Page 16 - 03/2022 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin

PROTÉGÉS Issue no. 3 | 2022
PROTÉGÉS
Aloha from the East-West Center: YSEALI
Academic Fellowship on Environmental Issues

Fall 2022 By Aidil Iman, 2nd Year, International and Strategic Studies

The five weeks spent on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, including Senator Chris Lee,
where I had gathered along with twenty other Southeast community leaders like
Asian students for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders’ Dotty Kelly-Paddock and
Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship on conservation experts like Dr
Environmental Issues, were some of the best weeks of my Sam 'Ohu Gon III. But what I
life . The Fall 2022 cohort was hosted by the East-West miss the most are the
Centre (EWC), an institution dedicated to cooperative friendships I cultivated with
study, research and dialogue between the United States, other YSEALI Academic
Asia, and the Pacific. Fellows during our failed
attempts at surfing in Waikiki, or the karaoke sessions on
Hale Manoa, a community housing under the EWC the bus, or during the sunsets we watched together. Our
overlooking the Manoa Valley, became my home for time together in Hawaii was brief, but our memories are
thirty-five days but it was the welcoming company of my forever.
fellows that made me feel at home.. Everyday, I was
greeted by the beautiful sight of a rainbow as I rushed If you are reading this, I strongly encourage you to go for
down to Hale Halawai, a multi-use facility, for my classes. it as the fellowship paves a way for the young Malaysians
The locals say that the Manoa Valley is sacred to them as to learn, expand and create new friendships. For more
it is the place of the rainbow goddess, Kahalaopuna, who information, visit here: https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali-
was born of wind and rain. academic-fellows-country-specific-information/

I remember one of the hiking trails called the Puu Ohia
where we stood together marvelling at the scenic
landscape while listening to the songs of the native birds.
The beaches at Waikiki, North Shore, Ala Moana and
Kaimana had the bluest and clearest waters I’ve ever
seen. We embarked on several journeys together, visiting
places of historical importance. We went to the Pearl
Harbor National Memorial, walked the halls of the Lolani
Palace and conducted a mock trial at the King
Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center. Here I learnt the
complexities of Hawaiian history and also its trauma and
grief.

Community Service at Ka Papa Lo’i Kanewai, University of Hawaii
We also committed ourselves to community service at
the Ka Papa Loʻi O Kānewai in the University of Hawaii. It
is a centre of learning for the indigenous practice of taro
planting. The scorching sun and sweat at the Heʻeia
Fishpond are some of the fondest memories of the time. I
am still mesmerised by the beauty of the fishpond and
the fact that it has been a site of indigenous aquaculture
practices for 800 years. Learning was a continuous part
of this fellowship. I attended book circles, dialogues and
bootcamps, studying environmental issues like climate
and energy, oceans and fisheries, food and agriculture as
well as governance and development. Thanks to the
EWC, the learning process also granted us the
opportunity to meet the inspiring leaders of Hawaii Cultural Exchange Night at Hale Halawai
16 | Pulse @ FASS