Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawai'i
Connecting RPCV's Living in Hawai'i
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RPCVs on the Big Island are a busy group of about 280+ RPCVs. Members live in Hilo, Kona, Volcano, Paradise Park, and Waimea. RPCVs have installed a monument at UH-Hilo commemorating the PC Training that took place in Hilo at the Old Hilo Hospital, the UH Hilo Campus and in the Waipio Valley. Annually, the RPCVs on the Big Island have work days cleaning the monument and weeding the surrounding areas.
Peace Corps Week 2025 - on the Big Island.
To commemorate the establishment of the Peace Corps, the Political Science Department organized a week-long event during Peace Corps Week of 2025 starting on February 24, 2025. UH Hilo Stories featured the extraordinary experiences of one returned Peace corps volunteer each day during Peace Corps week.
- https://hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/stories/2025/02/24/peace-corps-josef-donnelly/
- https://hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/stories/2025/02/25/peace-corps-kacie-miura/
- https://hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/stories/2025/02/26/peace-corps-patrick-bryan/
- https://hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/stories/2025/02/27/2025-peace-corps-week-jasmin-kiernan/
- https://hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/stories/2025/02/28/2025-peace-corps-week-john-kleinschmidt/
On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 11 am to 1 pm on Campus Center Plaza, the Political Science Department screened a documentary that highlighted the Big Island’s connection to the early years of the Peace Corps. This documentary was produced by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) on the Big Island. The Political Science Department also distributed information materials about the Peace Corps as well as promotional items and challenged passersby with questions about the Peace Corps program.
Tables were staffed by members of the Political Science Club, including Amaya Hirata, Jasmin Camacho, and Echo Hirata, and Makayla Cramer, a Political Science Student Assistant as well as Dr. Su-Mi Lee.
They receive special visits from returned Peace Corps volunteers, including David Ikeda, Bill Sakovich, Nick Cera, Harold Murai, Jon Countess, Julie Countess, Linda Murai, as well as Charlene Iboshi, a member of Big Island Rotary Clubs Peace Group, who presented proclamations from the County Mayor declaring February as Rotary Peace Month and March as Peace Corps week.
On Wednesday, February 26, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm in UCB 127, the Political Science Department hosted a talk story session where four returned Peace Corps volunteers with close ties to UH Hilo shared their life-changing experiences. The panel included:
- Dr. Joseph Genz (Anthropology at UH Hilo): Samoa, 1997 - 1999
- Dr. Josef Donnelly (Education at UH Hilo): Micronesia, 2006-2009
- Mr. Artem Sergeyev: Macedonia, 2018-2020
- Ms. Sarah Juran: The Solomon Islands, 1995-1998
Jasmin Camacho, the Vice President of the Political Science Club, moderated the talk-story session, which was attended by approximately 40 students and community members. At the end of the session, the department held a raffle that offered prizes such as T-shirts and eco-friendly tote bags.
The 2025 Peace Corps Week event is organized by the Political Science Department in collaboration with UH Hilo's Office of International Student Services and Intercultural Education and the Political Science Club as well as the Big Island Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and East Hawaii Rotary Peace Group. For more information on the Peace Corps, please contact Dr. Su-Mi Lee at sumilee@hawaii.edu.
Wednesday Tabling
Above: Tables staffed by Makayla Cramer, a Political Science Department’s student Assistant (left)
Above: Tables staffed by Su-Mi Lee, Echo Hirata, Jasmin Camacho, Amaya Hirata
Above: Standing around the JFK Monument
(For more information: https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2011/11/24/video-jfk-monument-re-dedicated-at-hilo-peace-corps-reunion/)
Holding Mayor’s Proclamations
From the left: Charlene Iboshi (Big Island Rotary Clubs Peace Group), David Ikeda (RPCV), Bill Sakovich (RPCV), Nick Cera (RPCV), Harold Murai (RPCV), Jon Countess (RPCV), Julie Countess (RPCV), Linda Murai (RPCV), Su-Mi Lee
Wednesday February 26, 2025 Talk Story Session
Above from the left: Mr. Artem Sergeyev: Macedonia, 2018-2020; Dr. Josef Donnelly (Education at UH Hilo): Micronesia, 2006-2009; Ms. Sarah Juran: The Solomon Islands, 1995-1998; Dr. Joseph Genz (Anthropology at UH Hilo): Samoa, 1997 - 1999; Jasmin Camacho, Vice President of the Political Science Club
Above from the left: Mr. Artem Sergeyev: Macedonia, 2018-2020; Dr. Josef Donnelly (Education at UH Hilo): Micronesia, 2006-2009; Ms. Sarah Juran: The Solomon Islands, 1995-1998; Dr. Joseph Genz (Anthropology at UH Hilo): Samoa, 1997 - 1999; Jasmin Camacho, Vice President of the Political Science Club
Peace Corps Exhibition in Mookini Library, UH-Hilo
Peace Corps Week 2024
Former Peace Corps volunteers and community supporters gather with Associate Professor of Political Science Su-Mi Lee at a Peace Corps exhibition in Mookini Library. From left, Rotary member Charlene Iboshi, former Peace Corps volunteers David Ikeda, Julie Countess and Bill Sakovich, Associate Prof. Lee, Rotary member and executive assistant to the mayor Tim Hansen (who holds a proclamation from Mayor Mitch Roth recognizing the role of Hawaiʻi Island in training Peace Corps volunteers), former Peace Corps volunteers Artem Sergeyev and Jon Countess.
Here is a link to the article.
(Photo: Emily Thornton)
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