Makana is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Linguistics and minoring in Japanese. Raised in a multicultural Asian and Native Hawaiian family environment, she recognizes the vibrancy and color that cultural community brings to her life. The deep connections and bonds that unite people within these heritage communities have shaped her into someone she takes pride in, advocates for, and celebrates. As an intern for SAandPIRI, she aims to contribute to fostering a campus community that welcomes those who may identify with one or multiple A&PI identities and offer a platform for cultural opportunities and academic success.

Region in the diasporas I identify with: Hawai'i, Japan, China, and the Philippines