Pacific Islander Initiative at UC Berkeley

Are you an incoming student who’s interested in connecting with the Pacific Islander Initiative this summer? We’d love to meet you!

Schedule an in-person or virtual chat with one of our staff to learn more about our programs, our team, and the Pacific Islander Community Office [PICO].

Scan the QR codes or visit the links in our bio to book time together. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

We are incredibly honored to share our program for 2026 Pasifika Graduation: a ceremony and reception honoring our graduating students, their loved ones, and the communities they rise from. This year, we celebrate:

* Joshua Alcantara
* Atheena Keanani Arasoo
* Henrietta Cakobau
* Jada Ku’ulei Lee
* Athan Mallios
* Adam Mapuatuli
* Isabel Prasad
* Jadalyn Tedtaotao
* Aislynn Unga
* Ezra Veloria
* Richard Villagomez

Doors Open: 2:00pm | Program Starts: 2:30pm

📍 Alumni House Patio | This is an outdoors venue. We are expecting sunny weather with temperatures ranging between high-60s °F to low-70 °F. All seating will be on the outdoors patio. Consider bringing sunglasses, and/or sunscreen as well as a light to medium jacket.

🌺 Attire | Cultural

🎟️ Admission | While tickets are not required for admission to Pasifika Graduation, seating capacity is limited and a seating chart will be provided. Please note that seating is reserved for graduates, Pasifika Graduation speakers and their invited guests. 

Standing room is available for those who would like to join who are not a graduate, a Pasifika Graduation speaker, or a part of their invited guests lists. 

⚠️ Road Closures & Parking
Roads surrounding the campus will be congested throughout the day. Please plan accordingly.
* Most roads will be closed between 7:30 am - 1 pm.
* We highly recommend you take public transit. Visit 511.org for train, bus, and other options. 
* If you need to drive, you may purchase prepaid parking spots. If these are sold out, visit the Parking & Transportation website for alternatives.

🌐 Visit cejce.berkeley.edu/PasifikaGrad for more information.

The background motif design of the first graphic in this carousel is by ❤️‍🔥

Join us on Wednesday, May 6th from 12:00pm - 2:00pm for a Pasifika Study Jam. Study, listen to music, and hang out with other Pasifika students as we ramp up for finals and end the school year out.

Refreshments will be provided as our last food distribution!!

Join us for a a lunch and talk-story with UC Berkeley alumni, Thomas Mangloña II about student activism, Pacific Islanders in journalism, and growing home. Lunch will be provided.

📆 Thursday, May 7, 2026
⏰ 12pm-2pm
📍 Hearst Field Annex C-10, UC Berkeley
🔗 RSVP through the link in our bio (linktr.ee/calpiinitiative)

Thomas Mangloña II is a journalist from the island of Rota in the CNMI, with experience in local, regional, and national newsrooms. He is a multi-media journalist who produces, shoots, and edits daily content. His journalism career started in middle school after he noticed his home island was severely underrepresented in the news. He wanted to change that and started his own media outlet to tell his community’s stories. Thomas hasn’t stopped writing since then. He is the founder and owner of Marianas Press and graduated from UC Berkeley and Stanford as a Gates Scholar and Truman Scholar. Thomas alongside fellow PI students formed the Pacific Islander Initiative.

Contact us at [email protected] for questions and concerns.

Calling all registered participants to check your email for all information for all things OMACh, including: arrival details, what to bring, parking information, accessibility resources, and additional contact information. Also feel free to DM us for any questions you may have!

Additionally, if you are no longer able to attend, we asked that you let us know via email or through Google Calendar event invitation.

If you have yet to register, please do so at cejce.berkeley.edu/omaoch, using the QR code above, or by using the link in bio.

Please note: Day of registration is limited and not guaranteed. Please arrive promptly, entry to the conference and entry to workshops will not be permitted for those who arrive after 10:45 AM.

We look forward to seeing you this Saturday! 🌊🤎

We’re almost at capacity! Register today to secure your spot at How Our Waters Remember - our 6th Annual OMAOCh Conference 🌊

Check out just ~ some ~ of our amazing giveaways. S/o to , and for working with us to offer these items ❤️‍🔥

We have a few more giveaways in store, but you’ll just have to come to the conference to find out what they are 🤫

🔗 Register using the link in our bio. This event is free of cost!

