Some information about the authors mentioned: Norma Wong (Norma Ryūkō Kawelokū Wong Roshi) is an 86th generation Zen master and a Native Hawaiian and Hakka Chinese life-long resident of Hawai'i. She is the author of the books Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in a Timeplace of Collapse (2026), and When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse (2024). https://www.normawong.com/ Dr. Paula Arai is a Sōtō Zen practitioner, Chair of Women and Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley, and faculty at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Her focus of study is the practices of Japanese Sōtō Zen laywomen. Her latest book is The Little Book of Zen Healing: Japanese Rituals for Beauty, Harmony, and Love (2023). https://www.zenhealing.org/

Part 1: NOAA meteorologist John Bravender is urging Hawaiʻi residents to prepare now for a hurricane season that could be busier than normal, driven in part by El Niño and unusually warm ocean waters. Part 2: Native Hawaiian education organizations say they’re relieved after Sen. Brian Schatz announced $46 million in funding was restored, but remain concerned about what comes next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KPBS Midday Edition is continuing to highlight local trailblazers in commemoration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.Among those creative forces is artist and curator hamsa fae, who stylizes her name in lowercase.Host Jade Hindmon sits down with fae to talk about performance art, the beginning of their creative journey and the landscape for Asian American and Pacific Islander artists in San Diego today.Guest:hamsa fae, artist, curator, founder, AAPI Emerging Artist FellowshipUntitled

Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide: Paubox. HIPAA Compliant Email, Secure Communication, and Practice Privacy. An Interview with Hoala Greevy, Founder and CEO of Paubox Curt and Katie talk with Hoala Greevy, Founder and CEO of Paubox, about what HIPAA compliant email actually requires, where standard Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 Business Associate Agreements leave gaps, and why most secure-portal solutions fail at the inbox. Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email security platform built to deliver encrypted messages straight to the recipient's inbox, without portals, plugins, or extra clicks. Hoala explains how Paubox wraps around the email systems therapists already use, why domain ownership and TLS encryption matter, and how inbound threats like display-name spoofing affect small practices. The conversation also covers HITRUST certification, AI scraping, the Paubox Foundations, the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship supporting Native Hawaiian students in STEM, and how to evaluate a HIPAA compliant email vendor on security, reliability, and ease of use. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide series. While this interview is a paid partnership, our discussion and opinions are our own. In this episode, we discuss: - Where standard Google and Microsoft BAAs leave HIPAA compliant email gaps - Why most secure-portal solutions never get read on mobile - How TLS encryption and secure email delivery actually work - What domain ownership has to do with HIPAA compliance - How Paubox integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 - Inbound threats, display-name spoofing, and ExecProtect - HITRUST certification and how to evaluate a HIPAA compliant email vendor Timestamps: - 02:18 – What Paubox does and why it was created - 05:19 – Mission, vision, and the Paubox Foundations - 08:38 – What HIPAA compliant email actually requires - 10:26 – The Google and Microsoft BAA gray area - 14:48 – What the client experience looks like - 21:09 – Inbound email security and display-name spoofing - 24:32 – Data access, HITRUST certification, and trust - 34:05 – Pricing, value, and the referral program - 38:43 – Curt and Katie Chat: Our Review of Paubox Guest Bio: Hoala Greevy is the Founder and CEO of Paubox, a leading provider of HIPAA compliant email solutions for healthcare organizations. Born and raised in Honolulu, he founded Paubox after a meeting with the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hawai'i revealed a critical need for secure healthcare communication. Greevy supports Native Hawaiian students entering STEM and technology careers through the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship. Learn more at paubox.com. Special Offer for Modern Therapist Listeners: Get $250 off an annual Paubox plan. Visit paubox.com and use promo code MODERN. Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/

