In 1973, Michael Levin arrived on Eauripik, an isolated outer atoll in Yap State within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). There was no running water. There was no electricity. The population of the 26-acre islet was just 150 people, including 12 families who took him in as their own.
“For meals, I would rotate through the families, going back to the first family on the 13th day,” Levin recalled. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. They were so kind to me.”
That experience shaped the course of his life. Levin went on to become a prominent demographic anthropologist, spending three decades with the U.S. Census Bureau and assisting in more than 80 censuses throughout the Pacific and Africa.
Giving Back to the Pacific
Levin’s desire to support students from Pacific Island nations dates back long before he formally established an endowment.
“I always thought of ways I could give back to the community that so embraced me,” Levin said. “One asked for a battery-operated phonograph, but that was impractical in that humidity. So, I thought I could contribute by providing room and board for students who wanted to go to college.”
He first turned that thought into action in 1984, sponsoring a student to attend college in Virginia, where he was living at the time. That student became a surgeon on Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Eventually, Levin established the Michael J. Levin Scholarship Endowment for students enrolled at any University of Hawai‘i campus, with a preference for those coming from a Micronesian nation.
To date, the program has awarded 21 scholarships, highlighting the deep and continuing impact of Levin’s generosity on the future leaders of the Pacific region.
Mike Levin wearing the traditional thu (a hand-woven loincloth) while posing with Serpian Yaliweisei on the isolated atoll of Ifaluk in 1977.
A Full-Circle Connection
Aryn Keira Southwick, a psychology major and native of Yap, was thrilled when she was awarded the scholarship this year. She recently had the chance to meet Levin during a scholarship dinner.
“I didn’t expect to meet him, but I learned that he has a connection with Yap Catholic High School where I graduated,” said Southwick from her family’s home in Yap. “I also found out that a fellow classmate, Martin Edilyong-Reichhardt, received the same scholarship. Both of us plan to return to Yap once we graduate.”
Looking Forward
Today, Levin continues his lifelong dedication to the region as the managing partner of pacificweb.org, a comprehensive database tracking populations and diaspora across American Samoa, FSM, Guam, Hawai‘i, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
“This website will be one of my legacies,” Levin noted. But his vision for the future extends far beyond data.
As he continues his work documenting the shifting demographics of the Pacific, his greatest hope is that his scholarship empowers more students like Aryn and Martin to access higher education without financial burden.
By investing in their potential, Levin envisions a future where these bright young scholars return to their home islands equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead, innovate and uplift their communities – ensuring that the kindness he received on a small atoll decades ago continues to ripple across the Pacific for generations to come.
“The idea was to give these kids a chance,” Levin said. “These kids are smart; their parents are smart. They just need someone to believe in them … like I do.”
Questions? / More Information
If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808-956-8700 or send us a message.
