In December 1993, Maeva Teurua graduated from BYU–Hawaii with a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Maeva shared her journey from a shy girl in Tahiti to a successful alumna of BYU–Hawaii, fulfilling the university’s mission in French Polynesia. Coming from Tahiti, she originally saw BYU–Hawaii as a place to practice her English and study, but it turned out to be so much more. Her years in university gave her new confidence, a career foundation, and ultimately a spiritual path that continues to shape her life.
Finding Herself
When Maeva first came to BYU–Hawaii, she was enrolled in hospitality and tourism, but later switched to hotel and restaurant management. Maeva came to the university as a friend of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and described herself as “a very shy girl with little confidence.” Growing up, her parents raised her with good principles, but she admits she often doubted herself and struggled to speak up.
Her family’s connection to BYU–Hawaii came through friends. “My parents had some friends who were members of the Church, and they talked about BYU–Hawaii to my mom,” Maeva explained. “That’s how I ended up being a student at BYU–Hawaii as a non-member.”
While earning her degree, Maeva also worked multiple jobs around campus—at the cafeteria, in Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) concessions, and as a French tutor in the Language Lab. Those experiences gave her practical skills that set her apart later in her career.
But even more important than work experience, Maeva found the gospel through friends. “I had been looking for the true church since I was 14 years old,” she shared. “Through my Tahitian friends, I found answers to the questions I had been carrying for years.”
Adjusting to a new culture, language, and religion wasn’t easy, but Maeva says the environment helped her grow in ways she didn’t expect. “My time at BYU–Hawaii was the best school years I had in my entire life,” she reflected. “Little by little, BYU–Hawaii helped me open up. With my classes, my jobs, and being surrounded by people from all over the world, I started to feel more confident and comfortable in myself.”
Career and a Change of Heart
After graduating from BYU–Hawaii in 1993, Maeva quickly landed jobs at luxury hotels in Bora Bora and later advanced to become a human resource manager at a four-star property in Tahiti. After more than a decade in the industry, though, her service in church callings showed her something new—she loved teaching children.
“I found a new me,” she said. “Hotels were a great experience, but I loved teaching kids even more.” Maeva went back to school, became an elementary teacher, and now, she also serves
as a mission officer in French Polynesia, travelling to different islands to train teachers in Mathematics, English, and robotics.
Alongside her professional and church callings, Maeva treasures her role as a wife and mother. She met her husband, Michel, at the Institute of Religion in Tahiti a few years after she graduated. They married in 1998 and are the parents of two children: a son, now 18, and a daughter, 15 years old.
Her family has become part of her ongoing connection to BYU–Hawaii. “I always tell my children about my learning experiences there, and now both of them want to study at BYU–Hawaii,” she said with a smile.
Strength to Serve
Today, Maeva also serves as the president of the BYU–Hawaii Alumni Chapter in French Polynesia. One of her first goals is reconnecting alumni across the islands. “We are all so busy in our work, but I want us to build a professional network to help students find jobs,” she said. She also hopes to host information sessions for prospective students, guiding them to choose majors that will make a difference back home.
Looking back, Maeva says BYU–Hawaii blessed her life spiritually, educationally, professionally, and socially. She gained confidence, faith, and opportunities she never imagined. “BYU–Hawaii is the school of life,” she said. “We don’t only learn in class—we learn to work, to serve, and to become self-reliant.”
Her advice for students today is simple: “Go back to your home and serve in your home. What you learn at BYU–Hawaii is meant to bless your country and your people.”