Napua Baker

Napua, a local girl from Molokai & Laie, set out to expand her education at BYUH. While being there she found more than just an education, she found the love of her life, Michael TeNgaio. After a short period of dating, they were married and sealed in the Manti Temple. So, the two set out to begin their family and decided to move back home to La’ie to do so. The newlyweds gradually built their family with three children, a boy and two girls.

After several years had gone by, Napua noticed drastic changes in her husband’s mental health. These newfound changes caused a lot of stress and anxiety for the family especially Napua with trying to raise their kids at the same time. However, Napua remained hopeful and faithful in the Lord that things would get better as she prayed, read her scriptures, and took care of her children. Unfortunately, as days and months had gone by, things did not get better with her husband and slowly his mental state started to fade away.

Michael developed a severe mental illness that effected how he felt, thought, and behaved. Thus, bringing Napua to her knees pleading with the Lord on what the next step for the family should be. After fervent prayer and discussion, it became clear to Napua that her husband was no longer able to live with the family as his condition needed proper medical care. Although Michael was not well, Napua still loved him as the same man she married and wanted what was best for his health as well. So, Michael went back home to live in New Zealand so he could be better taken care of and have that peace of being “home”.

Being Hawaiian was not easy to embrace in my childhood, the United States was just about to make Hawaii a state and at Kamehameha Schools (a Hawaiian School) where I attended, Hawaiian was not allowed to be spoken. So Hawaiian music is where I learned and more importantly felt who I am as a Hawaiian so I relied on music to keep that connection that I have as a native Hawaiian. I still love listening and singing Hawaiian music today! Although I am not fluent in Hawaiian and was sad that in school we weren't allowed to, I decided to embrace education and english because my father taught me that we can make a bigger difference for our people, educated. I went on to became the first woman Vice President of BYUH and the first Hawaiian in the President's Council. Ultimately , being Hawaiian pushed me to reach for the stars and remember who I represent and who I can inspire.

It is very important to me that I am Polynesian but more impactful that I am an educated Polynesian.