COMMUNITY.
CULTURE.
CELEBRATE.
Our ancestors who sacrificed before us paved the way so that we can honor them in the way we live today - Ailani Cepeda
Our Mission
Our mission is to create visibility for Pacific Islander students in the educational settings through Community, Culture and Celebration.
Our vision is to keep our Pacific Islander students thriving in their passion and purpose.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY
Community is the heart of our organization and its purpose. We look to support our Islander community in the Inland Empire and beyond, meeting its needs during times of struggle and celebrating its victories in times of prosperity. We aim to lead by example for the younger generations to create an empowered and thriving Islander community.
CULTURE
We look to uphold and spread awareness of the traditional cultures of Pacific Islanders. We hope to spread cultural understanding to those who are looking to learn more about our cultures and to support young Islanders in connecting with their cultural roots.
CELEBRATION
Island Grad believes in celebrating the educational achievements of our community members. We strive to approach every achievement with a spirit of celebration, giving our community the recognition and reward it deserves. Be it through ceremonies, scholarships, giveaways, or just a warm “Congratulations,” we’d be honored to celebrate you.
Stand with Maui
| GRASS ROOTS | ORGS & PERSONAL | RESOURCE/FUNDRAISER LINKS: | ABOUT: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilima-Lei “Ilimanator” Macfarlane, Na Wahine Toa Foundation | A warrior Queen with passion and purpose. Although she has a celebrity background, her purpose for the community goes above and beyond. She’s one of the warriors out there utilizing her platform to keep the Spirit of Aloha Strong. | MAUI LINK CLOSED, VISIT HER WEBSITE TO GET TO KNOW HER! OVER 2MILL RAISED FOR MAUI!!! | “Our main goal is to keep Hawaiians and long-time generational families in their home, Lahaina. Keep Lahaina lands in Lahaina hands!” |
| Aina Momona | ‘Āina Momona (Hawaiian for the fertile or rich land) is a community organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty. | Click here for more info | Social Justice and Hawaiian Sovereignty |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | The Maui Strong Fund is providing financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people and places affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. | Click here for more info | Maui/Greater Hawaiian Community |
| Mālama Maui Nui | Nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and empower residents and visitors alike to nurture the environment in support of Maui Nui's ecosystems, economy, quality of life and unique Hawaiian culture. | Click here for more info | Hawaiian Environment and Ecosystem |
| Maui Rapid Response | An ahupuaʻa based disaster response team made up of individuals from the Maui community and a number of nonprofit and direct-aid organizations. | Click here for more info | Maui Community |
Outreach
Years of Island Grad
Live ceremony
1st Annual 2018
2nd Annual 2019
3rd Annual 2022
4th Annual 2023
5th Annual 2024
Upcoming 6th Annual 2025
No. of Island Grad Graduates
430 Pacific Islander Graduates
2018 - 62
2019 - 79
2020 - (Virtual Honor Pasifika Grad) 200
2021 - COVID-19
2022 - 147
2023 - 100+
2024 - 200+
No. of Areas Participated
Over 15 cities
New Zealand
San Diego County
San Bernardino County
Long Beach Area
Carson Area
Victorville Area
Barstow Area
Riverside County
No. of Students Scholarships awarded
In 2023, we introduced our Scholarship program
IECF FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP 2024
- 80K awarded to scholarship recipients
