Pasimata Suguturaga, Salt Lake City, UT: an interview by Savani Aupiu, 17 November 2008: Pacific Islanders Oral History Project, U-1958

Transcript (34 pages) of an interview by Savani Aupiu with Pasimata Suguturaga on 17 November 2008. Part of the Pacific Islanders Oral History Project, Everett Cooley Collection tape no. U-1958

Pasi Suguturaga (b. 1983) was born and raised in Makakilo, Hawaii. Her father is Fijian and Tongan, and her mother is Tongan, Samoan, Swiss, German and Jewish. When Pasi was twelve she moved to California with her father. After high school Pasi went to the University of Utah for a short time, then moved back to Hawaii to go to a community college there. She then decided to go on a mission for the Mormon Church and went to Arizona. After her mission she decided to attend BYU in Provo, Utah, and that's where she is living now. Pasi talks about her parents getting divorced and why she decided to live with her father instead of her mother. She talks about her family life after the divorce. Her father took in a lot of their relatives so Pasi grew up with a large family, as many as fifteen people in their home at one time. She discusses how her family ended up in Hawaii. Her mother and father both moved from Tonga to Hawaii to attend BYU Hawaii. She recalls childhood memories. She experienced culture shock when she first moved to California. She describes the differences in culture between what she experienced in Hawaii and what she experienced in California. There were no other Polynesians in her neighborhood in California. Pasi talks about the aspects of Tongan culture she learned growing up. Because she is part Fijian she was conscious of the fact that she was different than her Tongan relatives and friends. She describes a Fijian ceremony put on for her to usher her into womanhood. She discusses her parents' attitudes towards education when she was growing up. Education was important and Pasi received rewards for doing well and punishments for doing poorly. Pasi was raised Mormon, but she didn't become truly active until she decided to go on a mission for the church. She discusses her parents' religious backgrounds. Pasi describes her inspiration for deciding to go on a mission. She talks about her most memorable experience as a missionary. Pasi describes what it's like to be Polynesian in Utah. She has felt discriminated against because she's different. She prefers to spend time with Polynesians from Hawaii because she feels more connection with them. Project: Pacific Islanders. Interviewer: Savani Aupia