Fua ‘Etau Ngaahi Talanoa Tukufakaholo, mo ‘Etau Fiefia mo e Fakamo’ui ki ‘Api”

Carrying our stories, joy and healing home.

‘aikona and Carry the Water is an Indigenous centered and led storytelling, gardening and vai stewarding co-op.

We live and love on the ancestral lands of Soonkahni (Salt Lake City) called Rosa Parks (Rose Park), Glendale and Poplar Grove, West Valley and to Moana.

‘aikona was a yearning and tug from the Ancestors and Teti (Dad) of ‘amelia leafaitulagi, known as āfā.

afā is a storyteller/director/ protector of Moana-Wansolwara-Madau-Oceania.

Si’oto’ofa, I greet you in the language of my ancestors and the place of my birth,Tonga. ‘amelia leafaitulagi ‘aikona (she/tokouso) is an Indigenous daughter of Moana (Oceania). Āfā was raised in Tonga, Hawai'i, by the waters of Paa-Katetan (Utah Lake) to the Pia Paa (Great Salt Lake). Āfā has returned to the Pia Okwai (Jordan River) and the Westside from being away on the ancestral homeland of the Lenape (Harlem-New York City), Yelamu (La Mission- San Francisco), Tonga, Sāmoa, Viti (Fiji) and Tongva (Long Beach City and Los Angeles County). While away, afā collectively worked in multimedia, film, organizing, climate justice, social justice work, gardening, youth and elders circles, healing, joy and service.

āfā graduated from California State University, Northridge and studied at UCLA in the Native and Asian American Studies program.

afā was an MFA Creative Writing student in New Mexico . āfā was taught by Migizi Pensonou writer and producer of Rez Dogs, Tommy Orange, Geoff Harris, Layli Long Soldier and Indigenous storytellers.

In June 2024 āfā stepped on the sacred and ancestral lands of the the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ/Tsalaguwetiyi/Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the ᏣᎳᎩᎠᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ/Cherokee Nation, the Shawandasse Tula/Shawanwaki/Shawnee Tribe, and the S’atsoyaha/Yuchi. This land shared with the bell hooks center and where bell hooks loved, taught, wrote and joyed. āfā learned and shared with Black kin and Indigenous relatives.

to my first storytellers and gardeners, my Dad and my great grandma Mele Lei, my Grandma ‘Amelia Sauliloa who placed my hands in the soil and ocean water and to my children, Pele and Tangata ‘o Lakepa, our community for keeping my feet planted and watered.

‘Ofa lahi atu Alofa kele aku