Celebrate Culture • Build Connections • Inspire Change

A Celebration of Pacific Culture & Community Resilience

A Legacy of Leadership Resilience

Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA)
Admission: FREE | Suggested Donation: $10

🌺 Kidimu Children’s Program🌺

Time: 3:30 – 4:45 PM
Location: Pop-up outside KiDiMu (BEHIND BIMA)
Join us early for hands-on, kid’s kid-friendly fun!

Grass skirt making
Melanesian lei crafting
Storytelling circle & games

🌺MELANESIAN HERITAGE NIGHT🌺

Time: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
🎭 Live Cultural Performances

Kava ceremony demonstration
Traditional West Papuan dance

🎥 Learning Highlights

Climate Resilience Documentary Screening
Youth Talent Showcase – Odyssey School students present service projects from the Solomon Islands

🌏 Tok Stori: Conversations Across Melanesia

Join us for authentic, heart-to-heart conversations with Indigenous Melanesian individuals from West Papua, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. Learn about their cultures, homelands, and lived experiences, and explore stories from other islands like the Solomon Islands, Kanaky, New Caledonia, Torres Strait, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and more.
An opportunity for you to learn about their art, learn about their homelands, and ask questions about the Melanesian subregion of the South Pacific.

🌍 Fun Fact About New Guinea Island!
New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world and was once connected to Australia. Today, it's divided into two regions: Papua New Guinea in the east, an independent country, and West Papua in the west, a region governed by Indonesia.
People have lived here for over 50,000 years, and started farming 10,000 years ago. In Papua New Guinea, they have over 800 languages! That makes it one of the most diverse places on Earth -in nature, language, and culture!

Come learn more about the amazing history of Melanesia!

🎟️ Raffle Alert!

Come prepared to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win amazing prizes!

🌺 Understanding Pacific Islander Identities During AANHPI Heritage Month 🌊 🌏✨

The month of May is the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) in the U.S. It's important to recognize these key distinctions to better understand Pacific Islander communities. "Pacific Islander" refers to Indigenous peoples from Oceania's three main island regions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Meanwhile, "Pasifika"—from the Polynesian word meaning "Pacific"—has emerged as a cultural identity, particularly in New Zealand and among global Pacific diaspora communities. While "Pacific Islander" denotes ethnic heritage, "Pasifika" represents shared experiences while honoring diverse island identities.

This distinction is especially important during AANHPI Heritage Month. As we celebrate AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) communities, we must intentionally uplift all Pacific Islander voices—including Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, Samoans, Tongans, Solomon Islanders, and other PI groups—to ensure equitable recognition.

Historically, grouping these distinct populations under broad categories has made Pacific Islander communities statistically invisible in data collection, policy, and resource allocation. Using accurate terminology like "Pasifika" when appropriate, while advocating for separate PI representation in AANHPI initiatives, helps address these disparities and properly celebrates Pacific Islander cultures, histories, and contributions.

💛 Become a Community Champion
Your $25+ donation automatically gives you membership with MWT.

▸ Support girls’ education in Melanesia

▸ Support the Climate restoration of vital mangrove forests

BECOME A COMMUNITY CHAMPION

WHEREAS, the theme for the 2025 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) is “A Legacy of Leadership Resilience." This year's theme honors the hard work of AANHPI leaders who established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity.