In Conversation: Gisela McDaniel and Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori 

HT25 artist Gisela McDaniel, a diasporic Indigenous CHamoru artist, engages in conversation with Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori, a native CHamoru of Guåhan, community organizer, and advocate for Pacific Islanders in Hawaiʻi. 

McDaniel’s art, which focuses primarily on women, seeks to disrupt historical and contemporary patterns of censorship surrounding women’s bodies and voices. As an Indigenous, multiracial, immigrant woman of color, her work challenges societal norms and explores the complex intersections of identity, power, and history. 

Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori is a key figure in Pacific Islander advocacy and education. A daughter of Guåhan (Guam) from the Familian Titang clan, Dr. Hattori currently serves as Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) with the East-West Center. She is also a poet, author, and co-founder of cultural events such as the Cultural Animation Film Festival and the Celebrate Micronesia Festival. Dr. Hattori’s leadership extends to her role as a member of the Hawaiʻi Board of Education and an Associate Member of the Consular Corps of Honolulu. 

This conversation offers a powerful space for dialogue about Indigenous identity, women’s representation, and the importance of Pacific Islander advocacy.  

BANNER IMAGE
Gisela McDaniel in her studio (2023). Photo: Rachel Stern. | Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori.