Our
Projects

Pacific Story-Zines : Collage as Community Building

Pulse Oceania chooses collage to invite communities to tell their own stories of the Pacific experience. Being tactile and accessible, including cutting, drawing, writing, all can find a creative outlet that expresses their unique voice.

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Through collage participants reclaim the narrative of Pacific experience and share the diversity of voices in the Pacific community--both in the region and in diaspora. 

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Working with a range of archival, organic, and crafting materials enhances this reclamation of voice--choosing the themes and emotions that participants want to uplift and amplify. 

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Nawahine Lanzilotti • Mānoa, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

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Nawahine, Founder and Director of Pulse Oceania, shares a collage with koa leaves symbolizing strength, with the image of hands turned up and down--together these also evoke "laulima" literally "many hands" also meaning "cooperation" and celebrating the strength and care amongst Pacific communities.

Alyssa Chau • Guåhan / Taiwan

Alyssa is a talented poet, experienced zine-maker, and brilliant student in Hawaiʻi currently working with East-West Center Arts Program assisting the Festival for Pacific Arts. Her collage draws upon the most valuable resource, water, and explores its preciousness and exploitation in this collage.

Raquel Aki • Hawaiʻi

Raquel is a skilled administrator with extensive experience in project management, budget tracking, financial reporting, event planning and fundraising. She is an advocate for Aloha ‘Āina and supports responsible research and engagement through a cultural lens. She brings a diverse perspective and skill set to her many roles including as Corporate Secretary in the Office of the President for the East-West Center in Honolulu, as well as serving on the board of directors for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project.

Raquel is a valued mentor and colleague in whatever community she engages. She is always ready to offer her experience and assistance to uplift and advance aspiring young professionals and projects that benefit Pacific communities. A mother of three incredible and individual children, when not working Raquel enjoys spending time with her ‘Ohana and strengthening her ties to the native Hawaiian community.

Dr. Tammy Tabe • Solomon Islands / Fiji

Tammy Tabe is a social anthropologist currently serving as the Oceania Research Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu. She previously taught and provided supervisory support to graduate students at the Pacific Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD), University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. She is affiliated with the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and member of the Bergen Pacific Research Group. She supports development of regional and national policies through her membership in the Technical Advisory Group administered by the United Nations Office of Human Rights in Fiji and is also a member of the Steering Committee of TODA and the Solomon Islands Resettlement Policy Advisory Committee.

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Based on her experiences presenting in academic and policy spaces around the world, often as the only Pacific Islander, Tammy shares a powerful demand on behalf of her community and work to respect the time and communication style of Pacific Islanders.