President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands added yet another monumental accomplishment to her lengthy resume of gender and climate advocacy: The East-West Center’s (EWC) third annual Women of Impact Award.
Despite being the first female leader of an independent Pacific Island nation as well as being the first person from the Marshalls to earn a doctorate degree, President Heine’s modesty and authenticity exuded through her keynote speech.
“And so it is with a humble heart that I accept this award, on behalf of those who have come before me, as I commit myself to building bridges across our islands in the Pacific and to safeguard the many wonderful cultures that define us,” President Heine said.
This private event on October 25 was held in the Imin Convention Center and the crowd, filled with upwards of 150 guests, was adorned in a colorful blend of lei and traditional Pacific Island printed attire, beautifully representing the melting pot of cultures that is the Pacific.
Attendees included University of Hawai’i President David Lassner, Governor Josh Green, and EWC President Suzy Vares-Lum, among many other prominent names across the island.
Through a touching recount of her childhood, President Heine charmed the audience with stories of growing up in her small village where everyone contributed to the livelihood and upkeep of the island. Whether it was fishing, cooking, cleaning, swimming or making flower crowns with friends, President Heine lovingly gave her community credit for her success, stating that “despite where one comes from in life, anything is possible.”
“If there’s anything my career has taught me it’s that impact can be made only through building community, and building bridges,” President Heine said. “We are only as strong as our communities – our kinship to one another as Pacific and island people.”
This was not simply an award recognized by the EWC and UH – President Joe Biden and Hawai’i representatives in Washington D.C. sent in personal congratulations to President Heine.
In his letter that was read aloud in a video before her speech, President Biden fondly recalled their previous work together, and wrote that President Heine “will inspire generations to come.”
“President Heine has been an inspiration to so many women across the Pacific, and to American women as well,” EWC Foundation Board member Karen Knudson said. “Her vision, her commitment to education and the environment, and what she’s had to go through just to get there, like many women do. Yet she’s still so gracious, and lovely, and one with the people. There’s an elegance about her that speaks to so many people. Gentleness, but strength.”
Q&A Session
Following President Heine’s speech was a Q&A session moderated by journalist and adjunct fellow at the EWC, Jean Lee, with three panelists: Mona Pasquil Rogers, Dr. Yanghee Lee, and Kristen Turang Udui.
Lee’s questions centered around the impact of President Heine’s speech on each panelist while also encouraging them to bring in their own personal anecdotes and accomplishments that got them to where they are today.
Being that the event as a whole was centered around the empowerment of women, the majority of the answers provided highlighted the uniqueness of a woman’s experience in personal, academic, and work-place settings.
“We don’t want to just talk about the obstacles for women, which are many, but also look at the opportunities,” Lee said. “How do we look at our place, as women, a little bit differently, so we can figure out how we can have an impact.”
South Korean psychologist and human rights expert Dr. Yanghee Lee, who serves on the EWC Board of Governors, shared her mother’s wisdom toward being a woman in a male-dominated career and world.
“Because you’re a girl, there’s so much more you can do,” Dr. Lee said. “Keep your femininity, sometimes it gets you very far.”
Her simple, yet powerful statement prompted a collective ripple of applause, “damn rights,” and nods of approval throughout the crowd.
