2021 Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Internship

Originally shared July 2021

Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow is an eight-week internship program hosted by Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Pacific Islander Initiative at UC Berkeley, and AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund. We have been deeply inspired by the cohort of young leaders, who individually and collectively took a deep political education dive into intersectional topics that centered their Pacific Islander identities. They graduate today and continue their powerful journeys. The interns are guided by the Co-PILOTs, 2020 Civic Engagement Fellows who returned to facilitate daily sessions and model nurturing leadership.

Meet the PILOT Interns

Fa’afatiatama’i Puapae Folau

Fa’afatiatama’i is of Samoan descent. She is a recent graduate from UCLA as a History major (Pacific Studies). Her hobbies include playing the ukulele and the keyboard. She will continue her voyage at the University of Utah for her Masters in History (Pacific Studies).

Gabby Lupola

“ I am Chamorro & Italian, a recent Pomona College graduate, and live in Oceanside, CA. I am excited to share space with my PILOT cohort as I start my journey at UCLA in the fall to get my master’s in Asian American Studies.”

Henrietta Fonua

“I am approaching my fourth year at UC Davis, & am majoring in Human Development with a minor in Psychology. I am Tongan & Sāmoan, raised here in the states. I am excited to learn & unlearn to help our PI community grow & further develop!”

Joy Kavapalu

Joy is a senior studying Health, Society and Policy & International Studies at the University of Utah. As a daughter of Tongan-Fijian immigrants, Joy is passionate about helping fellow underrepresented students access higher education and engage in community-based work.

Keoni Rodriguez

Keoni is a Hawaiian student at Stanford (BA ʻ22, MAʻ23) and WCC (AA ʻ23). Dedicated to the revitalization of Pacific Islander histories, stories and futurities, they are the eldest of four siblings of John and Laryna Rodriguez, they were born and raised in San Diego, CA.

Malia Ma’u

“My roots come from the island of Tonga, I am currently a fourth-year transfer student transitioning to my fifth year at UC Riverside majoring in Ethnic Studies and minoring in Media & Cultural Studies.”

Marianne Siulangapo

Marianne was born in Yelamu (San Francisco) on the unceded territory of the Ohlone people to two Tongan immigrants. She is finishing her second year at the College of San Mateo where she is interested in ethnic studies and history. She aspires to be a teacher.

Patricia Marica Tagilala Gasaiwai

“I am a 4th year Media & Cultural Studies major at UC Riverside. I currently work for Asian Pacific Student Programs as a Student Program Coordinator and I am the President of Pacific Islander Student Association.”

Ratu Orisi Lalabalavu

“I was born in Fiji and grew up in different parts of California, but my hometown is Sacramento, CA. I am a UC Berkeley student, who is majoring in Anthropology and Social Welfare.”

Ruta Faifaiese

“A hope of mine is to inspire Indigenous Pacific students, along with other students of color, through my words of spoken word poetry as a way to demonstrate one of my forms of student activism.”

Seiko F. Joseph Keleb

Seiko is a Marshallese student attending Whitworth University. She loves helping others, leading to her involvement in programs like the Blood Bank of Hawai’i. She is proud of her Pacific Islander heritage and shives to always advocate for her people.

Seini Tuita

“I am a Tongan, Bay Area native residing in Hayward, CA. I am mother to my beautiful Nenase and am an undergrad student studying Sociology. Currently I work as a Health Navigator for the Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative.”

Vicente Preciardo Blas Taijeron

Vicente is an indigenous CHamoru from the island of Guåhan (Guam). He is currently a rising sophomore at Colorado College and is passionate about fostering spaces that promote collaboration amongst Pacific Islanders.

Meet the Co-PILOTs

Imani Moana Isaia

“I am a recent UCLA Alumni, Class of 2021 — where I completed my BA in Sociology. I hope to pursue either Law or an MSW in the near future. I am of Samoan & Mexican descent, and currently residing on Kumeyaay land (San Diego, CA). A Fun fact about me, I’m a twin!”

Leialani Wihongi-Santos

“My ancestral lands are Guåhan (where I was born & raised), Aotearoa, & Korea but I’m currently on Acjachemen land (Irvine, CA), finishing my BA in social behavioral sciences.”

Leila Tamale

“My ancestors hail from the Kingdom of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and France, and I currently reside on Ramaytush Ohlone land (Bay Area). I go to the College of San Mateo and am majoring in Ethnic Studies and Political Science.”