Fololani Faaoa, from Tonga, graduated from BYU–Hawaii in Winter 2025 with a degree in Business Management, emphasizing finance and organizational leadership. Her path to this achievement has been one of strength, shaped by faith, service, and the legacy of her parents. Faaoa was the first in her family to serve a mission as well as graduate from both high school and college. Her accomplishments represent far more than academic success—they are a tribute to the values her parents instilled in her and the sacrifices that made her journey possible.
A Mission and a Milestone
“My parents valued going on a mission, getting an education, and marrying in the temple,” she said. “Those were the three things they wanted us to accomplish in life.” Though her four older siblings didn’t have the opportunity to serve missions, Faaoa followed her parents’ wishes and chose to go on a full-time mission. “When I graduated from high school in 2014, I wanted to go study,” she recalled. “But my parents wanted me to serve a mission, so I decided to obey them.” Faaoa was called to the Philippines, Cavite Mission in 2015. “I speak fluent Tagalog now—it’s become a part of me,” she said.
After returning from her mission, Faaoa honored her parents’ wishes again by pursuing higher education. She arrived at BYU–Hawaii in 2022, determined to make the most of her time. “I worked for the campus HR department for 22 months,” she shared. “Then I became a teaching assistant for business classes, and I even competed in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Research Challenge.” Her team’s win in the local CFA competition and their opportunity to present in San Diego were highlights. Read more about the competition here.
She also served as president of the BYU Management Society student chapter, gaining hands-on leadership experience while working with students from around the world. “It helped me learn how to lead, plan, and organize,” she shared.
Trusting Inspired Counsel
For Faaoa, BYU–Hawaii was not part of her original plan. “I did not plan to come here,” she explained. “My mission president asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, ‘I want to study.’ Then he asked me where—and out of the blue, I just said, ‘BYU–Hawaii,’” she recalled. “He gave me my last blessing and said I’d have a chance to come to BYU–Hawaii.”
Despite that spiritual prompt, returning home brought hesitation. “Things started to change, and I started to doubt myself,” she admitted. “I was looking at other schools, but every time I tried to move forward with those applications, something always hindered me from reaching the end goal.” After much prayer, fasting, and time in the temple, her answer became clear. “I realized that BYU–Hawaii is for me. I wanted the answer to be different, but every time I prayed and went to the temple, it was always the same,” she said. “Eventually, I stopped being so stubborn and started working on my application.”
Faith Through Loss, Strength Through Legacy
Behind every success stood the memory of her parents, both of whom she lost during her time at BYU–Hawaii. “I got to visit home in December of the year I came to BYU–Hawaii,” she shared. “That’s when I found out my mom was sick.” Faaoa returned to school in January 2023, just two weeks before her mother passed away. “She begged me to go back,” Faaoa shared. “She told me, ‘I will see you at your graduation.’ That gave me hope.”
Her father passed away the following year in 2024. “I told them to wait until I graduate, but God had other plans,” she noted. “When I lost them, I felt like giving up. I was doing this for them. But then I realized—they wanted me to do it for myself.”
Amid grief, Faaoa leaned deeply on her faith. “My mom was a woman of strong faith,” she explained. “She always sought priesthood blessings. So, when I came here, I started doing the same thing. I would get a blessing at the beginning of each semester and before exams.”
Moreover, the temple became her refuge. “My bishop told me that when I want to feel my parents’ love, I can go to the temple,” she said. “So, I became a temple worker. It has brought me so much peace.” Faaoa also served as a Relief Society counselor in her campus ward. “Even when things get tough, I kneel and pray. I feel like heaven opens and I receive peace.”
Indeed, Faaoa found comfort in the Book of Mormon and her Church callings. “I know the Book of Mormon changes hearts. And I’ve seen Christ’s hand in my life, especially when I lost my parents or felt overwhelmed. Even when no one else understands me, I know Jesus Christ does.”
Equipped to Lead, Ready to Serve
BYU–Hawaii shaped Faaoa in and out of the classroom. “It’s not just about book knowledge,” she said. “It’s hands-on. I worked in HR, assisted in teaching, and was part of cultural clubs and leadership groups.”
These experiences taught her how to adapt and lead across cultures. “Working with people from so many backgrounds helped me grow. I became more understanding and adaptable.”
As she looks ahead, Faaoa is preparing to return to Tonga temporarily to work for the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, where she previously served as a revenue officer in 2017. She has also been accepted at the University of Utah for her postgraduate studies and will be starting in Fall 2025.
“The more you receive, the more you should give,” she said. “Everything I’ve learned at BYU–Hawaii, I want to use to serve others, especially back home.”
Her advice to other students is clear: “Make God your priority. He will bless you with the knowledge you need. Use the resources around you and don’t take them for granted. Never forget—with God, everything is possible.”
