Vehia Wheeler, co-founder of the 100% women-led Sustainable OCEANIA Solutions consulting firm, shares her/their educational experience in Hawai'i and path to joining the first cohort of Asia-Pacific Obama Foundation Leaders.

Tell us about your educational path and how you grew your passion for building community in Oceania.

I was born and raised on O'ahu, Hawai'i. My mother is from Mo'orea in Te Ao Mā'ohi (also known as French Polynesia), and my father is from California. I had the wonderful opportunity to start my higher education in a two-year community college before transferring to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa in Hawai'i. While I didn’t get funding for my undergrad studies, I was fortunate to receive partial funding for my grad degree.

All the schooling that I did and plan do to is to honor my fenua (Mo'orea and Tahiti), my tupuna (my ancestors) and my community. While studying at a graduate level is a challenging experience (mentally and personally), I recognize that getting that degree was in honor of my family. It was completely worth it.

As for my interest in focusing my career on Oceania, Mānoa really helped me recognize the Oceania community’s need for better access to opportunities. To this day, I’m grateful to have fantastic Indigenous professors from Mānoa who guide me in my work.

You are the co-founder of Sustainable OCEANIA Solutions. How is your company addressing some of the region’s problems?

My co-founders and I are interested in taking an Indigenous approach to solving Oceania’s biggest environmental issues. While we first started our company with a focus on consulting, we’ve transitioned to something near and dear to my heart, environmental education.

It is critical for us to pass along the knowledge of our ancestors to younger generations. We need to guide and teach them how to live on our lands through a cultural and modern lens.

Right now, we are partnering with a local immersion Tahitian school, Puna Reo on Mo'orea, an island very closely located to Tahiti. This work is focused on restoring our environment and culture.

You were 1 of 200 emerging leaders selected to join the Asia-Pacific Obama Foundation Leaders. Can you tell us about this phenomenal opportunity?

It was such an honor to be part of the first cohort and feel empowered alongside change-making community members! The program was five days long and took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Having grown up my whole life in the Pacific, I immediately noticed the more business-oriented structure of the program, and I definitely experienced a bit of a culture shock. However, the program was an overall humbling, inspirational, and empowering experience. I highly encourage Pacific Islanders from the Oceanic community to apply to this program and have their voices be heard on a global platform.

Any words of advice for people interested in pursuing their graduate studies and doing community work for Oceania?

While graduate studies can be hard and expensive, do not become discouraged and stay the course. The right opportunities will eventually present themselves if your personal mission is clear. Most importantly, ask questions, reach out to potential mentors, and do not be afraid to work your best and brightest.

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