Intercultural Day 2000

HPU celebrates its cultural diversity
Fort Street Mall will come alive in colorful pageantry as students from more than 100 countries celebrate
Hawaii Pacific University's 16th annual Intercultural Day on Friday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Council of Countries, a student organization at HPU, the event is a daylong festival that
spotlights the students' heritage and customs through exhibits, a parade, and performances. This event is free
and open to the public.

This premiere multicultural event provides students with a chance to share their cultures
with fellow students and the community through performances, demonstrations, and traditional costumes.

This year HPU will celebrate 35 successful years of educating students from Hawaii and the world. Intercultural
Day is one of several prominent events planned for the year to help celebrate the University's growth and diversity
with the entire community.

Various student clubs volunteer their efforts to present a rainbow of cultural activities through a parade,
exhibits of country products, and performances of song and dance in traditional art forms.

Cultural exhibits will begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Educational exhibits will feature
information about the various countries represented within HPU's student population. A colorful parade
featuring students in traditional costume will begin at 12:45 p.m. Marchers will proceed down the length of
Fort Street Mall to Merchant and Bishop street. Performances of traditional dances and music, preceded by
brief excerpt about each country, will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m.

"Intercultural Day is a day set aside at Hawaii Pacific University when all students are encouraged to celebrate
their heritage through cultural exhibits, a parade, and lively musical performances. This day provides an
opportunity for all students and the community to experience and learn from the cultural diversity that prevails
at Hawaii Pacific University," said Ann Newton, director of International Student Services.

Intercultural Day was created to provide students with an opportunity to share and to participate in cultures other
than their own. HPU students represent many ideas, values, and perspectives, as well as cultures and nations.
This diversity in cultures is recognized in various ways throughout the year on campus and throughout the community.

Intercultural Day requires that students work together outside the restrictions of the classroom. Students direct, perform,
and display what is often taken for granted - their culture. In the process of sharing and expressing who they are and
who they represent, students are able to expand their own individual identities in a global context.

For some, Intercultural Day is a lesson in leadership. HPU alumnus Thomas Kam is president of East West Travel in
Honolulu. As president of the student organization responsible for the planning and preparation of Intercultural Day
back in 1987, Kam saw the event to be a great way to hone his leadership skills.

"The experience gave me lots of exposure and contact with students from other countries. It's a great extracurricular
activity that boosts your leadership and organizational skills," said Kam. The event also helps students as well
as the community to learn more about other cultures, he added.

The event is also a good icebreaker for new students on campus, according to Jose Cosials, International Student
Services advisor. "Students are able to share their cultural life back home with other people," he said.

HPU student and Samoa-native Fagatogo Satoa understands the importance of the sharing of cultures. "There has been
an oppression on the primitive cultures where there's a lot of western influences," said Satoa. "Our goal, in the Samoan
community, is to continue to preserve and keep our culture in tact. We need to protect the peace and harmony among
the Samoan people and educate the younger generation through the understanding of family genealogy, songs,
proverbs, and dance."

"Our Pacific Island clubs, like the Samoan Student Association, are highly visible in the Intercultural Day festivities,"
said Newton. "They are enthusiastic about sharing their culture with the community and represent pride when they participate
in the day's events."

Adds Satoa: "HPU has a unique global village. HPU gives students like me a real sense of place away from home."



HPU Students from the Kingdom of Tonga exhibit their island crafts and traditional mats.


Pacific Times Magazine publisher Norbert Perez is shown here with HPU students from Indonesia.

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