Tekura Tamatoa Traill is a Cook Islander who was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, where many Cook Island Māori have migrated over the years. For example, her mother is originally from Rarotonga and her father is from Aitutaki. The Cook Island greeting, kia orana, is almost the same as their New Zealand Māori “cousin’s” kia ora — both meaning “live” in the sense of “good health.”

Tekura recently married a BYUH graduate whose family is from Fiji but now lives in New Zealand; and she just graduated from BYU-Hawaii with a degree in political science. After working part-time at the Center for the past four years, she and her new husband have recently returned home.

“I’m the oldest of six children, and I couldn’t have afforded to come here without the IWES program. I’m the first one in my family to go to university,” said Tekura, who served as a Latter-day Saint missionary in Las Vegas before enrolling at BYU–Hawaii and starting at the PCC. Over the past four years she has worked as a tour guide, in marketing, and now as a New Zealand demonstrator.

As part of her PCC/BYU–Hawaii experience, Tekura also returned to New Zealand to work for a month as an intern with the Manukau [a suburb of Auckland] City Council [government]. “I even got to meet the Prime Minister, Helen Clark.”

“I’ve learned a lot here. When I was at home, I didn’t know much about my own culture, but now I appreciate it more,” she said. “I’d never done Māori dancing in my life until I came here. I started learning Māori songs and the language.”

“The best part of being here has been learning more about Polynesian culture, and meeting with the guests. Also, meeting my husband here. I’ve made a lot of new friends, and I’m going to miss them. They’ve come from all over the world and helped form my character.”

“I think PCC is a blessing to everyone who comes here, both the students and the guests.”