About

Due to its strategic position within the Pacific Islands, its relationship to the Brigham Young University–Hawaii, and its close proximity to the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Jonathan Nāpela Center for Hawaiian & Pacific Studies (Nāpela Center) has access to particular resources that enable it to play a significant role in the community of the Pacific.

The Pacific Studies Journal is a publication produced by the Nāpela Center and has served the research and scholarly community since 1977. Twenty-five years of successful publication has proven that the journal fills an important need. Additionally, the journal has helped unite a geographically disparate group of scholars. In addition to its interdisciplinary strength, the journal has several other notable features.

The Nāpela Center is also involved in cultural presentations, forums, special occasions to welcome politicians, and scholars, and dignitaries. The center is involved in providing newsletters and bulletins to inform, support and promote greater understanding of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.

The outreach services of the Nāpela Center will include special conferences and workshops which will assist Brigham Young University–Hawaii to fulfill its goals.

• The "Editor's Forum" was established to feature exploratory essays, theoretical explications, or other works that need to be brought forward to general discussion.
• The "Book Review Forum" is a new concept in academic publishing in which several reviewers adjudicate a recently published book and the author responds to their evaluation. In addition to the substantive analysis of important works this provides, the author can elaborate on the work and, in some cases, bring a new perspective to the book. The "Book Review" section has been recognized as being innovative in that reviewers are invited to submit analytical rather than merely descriptive articles.

Our Vision

Highly qualified students possessing a strong testimony of the Gospel, with in-depth knowledge of Hawaii and Pacific cultures and languages in order to build communities and strengthen families.

Our Objectives

1. To honor, preserve and acknowledge the unique cultural setting of Brigham Young University–Hawaii and its relation to the Pacific region.
2. To increase the academic success of all students with special focus on Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region to promote employability and greater returnability to home countries.
3. To connect Brigham Young University–Hawaii to the local community, Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, with a solid foundation of knowledge related to the environment, including its flora, fauna, marine life, and astronomy, its people, cultures, languages, as well as historical, social, political, economic and current issues.
4. To serve as a resource center in providing support to Brigham Young University–Hawaii with relevant and current information as well as service and support the administration, faculty, and staff to better prepare students.
5. To provide support to the Polynesian Cultural Center through promotion, research, and collaboration with cultural presentations and issues on the Pacific.