No. 773 Ma’afu Suliafu, 2008

File — Box: 73, Folder: 16

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Ma’afu Suliafu (b. 1978) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents moved from Hawaii to Utah because Ma’afu’s mom went to law school at the University of Utah. Ma’afu’s parents weren’t expecting to have a child and they initially planned to give him up for adoption. They decided to keep him instead. When Ma’afu was four his parents sent him to Hawaii to be raised by his grandparents. After a year, though, his parents moved to Hawaii to help raise Ma’afu and raise a family. Ma’afu has three brothers and one sister. When he was seventeen, Ma’afu moved to California and went to college he moved to Utah for a job opportunity and has been there since. His father is Tonga Samoan from American Samoa. His father’s side originated in the States but eventually moved to Australia and he has Welsh blood as well. On his mother’s side, his grandpa is Tongan, Jewish and British. They originated in Boston but moved to Tonga. Ma’afu discusses his family’s ancestry and his interest in genealogy. His family came to the United States for opportunities and for education. He talks about working on his grandfather’s farm growing up. His grandpa was very influential in raising Ma’afu and his siblings. He lived with his grandparents for a year and a half before his parents came and he feels lucky to have been raised by both his parents and his grandparents. They learned discipline on the farm and Ma’afu gained skills and habits he has maintained throughout his life. He talks about what they would grow and how. Ma’afu was raised speaking Tongan in his home and then, later, English. He discusses the aspects of Tongan culture that he was raised with. They were raised with less of the luxuries that Ma’afu is able to have now. They didn’t have beds or much furniture for a lot of the time they lived in Hawaii so Ma’afu learned to appreciate those things. He considers himself to be a parental figure for his siblings. He had many responsibilities a parent would have and because of that he feels very close and protective towards his siblings. Ma’afu’s mother was a convert to the LDS church. He was exposed to many religions growing up, including Methodist churches and Catholic as well as Mormonism. He decided to stay with the LDS religion. He went on a Mormon mission in the four corners area. He talks about feeling as though he’s treated differently because he’s Polynesian. People will stare or won’t give them proper service when he and his friends go out. Ma’afu plans to stay in Utah because he’s able to earn enough money to support himself, he feels comfortable there, and he feels he could raise a family there.
Project: Pacific Islander oral history project.
Interviewer: Savani Aupiu

Dates

2008

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.