No. 786 Moli Ngatuvai, 2009

File — Box: 74, Folder: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Moli Ngatuvai (b. 1938) was born and raised in Tonga. He went to school and served a Mormon labor mission there. He attended BYU Hawaii and BYU Provo. He returned to Tonga and became a teacher in Liahona where he married his wife. They have six children. They moved to America so Moli could earn an advanced degree and decided to stay and raise their family. Moli talks about growing up in Tonga with his brothers and sisters. He talks about what it was like going to school. Moli went to a boarding school and he remembers the very strict schedule they had. He discusses his religious background. He is a convert to the Mormon religion. He was introduced to Mormonism by his neighbors and loved it. Though his parents were of different religions at the time, they supported his decision. Everybody in his family except one sister have converted to the Mormon religion. He talks about being the only Polynesian in church when he first moved to Utah. He talks about growing up in Tonga during World War Two. He remembers that supplies were scarce because ships weren’t going to Tonga and he remembers celebrating when the war was over. Moli remembers going to Hawaii for the first time and how much he liked it. The first year he was there he got a job working in the pineapple fields. He hated it. To make money and support himself while attending BYU Hawaii he worked construction. He and his family moved to Provo, Utah after their son told them how much he loved it. They live there still. Moli is retired and is trying to build a house in Salt Lake City. He would like to move back to Tonga but because all of his grandchildren live in Utah he thinks he will stay there.
Project: Pacific Islanders oral history project.
Interviewer: Savani Aupiu

Dates

2009

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.