Interviewer
Elijah Arnold
Files
Description
In this interview, Kaʻau Ahina and Isaac Laʻa discuss creating the Pacific Islanders Club, established in 2017 at the University of Montana. Isaac talks about serving in the military reserves and later moving to Montana, where he had previously visited. He was able to use his military benefits to attend the University of Montana. Kaʻau moved to Montana later than Isaac, was familiar with the University of Montana through family, and eventually enrolled. Kaʻau and Isaac created the Pacific Islanders Club to unite people who share the culture, to share their culture with the university community, and to provide them with a safe space. The club highlighted similarities and differences between indigenous Montanans and native Hawaiians, including discussions of oppression and discrimination. The club even hired lawyers and sued the university because of enduring racism and bigotry and to prevent the club from being shut down.
Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
University of Montana Pacific Islanders Club; U.S. Military
Original Date
4-26-2022
Time Period
Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
University of Montana Pacific Islanders Club Oral History Interview, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 481-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:05:07 minutes
Local Filename
OH_481_001_use_audio.mp3; OH_481_001_transcript.pdf
Citation
Ahina,, Kaʻaumoana Jr. and Laʻamaikahiki,, ʻAukai Jr., "Kaʻaumoana Ahina, Jr. and Isaac Laʻa, Jr. Interview, April 26, 2022" (2022). University of Montana History Oral History Collection. 38.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/umhistory_interviews/38