In this episode, Candice sits down with Kolaiah "Fuzzy" Jardine, a former federal inmate turned multimillion-dollar real estate investor and co-founder of the Hui Mastermind. Fuzzy shares his deeply personal journey from addiction, prison, and hopelessness to building generational wealth for his family and helping others create financial freedom through real estate investing in Hawaii.   In this episode, they discuss: How Fuzzy's prison sentence became the turning point that changed his life The books and mentors that helped reshape his mindset and future Why your environment and circle of influence matter so much How he built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio starting with no money What it means to invest the “pono way” and serve the community ethically The realities of housing challenges in Hawaii and creating generational wealth Why asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do   No matter where you are starting from, this episode is a reminder that it is never too late to rewrite your story, rediscover your purpose, and create new possibilities for your future.    About Fuzzy: Kolaiah “Fuzzy” Jardine, co-founder of HUI Mastermind, empowers Native Hawaiians and locals to build generational wealth through real estate in their homeland, the Pono Way. A former drug addict and dealer who spent time in federal prison, Fuzzy built a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, including 100+ affordable homes and a $6 million rental portfolio. He uniquely teaches investing using Other People's Money and Time (OPM/OPT), making complex strategies accessible. Fuzzy's journey began from growing up with nothing, leading to addiction, drug dealing, and federal prison. His pivotal turning point came during incarceration, igniting his pursuit of real estate investing as a path to freedom and legacy. Through his unique experiences, Fuzzy developed the step-by-step HUI Framework to help aspiring investors ethically succeed in Hawaii's challenging market, proving that anyone can change their financial destiny. Website: https://www.fuzzyjardine.com, https://huimastermind.com/ Email: hifuzz@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InvestinginHawaii Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hifuzz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kolaiah-fuzzy-jardine-92388b13 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hifuzz Book: Priced Out of Paradisehttps://www.facebook.com/hifuzz ----- Connect with Candice Snyder! Website: https://www.podpage.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities-1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candicebsnyder?_rdr Passion, Purpose, and Possibilities Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passionpurposeandpossibilitiescommunity/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionpurposepossibilities/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicesnyder/ Shop For A Cause With Gifts That Give Back to Nonprofits: https://thekindnesscause.com/ Go to FusionaryFormulas.com and use code PASSION (all capital letters) at checkout for 15% off your first order.  Fall In Love With Artists And Experience Joy And Calm: https://www.youtube.com/@movenartrelaxation

This month, KPBS Midday Edition is featuring conversations with important San Diego voices to commemorate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.First, we dive into the experience of AANHPI communities in navigating mental health care and how cultural values, traditions and intergenerational dynamics can impact treatment.Then, political science professor Tom Wong has spent the last decade and a half exploring how immigration has shaped the U.S. KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sits down with Wong to speak about his work.Guests:Nellie Tran, community psychologist, professor, San Diego State University Department of Counseling and School PsychologyTom Wong, political science professor, UC San Diego; founder and director, U.S. Immigration Policy Center Resources:SDSU Center for Community Counseling and EngagementSDSU Counseling and Psychological ServicesNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Diego

Happy Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month!Chelsea and Wade discuss the first volume in the graphic novel series “Fighting to Belong”. This first volume covers Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History from the 1700s through the 1800s.Don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe, and leave us a review! Let us know what you'd like us to cover next!  Follow us here!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poddemastered/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodDemasteredBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/poddemastered.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@poddemasteredHave any topic requests, questions, or general comments? Send us an email at demasteredpodcast@gmail.com.Music: Switch Me On by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

After a multi-year hiatus making documentaries exploring the tough questions in America today, W. Kamau Bell is returning to stand-up for a new comedy tour.You might know Bell for his Emmy-winning CNN show, "United Shades of America," his docuseries "We Need to Talk About Cosby," or his HBO documentary "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed."On Midday Edition, we talk with W. Kamau Bell ahead of his tour stop in San Diego at Mic Drop Comedy.Then, a new young adult novel explores the coming-of-age story of Aouli, a young Native Hawaiian teen growing up in the Pacific Northwest, as she navigates faith, family, cultural identity and young love.And finally, there's never a shortage of things to do in San Diego. KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans shares all her top picks for arts events.Guest:W. Kamau Bell, comedian, documentary filmmaker, and podcasterKauakanilehua Māhoe Adams, author, "An Expanse of Blue"Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of "The Finest," KPBS

Diné author Brian Lee Young puts much of his own experience in his first young adult novel, “Shards of Silence”. Protagonist Derrick Hoskie struggles with a grueling class schedule, homesickness, and the frustration over his classmates' ignorance at a prestigious prep school. At the same time, he is researching the life of his ailing great-grandmother. It's a story about coming of age, identity, and healing. Native Hawaiian writer Keala Kendall offers a different view of what many vacationing outsiders consider paradise in the supernatural thriller, “That Which Feeds Us”. Lehua follows the trail of her missing twin sister to the secluded Kōpa'a Island Resort in Hawaii. She recalls the stories her grandparents told of their homeland, which is now a commodity to wealthy resort patrons. A series of terrifying visions teach Lehua an all-too-real lesson about the land's brutal past. We add both books to our Native Bookshelf. Break 1 Music: Wahine U`i [Beautiful One] (song) Linda Dela Cruz (artist) Linda Dela Cruz Hawaii's Canary (album) Break 2 Music: Traditional Side Step Song (song) Little Otter (artist) Side Step Songs (album)

