Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawaii

07/31/2026

RPCV Exhibit: Special Tour at Bridge Gallery of Hamilton Library
Kani Ka ‘Ōpala: Take a Sad Song & Make it Better

Sunday August 2, 2026 from 12 Noon to 3:30 pm

RPCV Ben Fairfield (RPCV Thailand, group 119, 2007-09) has invited RPCVHI for a special tour of his exhibit: The Kani Ka ‘Ōpala: Take a Sad Song & Make it Better on display at the Bridge Gallery of Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Running until August 10, 2026, the exhibit features interactive musical instruments cleverly repurposed from recycled rubbish and everyday materials.

Curated by Dr. Benjamin Fairfield, an ethnomusicologist and author, the exhibit highlights sustainability and creative reuse. You can see and interact with instruments crafted from: SPAM cans, Rice bags, Driftwood, Bike brake cables.

RPCVs will tour the exhibit from 12 noon to 1 - 1:30 pm on Sunday August 2.

After visiting the exhibit, we will have a no-host Pau Hana at Puck's Alley, 2600 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96826, 1:30 - 3 pm. Puck's Alley is close to UH-M. We are allowed to bring our own food as the kitchen is closed on Sundays. Draft craft beers available.

All Photos below are from the UH-Manoa Hamilton Library website detailing the exhibit. Enjoy this YouTube link of Dr. Fairfield's work:

https://kanikaopala.com/hamilton-library-exhibit-2026/

07/22/2026

Aloha Friends. On the east coast for Peace Corps meetings. Before our meetings I had time to visit the Renwick Gallery. Photos are from The Renwick Gallery very fun/ very cool exhibit about The American State Fairs.

I also visited the Museum of African American History. AWESOME exhibits. Very powerful. Will post those pictures next.

07/06/2026

Great time at the Kailua (Oahu) 4th of July Parade. HUGE group of RPCVs (not everyone is in the photo, sadly)! We also had a flyover!

One of our RPCV pals took the video in the post. Open it up, click on the 3 dots (...), click video settings and Rotate the video. It should play correctly!

Mahalo to everyone who participated. We had a great time! Aloha

06/30/2026

RPCVHI is proud to participate for the 4th year in the annual Kailua 4th of July parade on Saturday, July 4 in Kailua, Oahu. We will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the USA and the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps.

As in past years, we will decorate our "float/car" with flags from countries where volunteers have served and also with Peace Corps flags. RPCVHI has red Peace Corps shirts that we can wear in the parade. ( A gift from our regional PC recruiter.)

The parade organizers would like to know how many RPCVs will march in the Kailua Parade, so please reply to [email protected]

There will be a potluck picnic post parade at Caroline's house in Kaneohe. Exact details about staging before the event will be sent to everyone who rsvps for the parade.

Photo below from 2026 parade in Makawao Maui this past weekend!

06/28/2026

RPCVHI participated in the Makawao (Maui, Hawaii) Parade today, a start to 4th of July celebrations. GREAT FUN! Aloha

06/22/2026

ADVOCACY ALERT!

A critical threat to Peace Corps funding is moving through Congress right now.

As Congress prepares to consider H.R. 8595, the FY27 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill, Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) has filed Amendment #137, which would eliminate the Peace Corps' entire $410.5 million appropriation.

The House Rules Committee is scheduled to review the bill and its amendments tomorrow (Tuesday) beginning at 2:00 PM ET. If the amendment advances, the full House could debate and vote on it this week.

Contact your Members of Congress today and ask them to oppose any effort to eliminate funding for the Peace Corps. Congress could make a decision on Peace Corps funding within days. Help us pass 5,000 letters written by Thursday. Take action now!

TAKE ACTION TO SAVE PEACE CORPS FUNDING
https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/npca-advocacy/email-congress/
Every message helps demonstrate the strong bipartisan support for the Peace Corps and its mission to advance peace, friendship, and development around the world.

Thank you for visiting our action center, where we share campaigns calling on you to contact your representatives about issues important to the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers community. When you click on an action below, you will be guided through steps for writing letters and making calls to make....

06/17/2026

RPCV Ben Fairfield (RPCV Thailand, group 119, 2007-09) has invited RPCVHI for a special tour of his exhibit: The Kani Ka ‘Ōpala: Take a Sad Song & Make it Better on display at the Bridge Gallery of Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Our tour date is Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 12 Noon.

Running until August 10, 2026, the exhibit features interactive musical instruments cleverly repurposed from recycled rubbish and everyday materials.

Curated by Dr. Benjamin Fairfield, an ethnomusicologist and author, the exhibit highlights sustainability and creative reuse. You can see and interact with instruments crafted from:

SPAM cans
Rice bags
Driftwood
Bike brake cables

Enjoy this YouTube link of Dr. Fairfield's work:

https://kanikaopala.com/hamilton-library-exhibit-2026/

Dr. Fairfield’s work with sustainable instruments and the exhibit is supported by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. CSEAS also supported his MUS 311M Thai Ensemble course with funds from the National Resource Center grant.

Register here for the event:https://rpcvhi.org/event-6727778

06/16/2026

Pau Hana * Wednesday, June 17 * 4-6 pm
Aloha RPCVS on Oahu,

Come talk story with fellow RPCVs and meet our Regional Peace Corps Recruiter, Kerry Carmichael, on Wednesday, June 17 between 4 and 6 p.m at the Honolulu Beerworks at 1632 Hart St, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Honolulu Beerworks advises customers that to keep the menu prices as low as possible, a 3% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. For customers paying cash, the 3% fee is waived.

Hope to see many RPCVs on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

05/12/2026

RPCVnexus is doing a survey on the career needs of Volunteers after service - those who complete both parts will be entered into a raffle for $100 - 3 winners - https://forms.gle/aMGSKpbXYv1xqRtcA
Part I is 5 min; Part II is 10 more min.

Please consider sharing some information to help future Volunteers.
Mahalo

For those who continue and complete both parts before August 1st, you'll be entered into a raffle where 3 individuals will receive a $100 gift card! (Both parts take about 15-20 minutes total) Since 2023, the team at RPCVnexus has provided over 2,000 Current and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (1,60...

04/23/2026

REMINDER: Come talk story with fellow RPCVs on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Honolulu Beerworks, 1632 Hart St, Honolulu, HI 96817, from 5 to 7 pm.
Honolulu Beerworks advises customers that to keep the menu prices as low as possible, a 3% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. For customers paying cash, the 3% fee is waived.