It's Hawaii on our minds these days as we watch with horror and sadness as the devastating wildfire in Maui wiped out the historic town of Lahaina, which used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Our sorrow, however, can't come close to what our Toronto-based writer Odette Foronda is going through. She has a personal connection to Lahaina; it is where her Ilocano father was born. She visited some years back to research on her family history there. Odette shares with us her photos, which are now enduring visual testaments to the significance of the place to the Filipino farm workers of the early 20th century.

Another historical piece on Filipinos in Hawaii is our repost from Honolulu Civil Beat of Jessica Terrell's story about how Filipino plantation workers were wrongfully accused of being part of the insidious Ku Klux Klan in 1922. Though the accusation was completely false, its repercussion led to the demonization of the Filipino workers by Hawaiians at that time. An early instance of hate against FilAms.

When Leo Jaminola wrote a personal essay to celebrate his graduation at the University of the Philippines (UP), he didn't expect it to go viral on social media. But his story about his struggle to attain a higher education while working multiple jobs to support his family resonated with thousands who appreciated his heart-rending, thought-provoking (and hopefully action-inducing) indictment of the uneven educational opportunities in the Philippines. We're reposting the essay here because it is a must-read. We hope you share it with your networks as well.

As Barbie-mania spreads across the globe, a long-time FilAm collector of Barbie dolls allows a rare exhibit of her private collection. The exhibit, called MDCT Vault, runs for a limited time in West Hollywood. PF Corrrespondent Anthony Maddela was there to report on Mary Knight's of vintage dolls, sure to make every Barbie-loving heart a-flutter.

We're on the 50th edition of the first-of-a-kind list of remarkable, accomplished and famous FilAms and there's no end in sight. If you know anyone who deserves to be on the list, let our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco, know by sending her the person's credentials.

Have you or someone you know experienced an instance when you felt targeted and afraid? When and where did it happen? How did it happen? Do you think you were targeted because you're Asian? Tell us about it by clicking this link: actagainsthate@positivelyfilipino.com. If you feel that you are a victim of a hate crime, report it to https://stopaapihate.org/

{Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Chicken Asado by Chef Roline Casper

[Video of the Week] University Of The Cordilleras (UC) Saeng Ya Kasay Cultural Ensemble