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and with it comes a plethora of fantastic reads! Celebrate the diverse voices and stories within the AANHPI community. Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, romance, horror, memoir, or fantasy, you'll find books written by AANHPI authors that you simply can't put down. In today's conversation, Briana chats with Christy and Stephanie about some of their favorite titles within the AANHPI diaspora. There's no doubt that readers are hungry for more representation in literature; the significant surge in AANHPI books published in 2026 is a hopeful indicator for the future. Book Recommendations Next Time Will Be Out Turn by Jesse Q. SutantoBat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker https://www.oceanvuong.com/Intro Music by nikitsan

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 20! With Christina Baal Owens is a nationally recognized advocate and nonprofit leader dedicated to advancing racial and gender justice in the United States. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, where she leads efforts to uplift the voices and rights of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women and gender-expansive people. Before joining NAPAWF, Christina built a career at the intersection of civil rights, labor, and strategic communications. She's held leadership roles in various organizations that have promoted equity and representation, including key positions at the Service Employees International Union, where she helped to elevate the voices of workers—particularly women and immigrants—in national policy conversations. At NAPAWF, she continues this work by championing issues such as reproductive justice, economic equity, immigration rights, and community safety. Christina is committed to ensuring that AAPI women are not only included in national conversations, but centered in shaping the policies that impact their lives. Enjoy the conversation! In our conversation, Christina shares how it feels moving from Interim Executive Director to the full-time Executive Director, what NAPAWF is prioritizing, some future issues they want to tackle, and so much more. You can learn more about NAPAWF by going to their website NAPAWF.org, following their Instagram @napawf, or reading some of their research. AND you can of course Donate to support them.  If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

In this deeply heartfelt episode of Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie sits down with her dear friend, business partner, and “sister soul,” Barbara Roloff, for a conversation about identity, belonging, flowers, healing, and what it means to truly bloom later in life.

Send us Fan MailYall, this week's guest is a storyteller whose words don't just entertain — they heal, challenge, and stay with you long after the final page. Keala Kendall is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author behind Disney's A Twisted Tales novels inspired by Moana and Lilo & Stitch — and now, her powerful new book, That Which Feeds Us, is turning heads across the literary world for its haunting exploration of paradise, culture, and survival. She and I had the best time exploring her creative processes and I'm grateful for her inviting me along for such a fun and immersive conversation. My Mississippi self can even pronounce Hawaii correctly now! AND- ahem,  I had NO idea she was behind Twisted Tales with Stitch! Ummm- that lil guy is HOH in this house! He could have even made an unofficial appearance in our conversation.

A new documentary provides a portrait of lived experiences from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in America. Director Eugene Yi and musician DJ Rekha, who participated in the film, discuss "The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas," which is streaming on HBO Max. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Korean American Leaders in Hollywood) Sandra Oh speaks onstage during KALH Honors 2025 at Sofitel Hotel Los Angeles on December 07, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

State attorneys general have been playing an increasingly important role in American law and politics in recent years, as I discussed in my recent podcast interview of former New Jersey attorney general Matthew Platkin. Continuing the conversation on this interesting evolution, last week I interviewed Rob Bonta, the 34th attorney general of our nation's largest state, California.We began by discussing Rob's early life, including how he immigrated to California with his family as an infant, and his legal career, including his service in the San Francisco City Attorney's Office and the California State Assembly. We then turned to current events, including the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais; the 67 lawsuits his office has filed against the Trump administration since January 2025, including election-related cases; and Rob's own future plans, including whether he might run someday for the U.S. Senate or governor of California.I've known Rob for decades, ever since we were members of an informal (and very small) group of Filipino-American students at Yale Law School. Rob is now the first person of Filipino descent to serve as California's AG—making him an especially fitting guest for May, which is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.Thanks to Rob for reconnecting with me and for sharing his thoughts on a wide range of timely topics.Show Notes:* Rob Bonta bio, Office of the Attorney General of the State of California* Rob Bonta bio, WikipediaSponsored by:NexFirm helps Biglaw attorneys become founding partners. To learn more about how NexFirm can help you launch your firm, call 212-292-1000 or email careerdevelopment@nexfirm.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidlat.substack.com/subscribe

