Moana Nui Utah

11/28/2025

He aha kāu e mahalo ai?
What are you thankful for?

Many of us just celebrated a national holiday proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in October 1863 mainly to foster national unity, express gratitude for blessings despite the Civil War, and encourage collective prayer for peace and healing. Lincoln framed the November holiday as a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” to God for national blessings such as population growth, economic activity, and functioning laws, even amid war. He called Americans to humble themselves, acknowledge national sins, and pray that God would heal the nation’s wounds and restore “peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”
In Hawai'i an older season with a similar call for celebration, reflection, and showing of appreciation was Makahiki, which starts in late October and November with the sighting of Makali'i or the Pleiades constellation.
Makahiki marked a time of peace, harvest, rest, and communal celebration.The season gave people and ʻāina (land) rest, with a kapu on war and a ceasing of most heavy labor. The season that recognizes Lono, the deity associated with rain, agriculture, fertility, peace, renewal of the land and interpersonal and family relations, Makahiki allowed communities to express thanks formally, reflect on the past year, and seek prosperity, health, and fertility for the coming growing season. People came together in hula, athletic competitions, storytelling, chants, feasting, prayers, and participated in protocols that ensured the social order while also reminding people regardless of station of their kūleana, responsibilities and obligations. This season ended in January to February when the Makali'i constellation was no longer viewable.

What do you appreciate and what do you look to heal and renew in interpersonal family, work, or social relationships? What are your goals for the coming year regarding spiritual connection, aloha in your family , increased temporal abundance, improved health, additional learning, and service?

Feel free to share your thoughts or any additional Pacific traditions that also help us to reflect, give thanks, and celebrate.
Aloha Pumehana- na Moana Nui Utah. 💚🙏

07/08/2025

05/11/2021

Scholarships for High School Rugby players going on to college.

The United States Rugby Foundation has reorganized as a Delaware not-for-profit corporation. Donations and contributions made to the Foundation by individuals or organizations are exempt from U.S. Federal and State Tax in accordance with the Foundation’s status as a 501(c)3 organization. Please no...

02/07/2017

Aloha everyone! We look forward to connecting with more of you via social media! Just a little info about us...we are a registered non-profit organization in Utah and have been helping the Pacific Island community since 2011 by providing scholarships, hosting youth cultural camps and more recently we are working on a diabetes awareness video in Tonga so look out for that! We are currently updating our website and should be live in the next few days.

Do you like our logo?? It was created by our talented kupuna, Uncle Keli Lobendahn from Orem, Utah. It is trademarked so if you see someone using it, let them know this is a Moana Nui logo please 😊🙏🏽🌺

If you have any questions or ideas feel free to contact us!

Mālama Pono,

Omai Crichton, Director

08/12/2016

Those of you who are LDS (and many of our Pacific people here are) and have been wanting to finish or start your degree but worried about cost, the LDS church unrolled this affordable accredited Pathway program to a certificate, associate's degree, and bachelors thru BYU-I. It's only $68/credit. Classes are taken online with a weekly group face to face meeting with missionaries at ward buildings. There is no application fee, and no ecceciastical interview required as you start. This program is also offered around the world- for example, in Tonga the cost is $20/credit. Applicatioin deadline for Fall 2016 is August 23. Check the website for more information and contacts. https://pathway.lds.org/

08/04/2016

High School students explore Khan Academy's free admission planning resources! https://www.khanacademy.org/college-admissions

07/25/2016

07/15/2016

:,( More than 600 Utah Children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old killed themselves last year. 1.LIMIT SCREEN TIME and SOCIAL MEDIA- more than 5 hours of screen time per day has been linked to higher rates of su***de. 2. lock your guns up/ use a gun safe since many of them used their parents guns. 3.Find a way to acces mental health services/ most insurance does not pay for it. 24-HOUR LIFELINE 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Disturbing new data from the Department of Health indicates the leading cause of death among Utah children ages 10-17 is su***de.

07/14/2016

From the Community Emergency Response Team :
Due to this condition Utah State Division of Water Quality and Utah County Health Department are posting CLOSURES TO UTAH LAKE to protect people from the medical complications that can occur with this bloom.

Utah Lake has had a toxic algae bloom of significance. If ingested the toxin can cause life threatening conditions. Even contact with the water is recommended against. We will keep you informed as conditions change. For more information see

Harmful Algal Blooms - Gateway to Health Communication - CDC

07/05/2016

Following his passion and finding success....

07/03/2016

https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/2016/06/16/scholarships-with-august-2016-deadlines/

Attending college can be quite expensive for students and their families. Luckily, there are many college scholarships and contests available to help pay for a college education. Students should se…

06/20/2016

Taco Bell is giving away free Doritos Locos Tacos after the Golden State Warriors won a game on the road in the NBA finals.