Pacific Islands Society: Eight Given Awards for Respecting, Inspiring & Empowering Pacific Islanders

LONDON - Sept. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The Pacific Islands Society (PacSoc) is pleased to announce that it is recognizing seven individuals and one organization for supporting a world that respects, inspires, and empowers Pacific Islanders. Recipients of its annual awards include Ceilidh MacDonald, Miles McKenna, Charity Porotesano, Chihiro Mochizuki, Kristine Pelz, Guy Pollard, Dominic Meiklejohn, and the New Zealand High Commission London, United Kingdom.

Ohana Award

The Ohana Award is an annual award that recognizes the outstanding efforts of an individual or organization whose partnership went above and beyond the Society’s expectations. PacSoc has recognized Ceilidh MacDonald and the New Zealand High Commission London, United Kingdom as the 2014 joint recipients of the Ohana Award for their support of the Society’s 2013 Pacific Ambassador Speaking Series on international security in the Pacific Islands.

Tomodachi Award

The Tomodachi Award is an annual award that recognizes the individual who most exceeded the requirements for volunteer service. PacSoc has selected Miles McKenna as the 2014 recipient of the Tomadachi Award for his outstanding contributions as the Society’s Director of Marketing and Communications.

Alakaʻina Award

The Alakaʻina Award is an annual award that recognizes the participant in the Society’s young leaders programs whose work most exhibits the Society’s core values of respect, inclusion, empowerment, knowledge, community, culture, and inspiration. PacSoc has recognized Charity Porotesano of American Samoa as the 2014 recipient of the Alakaʻina Award for her thought leadership as a Pacific Young Leader on Disarmament.

Kokua Award

The Kokua Award is an annual award that recognizes those individuals whose mentorship has made the biggest impact on participants in the Society’s young leaders programs. PacSoc has recognized Chihiro Mochizuki, Kristine L. Pelz, and Guy Pollard as the 2014 joint recipients of the Kokua Award for their mentorship of the Pacific Young Leaders on Disarmament.

Wawasan Award

The Wawasan Award is an annual award that recognizes a member of a Society advisory board whose vision most enabled the Society to grow and succeed. PacSoc has recognized Dominic Meiklejohn as the 2014 recipient of the Wawasan Award for his feedback on the Society’s strategic plan.

Pacific Islands Society

The Pacific Islands Society is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting stronger people-people relations between the Pacific Islands and beyond. Through its speaking series, cultural events, and annual campaigns, PacSoc brings together some of the region’s most influential minds to discuss major political, economic, environmental, and social issues facing the Pacific Islands– all while celebrating the vibrant cultures that make the region so unique and valuable to the global community. The organization has chapters and hubs in Brussels, Dubai, Honolulu, London, Tokyo, Washington, and Zurich. For additional information, visit http://www.pacificislandssociety.org.