Makatogialiu “Maka” Kioa, a 2024 BYU–Hawaii graduate in supply chain and operations management, serves as a project engineer with Okland Construction, assisting with campus construction projects, including the university’s newest residence halls. Today, he is literally helping build the campus that built him.
A Legacy That Led Him
For Kioa, Brigham Young University–Hawaii felt like home long before he ever became a student.
“My parents went to school here and met here,” Kioa said. “My grandmother, Mele Nunia Ongoongotau, was a Tongan language instructor at BYU–Hawaii for many years.” Because of that connection, the campus always felt familiar. “We really liked coming here growing up, and when I got home from my mission, I just felt like I wanted to come back and decided to attend BYU–Hawaii.”
Although his family now lives in Tooele, Utah, Kioa spent his early years in California’s San Francisco Bay Area before serving a mission. From 2017 to 2019, Kioa served in the Fiji Suva Mission, an experience that shaped his outlook and helped him feel at home among the Pacific Island community on campus. “Oh, it was amazing—great people, a really good experience,” he said. “Fijians are some of the nicest people ever, and I get to see a lot of them around campus. It was really cool.”
Finding His Place in Laie
Kioa began his BYU–Hawaii in 2019 and quickly embraced the campus and its community. “It was amazing. I loved it,” he said. “My first couple of semesters were great. Then COVID hit, which changed some things. But overall, it’s a great community. Laie is a special place, and I've spent a lot of meaningful time here."
He made the most of student life, joining clubs, competing in intramural sports, and creating opportunities for others. “I actually started the pickleball club,” he said, grinning. That club continues today, a small yet lasting mark on campus life.
Like many students, Kioa encountered new challenges. “I had never felt anxiety before,” he shared. “During my first finals week, my first semester, I remember thinking, ‘What is this feeling?’” Managing academic pressure took time. “There’s a lot of pressure to succeed, but you learn from it and adjust as you go.”
Preparing for What Came Next
As graduation neared, uncertainty set in. “Toward the end of school, I didn’t really know what I was going to do, which was stressful,” Kioa admitted.
Before graduating, he completed an internship with AES Construction, working in renewable energy and windmill projects in Kahuku. That experience was followed by another opportunity through the Asia Pacific Career Conference. “I ended up securing an internship with Swinerton Builders that summer,” he said.
Those internships led to a position that brought him back to campus in an unexpected way. “After graduating, I connected with people at Okland Construction, who were doing a lot of work on campus,” he said. “I’ve been working with Okland Construction here at the university since 2024.”
From Student to Builder
Now, Kioa is a project engineer supporting the construction of projects such as Hale 12, a new residence hall.
“I’m a project engineer,” he explained. “My responsibilities include quality control, documentation, compliance work, and collaborating with construction management teams and project managers.”
Helping build BYU–Hawaii has made his journey feel like a full circle, allowing him to physically contribute to the campus that shaped his education, career path, and family legacy. What was once home as a student is now a place he helps prepare for future generations.
Graduation was memorable, even without crossing the stage. Kioa missed commencement while attending the supply chain Asia sourcing trip, which departed on graduation day. “I was literally driving past the celebration,” he recalled, laughing. “Even though I didn’t walk, graduating felt like a huge accomplishment. After four years of work, it felt good to have it pay off and to get a job in a field I enjoy.”
The Power of People
Reflecting on how BYU–Hawaii prepared him, Kioa continually emphasizes the importance of relationships. “BYU–Hawaii prepared me in a lot of ways, especially through making connections,” he said. “Professors like P.J. Rogers played a big role. What he taught was practical, real-world skills that helped with finding a job and working professionally.”
Even classmates influenced his journey. “Connections through rugby and friends led to opportunities. Making connections was probably the most important thing.”
Carrying the Mission Forward
Kioa’s advice for current students reflects his own experience. “Enjoy your time, work toward your future goals, and have fun, but make sure you’re preparing for what comes next,” he said.
Looking back, he views BYU–Hawaii as a defining piece in his life. “It’s been a huge blessing,” he said. “My parents met here. My grandmother taught here. Honestly, without BYU–Hawaii, I wouldn’t be here, my parents wouldn’t have met, and I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
The university’s mission continues to guide him. “It’s special because it focuses on you as a person, not just as a product,” he said. “It teaches you to go out into the world, serve, and give back. BYUH is more than an education; it gives you the tools to help others.”
Now, as Kioa helps build up BYU–Hawaii, his story stands—quite literally—as part of BYU–Hawaii’s future: a life shaped by faith, strengthened by community, and built to last.