Revisiting Micronesia

By Karen Knudsen

(Note: A shorter version of this commentary originally appeared in The Honolulu Advertiser on March 29, 2009)

Several weeks ago, I traveled to Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia for the first time in more than 30 years as a member of an election observation mission coordinated by the East-West Center. On the surface, I found that very little has changed since the 1970s, when I served a two-year stint as a Peace Corps volunteer on the island of Tonowas, which had no running water, electricity, or paved roads.

Today, a lot of basic infrastructure is still lacking even though many millions of U.S. dollars have flowed to the FSM under America's Compact of Free Association with the widely spread island nation. On the positive side, water catchment systems had improved considerably, and investment in modern telecommunication services, such as the wide use of cell phones, now provides valuable communication links between the islands. But my conversations with local people reinforced my overall sense that new ideas are needed in the relationship between the U.S. and Micronesia's people, both at home and abroad.

A little history: After World War II, the U.S. assumed administration over a UN Trust Territory comprising a variety of island groups in Micronesia. In the 1980s, the island entities of Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Chuuk joined together to form the FSM under a special strategic and economic Compact of Free Association with the U.S.

In 2004, the FSM and the U.S. entered into a new, 20-year Compact to extend an original agreement signed in 1986. Applying lessons learned, new checks and balances and stringent reporting criteria are built into the new Compact to ensure accountability. As a young democracy, however, and an island nation facing issues of self-sufficiency, FSM still faces many challenges. Strong cultural traditions are frequently challenged by changing lifestyles, and social conflicts are prevalent.

Growing economic concerns and limited opportunities at home have resulted in FSM citizens, predominantly from Chuuk State, migrating in increasing numbers to Guam, Hawai'i, and the U.S. mainland. As with any new migrant population, assimilation has presented challenges for both the migrants and the host communities. In 2007, for example, Hawai'i's state agencies spent more than $100 million on health, education and social services for people from the Compact nations in Micronesia.

As Americans, we have a national obligation to the people of Micronesia since our relationship with the region is rooted in our history of benefitting from its strategic importance to us. My recent trip to Chuuk, as well as my experience as a member of the Hawai'i Board of Education and a participant on a recent state task force examining local issues related to the Compact states, brings me to believe that we could certainly do a better job of fulfilling that obligation. Based on my discussions with knowledgeable people "on the ground," here are a few ideas how:

On the national level, a frank discussion should be initiated regarding the administration of the Compact of Free Association, which is currently housed in the U.S. Department of the Interior. As sovereign nations, should the Compact countries continue to deal primarily with a federal department that is mainly focused on domestic issues? The relationship is unique, and we shouldn't back away from seeking improvements and changes if warranted.

• The U.S. should also look at partnering with FSM officials to develop better preventive health care systems in the islands themselves. This could reduce the number of Micronesians who are now forced to seek serious medical treatment in Hawai'i and elsewhere. Programs to target diabetes, obesity and various communicable diseases would greatly reduce health care costs in the long run.

• Locally, Hawai'i's government needs to aggressively seek federal funding to support the state's effort to provide services for migrants from Compact states. Currently, a resolution is pending in the state Legislature requesting federal funding to offset the state's expenditures.
  
  
•  We should also establish stronger ties between education officials in Hawai'i and the Compact countries. This is especially important because students migrating to Hawai'i are expected to meet federal No Child Left Behind requirements. There are some structures currently in place – the Department of Education, for example has had success stories in working with Micronesian students, especially when partnering with our community colleges – but these efforts need to be strengthened.
  
  
• Finally, we should make better use of established and respected channels of communication within the community, such as local churches with large Micronesian congregations and traditional Micronesian cultural leaders living in Hawai'i.

While the people of the Federated States of Micronesia work to build their young country, the U.S. and Hawai'i should work to be supportive partners, including doing our best to welcome Micronesian migrant families into our classrooms and neighborhoods when they choose to make a new life in our communities. There is no doubt that we will be continuing our close relationship with the Compact countries of Micronesia for many years to come, so it's in everybody's best interest to build the strongest partnership we can.

Karen Knudsen is Director of External Affairs at the East-West Center and Vice-Chair of the state Board of Education. She can be reached at knudsenk@eastwestcenter.org.

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The EAST-WEST CENTER is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center contributes to a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations and the governments of the region.

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