Mary Therese Hattori, who is Chamoru, uses technology to support Micronesians in Hawaii
Though Mary Therese Hattori’s educational path, career, and family life have taken many twists and turns, one constant is that she has always used technology to empower indigenous communities. Since 2020, Hattori has worked as the Director of the East-West Center’s Pacific Island Development Program.
The Celebrate Micronesia Festival at the Bishop Museum is one of the major events that Hattori helps run as part of her EWC position. A diverse region in the Pacific Ocean, Micronesia includes the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and Guam. The festival, which began in 2014, celebrates the people and cultures from these island nations and territories.
As the pandemic was starting, the 57-year-old played an integral role in turning the Celebrate Micronesia Festival 2020 into a virtual event. The 7-hour event included virtual demonstrations, online discussions and more, and it can still be viewed on YouTube.
