One-Stop Center

Immigrants who have come to America have always faced a host of challenges. Although they may arrive hoping to achieve the American dream and build better lives for themselves and their children, the reality is often much harsher. The experiences of migrants in Hawai‘i from the region of Micronesia are no exception.

1986: The Compact Act of 1986 (U.S Public Law 99-239) was ratified by the U.S Congress and President Ronald Reagan for the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between the United States and the three independent nations in the Micronesian region including the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (Palau). One of the provisions of the treaty allowed legal migration of citizens of these 3 nations to the United States to seek education, healthcare, and employment. 

2008: To address the unique needs and challenges facing the growing population of the Micronesian community, the Center for Pacific Island Studies at UH Manoa sponsored a 2-day conference, “Micronesian Voices in Hawai‘i” at the East-West Center with Micronesian leaders and community representatives. The feedback was an overwhelming need for a “one-stop-shop.” Follow-up conferences and meetings on O‘ahu and the neighbor islands also highlighted the need for connecting Micronesian individuals and families to services.

2015: Through the leadership of Esther Kia’aina, seed funding was allocated to the Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) to work with the cofounders of  We Are Oceania (WAO) to open a Micronesian One-Stop Center. 

2018: The Micronesian One-Stop Center was launched at the St. Elizabeth Church where it continues to operate. 

2020: During the pandemic the One-Stop Center became one of the many Pacific Islander-serving organizations in Hawaii that advocated for and served the unique needs of the community.