14 groups represented their regions/countries and participated in the International Potluck this year: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Euro-Chefs, India, Indonesia, Latin America, Nepal, Okinawa, Pan-Pacific, Philippines, Taiwan, Thai, Tibet, and Vietnam. The winner of the competition was Indonesia, but we would like to thank ALL the group for putting so much time and effort into preparing wonderful variety of foods. We would also like to thank the volunteers who help us set up the venue from early morning. We hope everyone had a great time!

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On Saturday, January 14, EWCPA Sustainability Coordinators and Movie Coordinator worked together to host Sustainability Movie Night. The attendants enjoyed pizza and drinks while listening to the talks about sustainability and the movie “Blue Gold.” Thank you everyone for coming out. We hope it was a fun and educational experience. Let’s aim for more sustainable EWC!

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To find more about EWCPA’s sustainability activities, please contact Mika Okuno or Nancy Niklis (nniklis@gmail.com).

EWC welcomed 21 new participants this semester. This semester, EWC and EWCPA worked together to plan Community Building Institute a.k.a. new participants orientation.

On Day 1, participants gathered at Hale Halawai and listened to the talk by EWC staff and presentation by EWCPA Board members while enjoying pupus. We also introduced ourselves to each other. Over and over again, we are amazed by the diverse background of the participants as well as the staff!

On Day 2, EWCPA arranged a potluck competition. This idea was originally from the new participant orientation in Fall 2011, since a lot of Board members were at the orientation and enjoyed the potluck competition. The participants were divided into 4 groups, with each group helped by the Board members as the team leaders. Each group was given the same amount of money and had to think of what to cook, go to shopping, cook, and present the dishes in 4 hours. We had to choose one group as a winner, but all the groups did a very good job. Everything was so delicious.

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To all the new participants — Welcome to the EWC and EWCPA!

Also, maybe it is a little bit too late to wish everyone a happy New Year, but nevertheless, we hope your 2012 will be a happy and prosperous one!

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and close friends. In the spirit of this holiday the EWCPA Board decided to have a potluck dinner at Hale Halawai on Thanksgiving Day, November 24. Everyone in the community was welcome, especially those who did not have any plans for Thanksgiving. The Board prepared two turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin pies, etc., but everyone was encouraged to bring something they want to share with the community (as well as their own plates, cups and eating utensils, of course — sustainability!). As a result, we had so much food with great variety! Everyone eating, as you should on Thanksgiving Day, while appreciating the time with fellow EWC participants.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

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This year’s Concert on the Lawn was held on Saturday, November 5. Concert on the Lawn is one of the biggest and most important annual event for the EWCPA. We were worried about the weather and it rained on and off during the set-up and the concert, but we were able to carry out the event without any delay or cancellation.

The theme of the Concert was “Ho’okahi ‘ohana: Unity in Diversity”. Ho’okahi ‘ohana means “one family” in Hawaiian and it refers to the EWC community. We had total of 11 dance and musical performances from different countries and regions, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Okinawa, Timor-Leste, Philippines, and Pan Pacific Association. All the acts were unbelievably wonderful. We would like to thank the performers for preparing for the concert when they are all busy with their coursework and research. The audience enjoyed the performances while sitting on the lawn. Refreshment such as pizza, fruits, veggies and juice was served during and after the intersession. We also had a table for Thai Flood Relief Fundraising, where Thai Student Association served us refreshing Thai Iced Tea. It was a great addition to the concert!

Another element of the concert was the Transition Ceremony between the outgoing Board and the incoming Board. The incoming Board received the leis and is officially recognized as the EWCPA Board 2011-2012.

At the end of the program, the performers, the Board members and the audience all came together and danced for Vale Ni Navutu and Poco Poco. It was a great finale.

We would like to thank again all the performers, volunteers, and audience for making the event such a memorable one.

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EWCPA revived the Halloween tradition and hosted a Halloween Party at Hale Halawai on October 31, coordinated by Sus-tea, Hale Kuahine Rep and Hale Manoa Rep.

