Keynote speech by Dr. Vidalino Raatior at the 7th Annual Micronesian Youth Summit (MYS), Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu, HI on February 22, 2025 led by the Honolulu-based NGO, We Are Oceania (WAO). Dr. Vid was introduced at the summit by Emma Kurashige, a fellow cofounder of WAO. Images below are from his powerpoint.
Tirow faairo wom Lukailang. Tirow womi hou fanuwen lon Hawaii, killisou ren ami anenia am rhon ito won fanuwami. Tirow womi naiwis auchea, tirow womi rhoput me mwaan mirit, Tirow womi serafo. Tirow womi ai mwaan hamwol ren ai lamalam takiah le uta womi.
As we do in our Micronesian cultures, we pay respect to God, and acknowledge and pay respect to the rightful owners of these Hawaiian islands and thanked them for their hospitality. We stand in solidarity with you as you continue to reclaim your ancestral lands. Respect to all our dignitaries, our elders, our youth and finally to seek forgiveness from my elders for standing above and in front of them to speak.
JOJO MOMENT OF SILENCE – Please join me in a moment of silence to remember and honor the late Dr. Joakim Peter. I will share with you later a bit about Dr. Jojo, but I do want to remind you as they do every year at this summit about the Dr. Joakim Memorial Scholarship.
I represent with pride Team A+JOJO, those who carry the torch of service for our people and Scholars who are in college or making a difference in the lives of our COFA people.
RAATIOR. I am here today as the proud grandson of Chief Raatior from the island of Onoun, Chuuk State, FSM. As a father to my kids Naihangiluk and Rahutow and a husband to my wife Tupuniol. I hope to respectfully represent my family, my namesake, and my clans of Pwaraka and Alengeitaw.
The late Papa Mau Piailug, our more well known Micronesian here in Hawaii was quoted, “If I have the courage, it is because I have faith in the knowledge of my ancestors”
Our ancestors navigated the large Pacific Ocean with ancestral knowledge of the stars, currents, wind, and lots of courage. They’ve left us valuable strength, knowledge, and values unsurpassed through generations.
Today we are all navigators of success in the United States with the same courage that Papa Mau Piailug spoke about. The oceans we are navigating today are much more different, perhaps more difficult, but we have the strength of those who have navigated these American and Hawaiian oceans successfully.
We are navigators of our own success in this difficult life of Hawaii and the United States, particularly these days when immigrants are blamed for everything bad. I want to share another quote that we used in our youth summit on Hawaii Island to remind us of the need to make the necessary adjustments on our journeys today as we face challenges unknown to our ancestors. It says,
“We cannot control the direction of the wind, but we can always adjust our sail to reach our destination.”
None of us can control where the wind blows, what politics dictate, what the media says about us as Micronesians, but we can control how we deal with the negativity with positivity. We can make adjustments to our sail to get to where we are going.
But how do we REACH our goals with so much pressure, so many more waves, so many strong winds at school, at home, at work. How do we navigate these American oceans so different from what our ancestors navigated?
What if I told you that you have right in your hand 5 ways to navigate your success in life. Allow me to share with you the five ways that I have learned along the way from some amazing Micronesians.
RESILIENCE: R is for Resilience. Resilience is how you deal with challenges and believing that you can achieve anything. The late Dr. Jojo was the true model for us. While attending Xavier HS in Chuuk, Jojo and his friends were swimming at a waterfall when he had an accident which left him paralyzed. He never let the wheelchair prevent him from reaching his goal of completing a Ph.D at UH Manoa and advocated for the Micronesian community.
Embrace Resilience: Life’s journey will present obstacles. Let us cultivate resilience, learn from our setbacks, and never give up on our dreams.
EDUCATION: E is for Education. The Latin root word for education is educere meaning to lead out from within. To be educated means you start from the strength and knowledge within you and make sense of the world with your values. Let me introduce you to Dr. Sheldon Riklon, a Marshallese medical doctor and professor of medicine at University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, formerly professor at UH Manoa medical school. One of the many things he does is to teach medical students how to care for patients, Marshallese patients by modeling the care. He learned values from his Marshallese upbringing and never let medical school to replace that compassionate side of his Marshallese-ness.
Embrace Education: Education is the key that unlocks doors of opportunity. It empowers us with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the ability to navigate the complexities of the modern world. Let us make the best of your education now.
ATTITUDE: A is for Attitude. How we conduct ourselves as Micronesians, as ambassadors of our homelands, our families, our communities will earn us respect or not. Meet Josie Howard, the Chief Executive Officer for We Are Oceania (WAO). She grew up on a tiny island of Onoun in Chuuk State, FSM where women were the silent leaders. As the CEO, she has to navigate the balance of her cultural traditions but lead in the 21st century where she needs to speak courageously and strongly for our Micronesian community.
Embrace a positive attitude: Our islands face unique challenges in a changing society. Let us be creative problem-solvers, embrace new technologies, and find innovative solutions to the challenges facing our communities.
COMMUNITY: C is for Community. This is about who you belong to, who you serve, and who supports your growth in life. Serving your community is a very indigenous Micronesian value long before European Christians came to our shores and rebranded it as a Christian value. Meet some of my good friends in Team Jojo. Meet Dr. Asinech Hellan-Pangelinan, a Chuukese optometrist (eye doctor), graduate of Saramen Chuuk Academy who practices in Arizona. She started a project in which she brings her talents and resources to Micronesia to offer free clinics. Her Pohnpeian husband Mike Pangelinan leads teams of accountants for the largest property tax accounting firm in the United States also leads COFA Community Advocacy Network in Arizona. The Pangelinans along with Dr. Mary Hattori of Guam and many other allies who focus their talents to support others are part of the A+JOJO Team.
Embrace Community: We are stronger together. Let us support each other, mentor our younger generations, and build strong, resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Let us work together to address the issues that affect us all and create a brighter future for Micronesia.
HERITAGE: And finally H is for Heritage. Last but certainly the most important is how we embrace our identity and roots. I don’t know about you, but I am a proud Chuukese, son of Raatior, of the Pwaraka and Alengeitaw clans. No one can take my identity unless I let them. Meet Thomas Raffipiy, a veteran of the US Army who was a nephew of the late Papa Mau. He came to school at UH Hilo joined the army, and is very involved in the Hawaiian community bridging them with our Micronesian community. He recently went back to become a master navigator (pwo). Tom lives on Hawaii Island with his wife Marcie and he continues to practice the beauty of his Yapese culture, language, and values.
Embrace your / our Heritage: Our islands are rich in culture – from the intricate weaving of our ancestors to the vibrant stories passed down through generations. These are the foundations of our identity, the roots that will nourish our growth. Let us learn from our elders, embrace our traditions, and proudly share our unique Micronesian spirit with the world
The future of Micronesia rests on your shoulders. You are the leaders, the innovators, the visionaries of tomorrow. Embrace your potential, believe in yourselves, and let your light shine brightly. Killisou chapur! Thank you very much!
