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

Carrying our stories, joy and healing home.

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

We live, work and love on the Wesside of 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 Niumeitolu 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.

We are seeking and in talks about securing land access for our Indigenous kin Oceania plants. āfā is writing a series that looks, feels and is Rosa Parks-Wesside.

Community stewardship in Salt Lake City:

Westside Environmental Justice Committee

Westside Review Board

Utah Food Coalition

Vice Chair, School Community Council for Salt Lake City School District

Kaimana Cultural Facilitator, Kaimana Graduate

A fellow and mentored by, Kukui Maunakea Forth of the Ma’o Organic Farms in Wai’anae, Hawai’i

Mentored by Indigenous Poet Laureate and treasure, Joy Harjo

‘Ofa lahi atu Alofa kele aku