CSUSB hosts third annual Pasifika Culture Night

Cal State San Bernardino welcomed more than 500 guests to campus for Pasifika Culture Night, a vibrant celebration of Pacific Islander heritage, identities and traditions. This year’s event was especially significant, as CSUSB hosted the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Pacific Islander Advisory Group on campus for the first time to co-present the third annual celebration.

Festivities began with a community resource fair featuring on-campus departments and local organizations, including The Young Samoa, Island Grad, the Filipino American Association of San Bernardino County, San Bernardino Valley College’s Pasifika Student Union, and various CSUSB offices, such as Admissions, EOP, and Academic Success and Undergraduate Advising. From students and their families to faculty, staff and alumni, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with culturally relevant resources and strengthen community connections.

The main celebration featured a lineup of powerful cultural performances, including a Hawaiian Oli chant, an Aotearoa Taku Raumiri, and a dynamic Tahitian fire beat. Student-led performances showcased the diversity and artistry of the Pasifika community. The evening also featured a meal catered by Gwen Marlowe Catering, a local Pacific Islander-owned business whose cuisine added to the authentic and welcoming atmosphere.

The event, which took place on April 16, was a collaborative effort between the CSUSB Yotie Oso AANHPI Student Achievement Program, the Equity Targeted Student Achievement (ETSA) Department, and the Pacific Islander Advisory Group, led by Pacific Islander Equity Specialist Francine Blacksher. It was also supported by the university’s Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Center as part of APIDA Heritage Month.