UHAA NCRC INTERN PROGRAM

2004-2005

Kirsten Uilani Chong

Participation year: 2005

Sponsor: Sogi

Program: Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program (APAP)

Kirsten Uilani Chong interned with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program with Dr. Franklin Odo. She is a native Hawaiian who has studied the Hawaiian language and culture. She is a hula dancer and a chanter. While in Washington, Chong connected with the Native American community and gained valuable insight into their movement. Chong even chanted at one of their prayer vigils.

Professional Activities: Chong graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus. Studies.

Jennifer Funtanilla

Participation year: 2004

Sponsor: NCRC

Program: National Museum of American History

Jennifer Funtanilla was assigned to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and its Asian Pacific American Initiatives Committee where her responsibility was to come up with a possible Filipino-American public program that could one day be implemented at the museum. Funtanilla states that while the internship was a good learning experience and took up the majority of her time, the life experiences outside of it would have the most profound effect on her life. Not only was she surrounded by the national treasures such as the White House, the Capital, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the Pentagon, but she also walked alongside and bumped elbows with lawyers, politicians, military officials, entrepreneurs, and future presidents of the United States. All the experiences and lessons Funtanilla learned would not have been possible if she hadn't seized the opportunity to apply for the UH-sponsored scholarship.

Professional Activities: Funtanilla graduated in 2005 from the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus, with two Bachelor of Arts degree from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences – one in Ethnic Studies and one in Psychology.

Lily Wai Leung

Participation year: 2004

Sponsor: NCRC

Program: Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Lily Wai Leung worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the recreational therapy department. She had the opportunity to design and execute projects. One of her projects was to design and help the veterans execute a mural. The project allowed her to use her skills as an artist. Working with veterans was especially meaningful to Leung because it gave her insight into understanding the United State’s current war on terrorism in Iraq. The program also involved a variety of guest lecturers including congressmen, various committee chairmen under the President’s administration, public policy makers and many more. Her semester in Washington was an experience that pushed her out of her comfort zones and made her re-examine herself, her goals, and her values. She states that it was one of the scariest, yet most liberating things that she had ever done.

Ku’ulani Miyashiro

Participation year: 2004

Sponsor: Sogi

Program: Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program (APAP)

Ku’ulani Miyashiro worked under the supervision of curator and Professor Dr. Franklin Odo in the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institution, researching material on the Japanese American Internment and overall experiences during World War II. She was able to learn and contribute to the APAP studies in her internship, as well as forge invaluable cultural and personal exchanges with the people and sites around her. Miyashiro moved to Washington with a feeling of uncertainty but as time went by, a sense of awe and appreciation overwhelmed her as she visited historic sites like Mount Vernon, Williamsburg and other monuments and memorials. The internship not only afforded her a chance to live in one of the most historical and powerful cities of our nation, but gave her the opportunity to travel to New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. She states that this experience was not simply something money could buy, but rather a generous and rare opportunity for which she is so grateful.

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