Showcase Program

The Ohana Association (TOA) at Weber State University is dedicated to supporting students of all backgrounds. TOA’s mission is to raise awareness about the diverse heritages and traditions of the Pacific Islands, while also working to recruit, support, and guide fellow students toward graduation. TOA officers and members are committed to creating meaningful programs that strengthen communication and connection between the university and the Pacific Islander community. They organize cultural and social events to enrich the campus experience and foster a greater understanding of Pacific Islander culture at WSU.

TOA strives to create a welcoming environment for new students, providing a supportive space where they can share their experiences and receive guidance from peers. While TOA aims to serve students from the Pacific Islands, everyone is encouraged to participate and engage. The organization aims to build a safe and inclusive space that promotes meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging. TOA serves as a home base for students to develop leadership skills and become passionate ambassadors for communities both on and off campus.

Special Thank Yous and Shout Outs:

We are incredibly grateful to Kumu Pōmaikaʻi Gaui, Camilla Fuimaono, Togiva Brown Naea, and Timena Naea for generously sharing their time and talent in preparing us for our Hawaiian and Samoan performances. Your guidance made this experience truly meaningful, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for teaching us the significance of each dance and for enriching our understanding of the beauty and depth of Hawaiian and Samoan culture.

Contact Weber State TOA:

Email: toa@weber.edu
Instagram: @wsu_toa

The main objective and purpose of the Pacific Unity Association (PUA) club is to address the academic, cultural, and social needs of our Pacific Islander students attending Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). PUA strives to perpetuate, strengthen, and enhance the cultural identity and heritage of Pacific Islanders through storytelling and sharing of experiences while implementing programs that inform, engage, and unite pacific islanders in their academic journey. PUA advocates for retention and completion, moving our students to the level of their academics while holistically empowering them to embrace their culture by sharing it with their fellow students on campus and within the community. 

Special Thank Yous and Shout Outs:

We would like to give a very heartfelt thank you to Haviar Tuitama Hafoka and  The  Malielole Dance Company for their dedicated time and efforts in coordinating our choreography and costumes, We would also love to extend a big thank you our live band musicians we know it takes years to obtain such a skill and appreciate you sharing that with us

 Your love for the culture and the community goes far beyond most, and it shows through all your merits and accomplishments. As they say in Tahitian, "Ua here vau ia oe." We love you! 

Thank you to Our PUA student leadership, our club advisors, and other staff and faculty that provide the support our students need to navigate and succeed in higher education. We wouldalso like to  thank our club members who had the courage to perform. Especially those who are not of Pasifika decent.. Ua here vau ia oe

Contact SLCC PUA:

Email: Zen Gatoloai (President) lgatoloai@slcc.edu, 
Social Media: @SLCCPUA

Tēnā koutou, and welcome. Today, our Whare Wānanga o Utah represent Aotearoa! We acknowledge and respect the tangata whenua of this land, and we’re grateful to be here.

We begin with the sound of the conch and a karanga to welcome you all in. Te Iwi E will follow, along with a haka pōwhiri to invite you into our world. Our tane and wahine will perform the double long poi, a tradition typically performed by men to strengthen the wrists, while the wahine show grace with the double short poi to Ki Ko. 

When we perform the haka Ka Mate, we invite all those who know it to stand and haka with us. We’ll finish with Toku Reo, Toku Oho Oho. Enjoy the journey with us. 

No reirá Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou, Tena tatou katoa!

PISA Mission Statement:

The Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) at the University of Utah is a student-led organization created to aid in the enhancement of its member’s academic, mental, personal, and social progression. PISA seeks to provide a space for its members to articulate their experiences and share their individual cultures with each other and the larger University and community populations. This, in turn, will serve as an avenue to promote and establish cultural solidarity, leadership, diversity, and respect.

Special Thank Yous and Shout Outs:

PISA would like to thank all members of UPIA, the UofU Samoan Club, and the broader community for the continued support and collaboration to make this amazing event possible. With the time, energy, and money donated and sacrificed, we extend our love to everyone and look forward to future events!

And a special thank you to our instructor Shallyn Reeves, guitarist Dezhane Te Hira, and singer Kembrie Blackmon for allowing us to share and honor the beautiful culture of Aotearoa! We are grateful for your time and work you’ve done for us. Ngā mihi maioha!

Contact Info:

Email: uofu.pisa1@gmail.com
Instagram: @uofu.pisa || @uofusamoanclub
Facebook: PISA at the U of U
pisaatuofu.com

Special Thank Yous and Shout Outs:

Special shout out to SUU PISA for showing real Aloha and helping fill our set. They exemplify the UPIA Ohana. Mahalo!

Contact Info:

Instagram: @utahtech.psu