The theme was “sustainability”, and ‘ohana was encouraged to think of their costumes creatively around this theme. We enjoyed activities such as Twister, Apple Bobbing, Pumpkin Hunting, Pumpkin Carving and Costume Idol Contest.

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Thank you all for coming out!

On Feb. 4 the EWCPA Sustainability group hosted a Visioning Party, where participants gathered to brainstorm ideas to increase the long-term sustainability of the EWC.  Over fifteen students attended, and came up with ideas for improved communication, policy changes, student-led activities and outreach projects.  With some guidance questions to start the  conversation, it was a very informal gathering.  Participants munched on salad and pizza while they discussed their ideas.  Some of the proposed ideas included: decreasing the need for paper towels in the dormitory kitchens, an alternative to using dryers which would use the sun, and a way to recycle plastic bags from the grocery store.  These suggestions will be presented to the EWC as student ideas for the future.

Aloha and thank you for your interest in Sustainable EWC, an East-West Center participantfoundedinitiative to “green” the Center. The initiative was formerly established in October 2008 through astudent-organized strategic planning process. Since then, over 100 EWC participants representing more than25 countries have contributed to its cause.The goals of Sustainable EWC are to:1. Reduce the East-West Center’s environmental impact,2. Create a healthier, more sustainable and livable community,3. Use the lessons we learn here to help care for the health of theenvironment and quality of life in our home countries.The East-West Center Participants Association (EWCPA) Board has committed itself to reducing theEWCPA’s environmental impact through the adoption of the “EWCPA Declaration of Sustainability.”Representatives from the EWCPA Board and volunteers from the EWCPA community have worked toimprove our participant-run recycling program, experiment with composting, offer regular sustainabilityrelatedlearning and outreach opportunities for EWC participants, and collaborate with EWC Facilities toreduce our energy and water use. In Fall 2009, EWC President Charles Morrison expanded on this initiativeby establishing an institution-wide Environmental Sustainability Task Force at the request of the EWCPAPresident and Sustainability Team. This newsletter, produced by students in the EWCPA Sustainability Teamand funded by our recycling efforts, gives an introduction to the sustainability-related programs andaccomplishments of the East-West Center during 2009-2010. Mahalo for your interest and support!

Here is the link to the news letter

Cultural exchange is most tangibly celebrated through the sharing of traditional handicrafts.  This year the annual Holiday Craft Fair at Burns Hall was no exception, and it certainly kept the seasonal festivities rolling.  On December 2 and 3, crafts of customary clothing and decoration from across the Asia Pacific region enticed attendees with their international flare.  Nineteen friendly gift venders offered not only gifts for sale, but also a story behind each hand-made item.  Suddenly ornamental wall hangings and rugs came to life, and attendees from the greater O’ahu community found it irresistible to purchase such gifts for their loved ones.

While nineteen vendors were present this year, the East West Center Participants Association (EWCPA) donated all proceeds to future EWC student activities.  Among donations organized by Activities Co-Coordinator Brian Kastl, crafts from Bhutan were especially delightful for buyers and observers alike.  The 2010 EWCPA Cookbook: “Food: A celebration” sold by Cookbook Co-Editor Azeema Faizunnisa was an even bigger hit.  It proved to be a particularly practical and mutually beneficial gift.  One woman was particularly ecstatic about the purchase, explaining that the gift would finally encourage her husband to cook delicious meals for her!

Whether you are looking to donate a craft to the EWCPA or acquire a piece of the East West Center’s cultural diversity, the annual Holiday Craft Fair is for you.  See you there next year!

Twenty eight EWC students and staff attended the Fall 2010 Tour de Trash on November 23, which was a tour of three waste-management related sites in Kapolei, West Oahu.  The purpose of the trip was to learn more about waste management on Oahu.

The sites included: Schnitzer Steel, a scrap metal processing facility; Hawaiian Earth Products, a compost facility which processes yard clippings from Honolulu and sells compost; and H-Power, a waste-to-energy facility. More detail about Tour de Trash is here.

Some photos…