Indigenous > Pacific Islander Archives

Mavis Rivers

Samoan-New Zealander jazz singer

New York Times bestselling author Janet Mock continues to make history as a writer, director, and advocate. In 2018, Mock became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct an episode of television. Most recently, she signed a three-year multimillion-dollar contract with Netflix, making her the first openly transgender woman of color to sign a deal with a major content company.

Geri Kenui Bell

Geraldine Kenui Bell, better known as Geri, was the first Native Hawaiian woman to be superintendent of a National Park Service (NPS) unit – in fact, she oversaw the operation of two different parks in Hawai‘i simultaneously.

Ka‘oana‘eha

Hawaiian royal

Ruth Ke’elikōlani

Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani was an advocate for Hawaiian culture who was best known for defending the town of Hilo during the 1880–1881 eruption of the Mauna Loa Volcano

Ka’ahumanu

Queen Ka‘ahumanu was one of the most powerful women in Hawaiian history, whose decisions would affect her people for centuries.

Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett

Suffragist and member of the Hawaiian royal family

Cecilia Cruz Bamba

Chamorro woman orphaned at the age of nine during the Japanese attacks on Guam in 1941. Motivated by the grandmother who raised her, Bamba became a senator, businesswoman, and community leader.

Emma of Hawai’i

Queen of Hawai’i in the 1800s

Kapi’olani

Chiefess of Hawaii in the 1800s