Projects

Our Work

PEʻA Inc. was established to address the persistent and systemic underrepresentation of Pacific Islanders in higher education in Hawaiʻi. Despite relocating to Hawaiʻi in pursuit of improved educational and economic opportunities, Pacific Islanders remain disproportionately under-enrolled in college—particularly at the University of Hawaiʻi—when compared to other racial and ethnic groups. These inequities are closely linked to broader disparities in income, housing stability, and workforce access.

Founded in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, PEʻA Inc. emerged as a community-driven response led by Pacific Islander women with lived experience and postsecondary education. The organization was created to advocate for educational equity, strengthen college pathways, and increase economic mobility for Pacific Islander youth and families.

PEʻA’s work is grounded in equity-focused strategies that address both access and systems-level barriers. Core activities include college outreach and awareness campaigns, family and community education, school-based engagement, and partnerships that align education with workforce pathways. These efforts are designed to advance measurable outcomes such as increased college applications and enrollment, improved student persistence and completion, and greater access to living-wage career opportunities.

PEʻA Inc. implements its work through strategic collaborations with institutions and community partners, including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, nonprofit organizations such as Papa Ola Lōkahi and Hawaiʻi People’s Fund, and Pasefika church leaders and faith-based communities. These partnerships expand reach, leverage resources, and ensure that programs are culturally responsive and community-informed.

PEʻA tracks participation, engagement, and educational milestones to evaluate progress and inform continuous improvement. By strengthening community awareness, family engagement, and institutional accountability, PEʻA contributes to long-term equity goals that include higher educational attainment, reduced poverty, and improved economic stability for Pacific Islander communities in Hawaiʻi.

Through sustained advocacy, data-informed outreach, and cross-sector collaboration, PEʻA Inc. advances systemic change that supports Pacific Islanders not only in accessing higher education, but in completing degrees and transitioning into careers that provide economic security and upward mobility.

Puipuia le Ola (Protecting lives)

- Increasing COVID-19 testing for Pacific Islanders in Hawaii and Guam. This project was a collaboration between the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) and PE'A Inc. as a community organization that was relentless in supporting the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Education Outreach to the NHPI communities to help prevent the spread of COVID-16.

As the NHPI communities in Hawaii has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, PE'A Inc. stepped up and represented the commutes at the state and national level. This was realized when the pandemic was spread rapidly and NHPI especially other Pacific Islander communities such as Samoan, Fijians, Tongans, and Micronesians were disproportionately affected due to many community members living below the poverty line due to the lack of reading and college education success.

College Outreach at Church Communities.

As PE'A Inc's mission was to increase the recruitment, enrollment, and college success of Pacific Islanders in Hawaii. This work was done in an effort to make people aware of the relationship between college and career advancement. State and national statical data clearly shows the correlation between college education success and employment opportunities and high pay.

Olelo Media Project

Olelo had approached PE'A Inc to partner with them in an effort to provide college education and community outreach to support PE'A Inc. in it's mission to advocate for Pacific Islanders to have a higher representation in college education.

Christmas Caroling to Comfort

Outreach - Maui Wildfire

When wild fire spread across the west side of Maui and was a huge disaster, PE'A Inc Board members and volunteers flew to Maui to lend a hand to parents, students, and community members. We also were able to donate laptops to high school students, parents, and adults who needed it most. We spent hours and days talking story and comforting many who lost their homes and belongings due to the fierce fire in Maui. We also provided educational support to students and parents who needed to enroll for college either at the University of Hawaii and other non-UH campuses.