    📆 Date | Saturday, April 25th, 2026
    ⏰ Time | 10:00am - 6:00pm
    📍 Location | UC Berkeley campus. 

This year’s theme “How Our Waters Remember” calls on us to reflect on our experiences, understand how they have been shaped by our ancestors, and build power to cast new ripples toward a liberated future for all.

Join us for a day of speakers, workshops + activities on topics such as PI Studies, higher education, social justice, Pasifika identity, and more! Meals are provided throughout the day. 

For accommodations and any other questions/concerns, please email [email protected]

Please join us in celebrating our April/May birthdays tomorrow in the Pacific Island Community Office (PICO) from 2pm-4pm.

We know theres an uptick in stress and devastation due to climate change and natural disasters happening in our Pacific. Feel free to utilize our space to enjoy a sweet treat and lean on community! 🧁

We are pleased to announce our Keynote Speaker for OMAOCh 2026: How Our Waters Remember — Dr. David Ga’oupu Matthew Palaita! ❤️‍🔥🌊

Dr. David Ga’oupu Matthew Palaita, Ph.D., is professor of Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies and Ethnic Studies at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF).  He is Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at CCSF.  He earned a Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Geography from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Masters and doctoral degrees in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.  Dr. Palaita’s academic career spans several colleges and universities across the U.S., building curriculum, giving lectures, teaching, and developing Critical Pacific Islands Studies programs centered on the lives of U.S. diasporic Pacific Islander/Oceania communities.  His work on Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies extends into K-12 school districts in California and into the San Francisco County jails bringing Pasefika knowledge and educational opportunities to justice-impacted students.    He is currently editing his dissertation for publication entitled, “VĀSĀ (Ocean): The Space that is Sacred: Pacific Islanders in Higher Education.”

Learn more about this year’s OMAOCh conference by visiting cejce.berkeley.edu/omaoch (link in bio)

    📆 Date | Saturday, April 25th, 2026
    ⏰ Time | 10:00am - 6:00pm
    📍 Location | UC Berkeley campus. 

🔗 Registration is required. Register using the link in our bio as space is limited. This event is free of cost!

This year’s theme “How Our Waters Remember”calls on us to reflect on our experiences, understand how they have been shaped by our ancestors, and build power to cast new ripples toward a liberated future for all.

Join us for a day of speakers, workshops + activities on topics such as PI Studies, higher education, social justice, Pasifika identity, and more! Meals are provided throughout the day. 

For accommodations and any other questions/concerns, please email [email protected]

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our workshop organizers for OMAOCh 2026: How Our Waters Remember!

Meet Kalisi Biaukula 🌊 Kerri Ann “Ifit” Na’puti Borja 🌊 Jason Finau 🌊 Maya Toluk Ito 🌊 Tupou Lātūkefu 🌊 Kekoa Lopez-Paguyo 🌊 Tamia Maree Newman 🌊 Cecilia Otuhiva 🌊 Chris V. Pangelina 🌊 Noelle Patawaran 🌊 Laila Soakai-Zovich 🌊 and Melia Webster!

Learn more about this year’s amazing crew and register for OMAOCh today by visiting cejce.berkeley.edu/omaoch (link in bio).

📆 Date | Saturday, April 25th, 2026
⏰ Time | 10:00am - 6:00pm
📍 Location | UC Berkeley campus.

🔗 Registration is required. Register using the link in our bio as space is limited. This event is free of cost!

This year’s theme “How Our Waters Remember”calls on us to reflect on our experiences, understand how they have been shaped by our ancestors, and build power to cast new ripples toward a liberated future for all

Join us for a day of speakers, workshops + activities on topics such as PI Studies, higher education, social justice, Pasifika identity, and more! Meals are provided throughout the day.

For accommodations and any other questions/concerns, please email [email protected]

Join us for a QTPI (Q***r & Trans Pacific Islander) family dinner on Thursday, April 9th from 5:00–6:30 PM. Open to all undergraduate and graduate/professional students.

RSVP in bio