Salote Niumoefanga Lavulo

We are saddened by the loss of our dear family member, Salote N. Lavulo. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 8 in Bountiful, Utah. Salote is the daughter of Mele Vaohingano "Vao" and Piuleini Taufa. Vao is grandma Fatai's older sister. Salote and her family spent alot of time in Hautu with Grandma, Grandpa and our mom's and dad's. Many of the family attended her funeral including Vili Oto who flew in from Hawaii, Sione lahi, Sioeli & Saane, Inoke & Lelu and many of us younger generation brothers and sisters. Salote will be missed greatly! Our condolences, best wishes, and love go out to her siblings, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ofa lahi atu!

Hema & Becky Katoa

Well I hope this blog becomes a place where our family can keep up with each other. I know several of you have visited but as of yet we have not had the interaction I have hoped for. So...let me begin with my little family. I am Sioeli & Saane's second oldest. I currently reside in Lehi, Utah. My wife Becky and I have two wonderful children, Hema and Vela. I work for a local school district as a specialist providing couseling for at-risk students and training teachers and administrators about at-risk behaviors and other "safe schools" issues. I also provide mental health services part-time for another private angency, specializing in services for Pacific Islanders.
I hope that with all this technology we are blessed with we can continue to keep the strong family ties that I have experienced since I was a child. When our family first migrated to the USA they struggled together to survive. Now that we have all managed to established ourselves let's not let the strength of our family ties weaken.
If you would like to participate please e-mail photos, videos, and messages to me at melinomoeofa@live.com and I will post them. If you have any questions you can e-mail or comment on this post. Also please spread the word to other family members. Malo.

Ofa Atu