Needs Statement

Cultural differences between Micronesia and Hawai‘i in the areas of medical care, employment, education, and laws, compounded with the unfamiliarity with navigating Hawai‘i’s systems and services, have led to the numerous challenges facing the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i. Among these challenges are homelessness, the highest number of student truancy, lack of job readiness skills, increasing numbers of children in child welfare services, and increasing numbers of juvenile and adult incarcerations. In 2007 an organization called the Micronesian Cultural Awareness Project (MCAP) was established and funded by the Office of Community Services to address the need to acculturate the State of Hawai‘i agencies to the Micronesian community, with the focus on the Department of Education (Personal Communication J.H, 12/1/2014). The demand was high and over the past 10 years, MCAP has provided over 70 cultural awareness training to State agencies, churches, service providers, and communities statewide (personal communication J.H., 12/1/2014)

Affect on Hawai‘i

According to a report by the US Government Accountability Office/DOI, Hawai‘i spent over $628 million on services for compact migrants from 2004-2010 (approximately 108% increase), with the largest expenses being education and health services. However, during this period only $75 million in compact impact grants were given to Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i has the second largest number of compact migrants in the United States.

CONTACT US

Admin Phone: (808) 754-7303

Services Phone: (808) 913-1364

Fax: (808) 441-0133

Email: contact@weareoceania.org

Address: 720 North King Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817

WE ARE OCEANIA (WAO)

We Are Oceania (WAO), a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity serving the Micronesian and Pacific Island communities throughout the State, is aimed at centralizing the support system for all Micronesian communities, families, and individuals in Hawai‘i.

Copyright © 2019 We Are Oceania (WAO). All Rights Reserved.