SLIDESHOW: Mainland Diaspora - Honolulu Civil Beat

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Micronesia

SLIDESHOW: Mainland Diaspora

The Micronesian exodus is taking tens of thousands of people to communities throughout the U.S. By some estimates, 30 percent of those in the Pacific region have left their home countries, with about half of the immigrants now living on the mainland.
By Mark Edward Harris Cory Lum / October 28, 2015
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  • <p>A Marshallese girl in Springdale, Arkansas, where about 7,000 people from the Marshall Islands have relocated.</p>

    A Marshallese girl in Springdale, Arkansas, where about 7,000 people from the Marshall Islands have relocated.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A Marshallese church service in Arkansas. Church life is a central part of many of the immigrants’ lives.</p>

    A Marshallese church service in Arkansas. Church life is a central part of many of the immigrants’ lives.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Church is essential to maintaining their culture; services in Springdale are very much like the ones back home, with music, dancing and singing along with the sermons.</p>

    Church is essential to maintaining their culture; services in Springdale are very much like the ones back home, with music, dancing and singing along with the sermons.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Most Marshallese church services in Springdale are held in rented buildings.</p>

    Most Marshallese church services in Springdale are held in rented buildings.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Carmen Chong-Gum, the Marshallese consul general in Springdale, with a map showing where her fellow migrants now populate the U.S. It’s the only American city other than Honolulu to have a Mashallese consulate.</p>

    Carmen Chong-Gum, the Marshallese consul general in Springdale, with a map showing where her fellow migrants now populate the U.S. It’s the only American city other than Honolulu to have a Mashallese consulate.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A church group in Springdale. Occasionally, the services have drawn complaints for being loud or for having too many vehicles crowd the streets.</p>

    A church group in Springdale. Occasionally, the services have drawn complaints for being loud or for having too many vehicles crowd the streets.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A road sign leaves no doubt that Springdale is in the Bible Belt.</p>

    A road sign leaves no doubt that Springdale is in the Bible Belt.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A classroom in Springdale, which has the second-largest school system in Arkansas. Today, 10 percent of the students are Marshallese.</p>

    A classroom in Springdale, which has the second-largest school system in Arkansas. Today, 10 percent of the students are Marshallese.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Another Springdale classroom. “It doesn’t really matter whether a child comes from across the street or across the ocean,” says the local superintendent. “Once they get to our door, they are our children.”</p>

    Another Springdale classroom. “It doesn’t really matter whether a child comes from across the street or across the ocean,” says the local superintendent. “Once they get to our door, they are our children.”

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Pastors Tom Thorne and Jim Handy at the First Congressional Church, Neosho, Missouri, scene of a gunman’s fatal attack in 2007.</p>

    Pastors Tom Thorne and Jim Handy at the First Congressional Church, Neosho, Missouri, scene of a gunman’s fatal attack in 2007.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>April Brown and Albious Latior of the Micronesian Educational Initiative in Springdale, which seeks to improve Americans’ understanding of their new neighbors.</p>

    April Brown and Albious Latior of the Micronesian Educational Initiative in Springdale, which seeks to improve Americans’ understanding of their new neighbors.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Kevin, Brittney, Brin and Oshen Rehobson at their Micronesian store in Springdale.</p>

    Kevin, Brittney, Brin and Oshen Rehobson at their Micronesian store in Springdale.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A Marshallese dental assistant, right, and a dentist at the Community Clinic in Springdale, Arkansas.</p>

    A Marshallese dental assistant, right, and a dentist at the Community Clinic in Springdale, Arkansas.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Micronesian employees at Twin Rivers Foods in Neosho, Missouri. Poultry factories employ many islanders.</p>

    Micronesian employees at Twin Rivers Foods in Neosho, Missouri. Poultry factories employ many islanders.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p class=Emeral Nena from Kosrae studied business administration and finance at Park University in Kansas City, Missouri, which has educated many Micronesian students over the decades.

    " />

    Emeral Nena from Kosrae studied business administration and finance at Park University in Kansas City, Missouri, which has educated many Micronesian students over the decades.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Pastor Joe Enlet at his Chuukese church in Vancouver, Washington.</p>

    Pastor Joe Enlet at his Chuukese church in Vancouver, Washington.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A Chuukese church service in Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. The region has become one of the hubs for Micronesian immigration.</p>

    A Chuukese church service in Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. The region has become one of the hubs for Micronesian immigration.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Kianna Angelo, a Marshallese living in Vancouver, Washington, is the executive director and founder of the nonprofit organization Living Islands.</p>

    Kianna Angelo, a Marshallese living in Vancouver, Washington, is the executive director and founder of the nonprofit organization Living Islands.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>A mother has her hands full during a Chuukese church service in Vancouver, Washington.</p>

    A mother has her hands full during a Chuukese church service in Vancouver, Washington.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Another Chuukese family at a Vancouver, Washington, church.</p>

    Another Chuukese family at a Vancouver, Washington, church.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Virginia Luka, originally from Palau, works at Portland State University in Oregon.</p>

    Virginia Luka, originally from Palau, works at Portland State University in Oregon.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Pingelapese Johnny Ezikiel and Waldis Clark Jr. (wearing cap) in Gresham, Oregon, a Portland suburb, sports a University of Oregon football jersey.</p>

    Pingelapese Johnny Ezikiel and Waldis Clark Jr. (wearing cap) in Gresham, Oregon, a Portland suburb, sports a University of Oregon football jersey.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Watching a Ducks game in Gresham, Oregon, from left: Doreen Iehsi Clark, Thelma Solomon, Merlyn Yens, Yoko Ezikiel and Nihna Fred.</p>

    Watching a Ducks game in Gresham, Oregon, from left: Doreen Iehsi Clark, Thelma Solomon, Merlyn Yens, Yoko Ezikiel and Nihna Fred.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Johnny Fred, foreground, and Dedao Yens, two immigrants from Pingelap Atoll in Pohnpei, cheer for the the Oregon Ducks at Pub 181 in Gresham during the college football national championship game.</p>

    Johnny Fred, foreground, and Dedao Yens, two immigrants from Pingelap Atoll in Pohnpei, cheer for the the Oregon Ducks at Pub 181 in Gresham during the college football national championship game.

    Mark Edward Harris/Civil Beat
  • <p>Charles Paul, the Republic of the Marshall Islands ambassador to the United States, at his embassy in Washington, D.C.</p>

    Charles Paul, the Republic of the Marshall Islands ambassador to the United States, at his embassy in Washington, D.C.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Asterio Takesy, the Federated States of Micronesia ambassador to the United States, in Washington, D.C. Like many Micronesian leaders, he is a graduate of Xavier High School in Chuuk.</p>

    Asterio Takesy, the Federated States of Micronesia ambassador to the United States, in Washington, D.C. Like many Micronesian leaders, he is a graduate of Xavier High School in Chuuk.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat

About the Authors

  • Mark Edward Harris
    Mark Edward Harris
    Mark Edward Harris is a freelance photojournalist based in Los Angeles.
    Use the RSS feed to subscribe to Mark Edward Harris's posts today
  • Cory Lum
    Cory Lum
    Cory Lum was the chief photographer for Civil Beat.
    Use the RSS feed to subscribe to Cory Lum's posts today
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