Hoping to bridge the cultural divide between the youths in their respective cultures, leaders from the Samoan and Micronesian communities will hold a cleanup of the grounds of the Kuhio Park Terrace complex in Kalihi this morning.

About 150 people are expected to take part.

"I think both groups have been impacted by the wider, dominant groups, or cultures, in Hawai'i," said the Rev. To'o'olefua Paogofie, who heads the Nu'u Ministry, a special ministry sponsored by the Hawai'i Conference, United Church of Christ.

"They are having difficulties readjusting and, out of that frustration, I think they've got to vent out their frustration," he said. "And sadly, they've taken it out on each other's immigrant groups."

Paogofie said he has seen tensions rise between Micronesian and Samoan youths during the past two to three years.

The rivalry came to a head last October with a fatal stabbing near Mayor Wright Homes. A 21-year-old half-Samoan man was stabbed to death during a fight between Samoans and Micronesians.

Leaders from both communities want to put such troubles behind, and church leaders from both groups began meeting earlier this year to see what could be done, said Dr. Ymao Akitekit, president of Micronesians United, an umbrella group for different Micronesian organizations.

Akitekit, who is a Congregational Church minister, said that as people who are native to island nations in the South Pacific, Micronesians and Samoans share much in common.

"We are from the Pacific islands, we need to stay together, we are one," Akitekit said.

Much of the tension between Samoans and Micronesians exists among the youth, he said.

Paogofie agreed that there is no reason for tension between the two cultures. "We see the Micronesian representatives as our brothers and sisters," he said.

"There was apprehension and trepidation among the pastors whether this was going to work, but then they decided that it was their responsibility as community leaders to take this initiative and to bring these youth groups together, to find a point of reconciliation," Paogofie said.

Akitekit said Kuhio Park Terrace was chosen as a cleanup site because it is home to a large number of both Micronesians and Samoans. Both men said they hope to hold other events that join Samoan and Micronesian youths, possibly including cleanups at Kalihi Valley Homes, Mayor Wright Homes and Palolo Valley Homes.