Nathanael (Toʻa) Aiu is from the ahupuaʻa (village) of Kahuku on the mokupuni (island) of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi nei. He is a Family Life major with an emphasis in Family Studies in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at BYU, pursuing dual minors in Sociology and American Indian Studies. From a young age, the ʻōlelo noʻeau (Hawaiian Proverb) “Hoʻi i ka loʻi” (return to the land that has nourished you and nourish it back) has guided his desire to give back to his family, religion, and community.
In that spirit, Toʻa has participated in two research projects with Dr. Larry Nelson and Dr. Alex Jensen in the School of Family Life, examining how various childhood experiences influence emerging adulthood. He also works with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints training missionaries to increase convert baptisms. Toʻa plans to attend law school and become a family lawyer, and later hopes to serve in the political sphere, using law and public policy to strengthen families and core social institutions.
In his free time, Toʻa enjoys dancing hula kahiko, cooking and baking, playing volleyball, listening to Hawaiian reggae and R&B, and spending time with close friends and family whom he calls his “village.”