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

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Title Pasimata Suguturaga, Salt Lake City, UT: an interview by Savani Aupiu, 17 November 2008: Pacific Islanders Oral History Project, U-1958
Alternative Title No. 719 Pasimata Suguturaga
Creator Suguturaga, Pasi, 1983-
Contributor Aupiu, Savani
Publisher Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Date 2008-11-17
Access Rights I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah.
Date Digital 2015-07-08
Spatial Coverage Hawaii, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/5855797/ ; Utah, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/5549030/
Subject Suguturaga, Pasi, 1983- --Interviews; Tongan Americans--Utah--Interviews; Pacific Islanders--Utah--Social conditions; Latter Day Saints--Interviews
Description 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
Abstract 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
Type Text
Genre oral histories (literary works)
Format application/pdf
Language eng
Rights Digital Image © 2015 Utah State Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.
Is Part of Pacific Islanders Oral History Project
Scanning Technician Niko Amaya; Halima Noor
Conversion Specifications Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display.
ARK ark:/87278/s6t45p49
Topic Tongan Americans; Pacific Islanders--Social conditions; Mormons--Biography
Setname uum_elc
ID 839601
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6t45p49
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