Pictured: Snapshots from the UHM Filgrad and Kīhei Ceremonies. Vina Cristobal photos.
By Deborah Manog Dimaya, UH Med Now Correspondent
Despite the underrepresentation of both Native Hawaiian and Filipinos in higher education, the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Mānoa is proud to announce a record-year in graduating minority medical students. The UH John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) recently graduated 12 Native Hawaiian MDs and 11 Filipino MDs. These individuals participated in cultural recognition commencement ceremonies.
The newest kauka opio (young doctors) of Native Hawaiian ancestry were each presented with a ceremonial cloak or kīhei, which the young doctors previously designed using traditional Native Hawaiian techniques, sponsored by Ahahui o na Kauka and the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at JABSOM. This year, there was a highly visible uniting theme on each kīhei: a rusty red color, made from the leaves and fruit of the ʻaʻaliʻi bush.
Jennifer Lyman receives her kīhei from Drs. Sasha Fernandes and Martina Kamaka. DMD photo.
“Most importantly, we chose the aʻaliʻi as our theme for it’s known strength and resilience. Despite wind, rain and the elements, ʻaʻaliʻi wood is said to be naturally termite resistant and can withstand extreme droughts making it the hardiest of plants,” said Jayden Galamgam, MD.
Dr. Galamgam explained that like the ʻaʻaliʻi bush, his class will continue to be resilient as the challenges of MD residency await them.
In addition to the dark red hems, each kīhei was printed with unique designs to parallel the separate journeys of each doctor into medicine.
“These 12 rows don’t just represent the Native Hawaiian students graduating but also symbolize 12 years directly serving the fire department in my community and the colors black and red symbolize the lava on the Big Island,” said Michael Brigoli, MD, of Hawaiʻi Island.
Both Drs. Brigoli and Galamgam are also Filipino and shortly after the Kīhei Ceremony at the UH Kakaʻako campus, they rushed over to represent the other half of their cultural identities at the UH Manoa’s 3rd Annual Filgrad.
From 24 participants at the inaugural Filipino graduation recognition ceremony in 2017, the UH Filgrad has more than tripled this year with 84 participants. The event was inspired by several longstanding Filipino commencement ceremonies at public universities in California such as San Francisco State University, the University of California (UC) San Diego, UCLA and UC Berkeley.
Matthew Lim, Jayden Galamgam, Krystina Begonia, Andrew Kinimaka, Michael Brigoli, Sean Awakuni and Celina Hayashi UHM Filgrad. VC photo.
JABSOM MD students of Filipino ancestry wore stoles that were designed to imitate the flag of the Philippines, draped over their shoulders as they proudly walked marched into the UH East-West Center, followed by their fellow graduates from UH Mānoa.
Dr. Celina Hayashi was one of the graduate speakers and spoke about the importance of remembering your roots. Dr. Hayashi had tears in her eyes as she thought of her late grandparents, who emigrated from Ilocos Norte, Philippines to Maui in 1946. Through their sacrifices and backbreaking work she was able to become Dr. Macadangdang Hayashi.
“My grandparents are my reason why I’m able to stand before you today as a doctor. They will continue to help me become an effective family physician as they have taught me the importance of treating everyone I encounter with compassion,” Dr. Hayashi said.
All students received a certificate onstage. The Filgrad is a student-led event made possible through the collaboration between various UH Mānoa Filipino organizations and with community support.
See more Filgrad photos on UH Med Flickr
See related stories (including photos and video) to the Kīhei Ceremony:
Watch our newly graduated physicians of Native Hawaiian ancestry receive their kīhei
Hear Beadie Kanahele Dawson’s empowering speech to our newest Native Hawaiian physicians