Pacific Islander

Pacific Islanders are the Indigenous peoples and cultures of the Pacific Ocean region, including Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. This diverse community spans hundreds of islands and nations such as Samoa, Tonga, Hawaiʻi, Guam, Palau, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, each with distinct languages, histories, and traditions. While often grouped together for geographic or demographic purposes, Pacific Islanders represent many unique identities. 

Pacific Islanders are consistently underrepresented under the Asian Pacific Islander umbrella. Although the Pacific Islander community in Colorado is rapidly growing, their traditions and histories remain widely unrecognized. With little cultural and linguistic resources and support, many individuals in the community face feelings of isolation and disconnection.

CAPU’s work in this storytelling stream includes fostering spaces for gathering and storytelling through sport. As a newer programmatic area, CAPU is focusing on building trust and co-creating storytelling initiatives with community.