KaU'ialohaokalewalani “KaU’i” Naluai never planned to attend BYU–Hawaii. In fact, she once resisted the idea, but through personal prayer, trials, and a growing conviction that God was guiding her path, the Laie native found that she is exactly where she needed to be. Now a junior majoring in English education, KaU’i says her journey to BYU–Hawaii has shaped not only her career goals, but her faith and identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Making Her Faith Her Own
Naluai said that BYU–Hawaii has always been familiar to her and her family. “I always knew about BYU–Hawaii. Growing up in Laie, you see the campus all the time. When you attend Laie Elementary, you come here for field trips and activities,” she shared. “My parents both attended BYU–Hawaii, and my grandmother did too—back when it was known as Church College. I have deep roots here. My family has been part of this community for generations.”
At first, Naluai was reluctant to follow in the footsteps of her parents and grandmother. In her mind, she had other plans; she wanted to do something else entirely. And in her pursuit of doing just that, she would often not see eye to eye with her parents, which caused her to become more distant from them.
However, a turning point during her senior year of high school began to shift her perspective. “In 2019, when I was a senior in high school, our house caught on fire. My dad is a firefighter, and he was actually out in the field at the time, so he got the call to his own house fire,” Naluai shared. “We were in the hospital for like six hours trying to figure out what to do. We suddenly didn’t have a home.”
In the midst of uncertainty and hardship, she saw the grace of God. “I thought about Nephi when he was tied up by his brothers on the ship. There was a storm going on. He could have complained or gotten mad, but he still praised God,” she said. “That story resonated really heavily with me. Instead of getting mad at God, I realized He made sure we were alive. Even our dogs got out safely.”
That was the start of her actual conversion—having her own testimony rather than just going through the motions.
Faith and Action
“It just led me to the point where I thought, ‘The Lord has done so much for me—why don’t I do something for Him?’” Naluai said.
That realization led her to step out of her comfort zone and trust God, which then resulted in her serving a mission in Arcadia, California and Honolulu Hawai’i service mission. But it wasn’t always easy. Due to social anxiety, insecurity became an unbearable companion. “Moving away from Hawai‘i for the first time was hard,” she said. “I didn’t want to talk, and I struggled to speak to people in Spanish.”
Despite these challenges, Naluai said she began to recognize that her identity and upbringing were not limitations, but strengths she could carry with her. “I learned that whatever I carried—my culture, my Hawaiian culture—moved with me,” she said. Naluai carried the nature of Aloha with her as a missionary, focusing on connection and creating bonds with people. “A lot of people don’t know what God is to them, so you have to show them through how you treat them and the environment you create,” she shared.
From Hardship to Hope
Due to unexpected circumstances halfway through her mission, she returned home and continued to serve as a service missionary. The transition brought new challenges and tested her in ways she had not anticipated. “I wasn’t at peace,” she shared. “But over time, I learned that everything happens for a reason, and it’s okay—and that you’re not a mistake.”
Naluai expressed that through these challenges, she was able to strengthen her relationship with God. “That led me closer to Him, where I have a very firm foundation,” she said. “I’m not perfect—I still forget sometimes—but when the Lord gives me a prompting to say or do something, I do it, and I’ve seen how that has blessed me in many ways.”
Reflecting on her journey, she said she recognizes God’s hand in sustaining her through it all. “Thankfully, I probably wouldn’t be here physically if it weren’t for Him,” she said. “He’s made sure that I’m alive to see progress.”
Experiencing Education Firsthand
One of Naluai’s most meaningful experiences at BYU–Hawaii came through an education class, which required her to complete teaching assistant hours at a local elementary school.
“We had to complete about 15 working hours throughout the semester,” she said. “I ended up working under a teacher who had taken teaching assistant hours from my grandma—so it was kind of a full-circle moment.”
The experience gave her a real taste of teaching. “It felt real and exciting. I wasn’t necessarily teaching, but I had roles—helping kids stay on track and observing the classroom,” she said. “It made me better and reminded me that everything is connected—God shows you everything. It made me think, ‘Yeah, I do want to be a teacher. This is actually really cool.’”
A Community of Faith and Diversity
Being at BYU–Hawaii has given Naluai a unique opportunity to grow spiritually while connecting with others who share her beliefs. “It’s really nice to have people with the same knowledge as you—religion-wise. You can just talk about things, discuss the spirit, and talk about God in classrooms. You don’t always get that in public,” she said.
Beyond shared faith, she’s been inspired by the campus’s diversity. “BYU–Hawaii is so diverse—it’s amazing. Students come from the Pacific, Asia, Canada, Fiji, and so many other places. I would have never met these people anywhere else,” she shared. “It’s really cool to learn about other cultures too, because if you’re not learning about other cultures, what are you really doing?”
A Dream Come True
Naluai’s love for Disney started early. “I grew up watching everything Disney, and my first trip to Disneyland was at 18 months old. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated by Walt Disney’s storytelling—how every detail is connected,” she shared.
That passion eventually led her to apply for the Disney College Program. “I saw the application deadline and thought, ‘Maybe I should do this.’ I prayed about it, and my dad reminded me that ‘all good things come from God,’” Naluai said.
After being accepted, she found that the experience strengthened skills she had been developing at BYU–Hawaii—especially in building relationships and creating meaningful environments. “It felt like I had to go,” she said. “It was scary, but I knew it was something I needed to do.”
Wherever I Go
Naluai’s experiences have shaped her vision as a future teacher. “I want to incorporate Hawaiian mythology and folklore into English classes,” she said. “I want students to feel connected to the content the way I did—and passionate about learning.”
She hopes to provide students with the support she received from great teachers. “Not every kid has a supportive adult at home, so the classroom should be a place for that. I want to give that to others—and share my knowledge, culture, and experiences wherever I go,” she said.