The Lāhui
Photo taken by Photographer Mōhailani Peloso
University of the Pacific’s new Hawai‘i Club, a kīpuka far from home
You may not realize it but a small portion of our student body come from the Hawaiian Islands to attend college here at University of the Pacific. About 2,200 miles of Pacific Ocean separates Stockton from Hawai‘i, so it is no surprise when homesickness sets in and many of us start to miss our home, family, and favorite foods. When you are far from the islands, it helps to have a kīpuka to reminisce about home in the company of others.
The calm waters in a rough sea, a patch of grass beneath a dense canopy, a brand new Hawai‘i Club away from home— these are all kīpuka. Kīpuka, or sanctuaries, are places of shelter or oasis amidst the shroud of the world. In nature, kīpuka exist in the forest, out in the deep ocean, and even in the parting of the clouds in the sky. In our communities, kīpuka are places where Hawaiian culture is safe. Within kīpuka, Hawaiian culture is shared.
At the start of this year, Pacific brought back its Hawai‘i Club to give students a kīpuka, a place of community, for students who are so far away from home. Known as The Lāhui, the Hawai‘i Club has grown to 50 members and holds monthly meetings at the DeRosa University Center.
In the Lāhui, though we may not have much, everyone is welcome. Whether you are from Hawai‘i, born and raised, or have never even tried a spam musubi, a local treat with spam, rice, seaweed, The Lāhui offers a little taste of Hawai‘i to share and cherish on campus. The goal of the club is to enjoy the things we all love most about Hawai‘i—food, family, and culture— while also creating space on campus for students to feel at home away from the Islands.
Next semester, The Lāhui is planning on hosting different events such as lei-making, Makahiki season games (Hawaiian Winter Festival Games), movie nights, and other cultural events.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Lāhui, feel free to check out their instagram @uop_thelahui.