Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
Yokwe, or hello in Marshallese!
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a small Micronesian nation of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Under the Compact of Free Association, Marshallese and Micronesians may enter the United States and its territories freely. There are currently over 7,000 Marshallese living in Hawaii, making it one of our newest and fastest growing populations.
This page is dedicated to our Marshallese community as an access point for resources, as well as a showcase of HPIRC projects involving the Marshall Islands community. Stay tuned for more, including You-Tube webcasts and radio programs in Marshallese!
Partners
MaLo Marshallese Women's Group
MaLo is a grassroots group of Marshallese Women who champion parent involvement in their community. Together, HPIRC and MaLo are providing public service announcements on parenting issues on a Marshallese radio program, and collaborating on increasing Marshallese participation in early childhood education workshops.
Projects
Marshallese Radio Programs
Imagine arriving in a foreign land and finding your usual social support network gone or turned upside down. HPIRC is currently partnering with Chuukese and Marshallese women's groups, the Department of Health, Olelo Television, and KNDI Radio to broadcast Marshallese and Chuukese skits that address health and education issues. Members of these women's groups are are newcomers to the Hawaiian Islands, dedicated to motivating their communities to become more active in their families' future.
Acculturation Book
Voyaging Together To A New Life: A Handbook for Newcomers to Hawaii
As with other ethnic group newcomers, the Chuukese and Marshallese populations are faced with exciting yet challenging adjustments in their new home. The intent of this handbook is to provide an acculturaion tool for those from the Freely Associated States. The handbook includes:
- The important role of the family in the home and at school;
- Caring for children;
- Child safety in the home and in the community;
- Hawaii laws; and
- Low-or no-cost resources
This project is a partnership between: Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Community Services; Department of Health; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; and Goodwill Industries of Hawaii.