We're joined by the fabulous Keala Kendall to deep dive into the history of Hawaii, the ghosts of imperialism that haunt the island, and what Hawaiian Gothic looks like as we discuss her new book, That Which Feeds Us!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of family death, colonization, racism, enslavement, gentrification, stillbirth, grief, sexual assault, genitalia, and queerphobia. GuestKeala Kendall is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic. Hapa Native Hawaiian, her work explores themes of culture and place, drawing inspiration from her upbringing in the islands with a Hawaiian folkloric twist. Deeply committed to giving back to her community, Keala is also a cofounder of Pacific Islanders in Publishing and a past organizer of the Books for Maui charity auction. Born in Honolulu, raised on Molokaʻi, she now lives as part of the Native Hawaiian diaspora in Los Angeles.Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Send in those urban legend emails!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Today,  we talk with the head of one publication that's been telling stories of that community here in Colorado for two decades. We'll also discuss some recent big milestones in our state and the challenges that persist. "Asian Avenue Magazine" is part of CEME, the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange, a coalition focused on elevating the voices of diverse and often underserved communities. Annie Guo VanDan is the magazine co-founder and president. Nga Vương-Sandoval is featured on the May cover. She is receiving the Asian American Hero of Colorado Award, largely for her extensive work as the founding executive director of "Refugees + Immigrants United," a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to “empowering, advocating for, and celebrating the voices of refugees and immigrants.” And, we revisit the effort to make sure Denver's Chinatown is not lost to history. 

Following the Trump administration's lead, state elected leaders and private advocacy groups are taking on programs, scholarships, and admissions practices aimed at improving Native student achievement. An advocacy organization filed a lawsuit challenging a scholarship program that has helped support hundreds of Native Hawaiian medical students for more than three decades. The suit claims the program is unconstitutional. Another group is going after admissions policies at the K-12 Kamehameha Schools that aim to boost Native Hawaiian enrollment. Both challenges have far-reaching implications. We'll also hear about a report that finds Minnesota schools are falling far short of the goals enshrined in state law to teach Native languages and culture. GUESTS Healani Sonoda-Pale (Kanaka Maoli), educator and community organizer Gimiwan Dustin Burnette (Ojibwe), executive director of the Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network Jon Osorio (Kanaka Maoli), dean of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge Regis Pecos (Cochiti Pueblo), co-director of the Leadership Institute at the Santa Fe Indian School, chair of the Tribal Education Alliance, and former governor of Cochiti Pueblo

Chardonnay Pa'o is a Native-Hawaiian award-winning singer, songwriter from the west side of O'ahu. This Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-Winner is also a farmer and is redefining what it means to live rooted while chasing your dreams. She first caught people's attention wearing a coconut hat and putting an island twist on Adele's “Easy On Me,” with a version produced by Kapena that had people saying her voice was “so 'ono.”From there, she built a loyal following through her weekly #ChardonnaySunday performances online, leading to her breakout single “Hey” featuring Peni Dean, which went #1 on Hawaiʻi radio and earned her an Island Music Award nomination.Her hit “Stay Home” featuring past podcast guest Kuʻulei became a TikTok sensation in 2020, and she followed that up with her debut EP, featuring “Sweet Island Music,” which held the #1 spot all summer and earned her three Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominations and winning Instrumental Composition of the Year.In this episode we talk about her upbringing, growing up on a pig farm, her grandpa, the start of the music career, mental health, the recent Kona Low storms, upcoming music, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:

Kimo Kepano is a Kanaka Maoli High Seer from New York. He is the founder of The Light Seer Method. For more than three decades, he has helped people understand intuition, energy awareness, and personal healing through a blend of Hawaiian wisdom and modern science. Kimo has worked with over 10,000 clients and has been featured on The Travel Channel, Apple TV's Chief of War, and GAIA's Beyond Belief.In this special Keep it Aloha on the Road episode sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines we talk about his unique upbringing, his psychic abilities, living outside of Hawai'i, how he and Kamaka met, his relationship with his brother Pa'a, what it's like being a high seer, and so much more. Enjoy!Filmed at Totem Star:https://totemstar.org/Find Kimo here:https://www.instagram.com/alohalightseer/Learn ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi online