Hawaiian Culture

Empowering Poetry

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Jamaica Osorio is not your average college student. An Oahu native and senior at Stanford University, she has garnered the attention of the White House and gained recognition as an internationally acclaimed Hawaiian poet. 

Last week, Osorio brought her powerful words to Molokai during a night dedicated to Hawaiian culture and art.

Growing up, Osorio’s parents sent her to Hawaiian immersion school – a decision she said she struggled with. In one of her poems reflecting her childhood, she says “Parents are supposed to prepare their children for kindergarten but mine strapped landmines on my melanin and threw me into the deep end and told me to swim.”