Pierce County woman with roots in Tonga raises cash for island nation hit by disaster
When Celina Tupou-Fulivai’s family in the South Pacific nation of Tonga started sending her photos and videos of irregular water patterns in the ocean and live footage of the skies turning dark with ash, she knew something was coming.
The Hunga volcano 40 miles from the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa erupted early Saturday morning, covering the country in ash and bringing a tsunami crashing into the coastline. Pierce County’s Tupou-Fulivai is now raising money to help families across the South Pacific country.
The U.S Geological Survey estimated that the volcano’s explosion was equivalent to a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. A sonic boom could be heard in Alaska, more than 6,000 miles away, the National Weather Service said. The U.S West Coast was under a tsunami advisory throughout Saturday, with waves up to 4.3 feet seen in Port San Luis, California. The Pacific Northwest and Alaska coastlines saw smaller impacts of less than 2-foot waves.
A damage assessment from Tonga has yet to be completed, due to limited communication and airports there being shut down, The New York Times reported.
Tupou-Fulivai, 32, grew up in University Place, never forgetting her mother’s Tongan culture. Her grandfather, mother and aunt migrated to America to follow other family members. Despite never visiting her mother’s country, Tupou-Fulivai said she was raised with the Tongan values, Fefaka’apa’apa’aki, meaning mutual respect; Feveitokai’aki, sharing, cooperating and fulfillment of mutual obligations; Lototoo, humility and generosity’ and Tauhi vaha’a, loyalty and commitment.
Her great grandfather was Lord Fulivai of Vava’u, an island in Tonga, and she has family in government across the islands.
She stays connected to them through social media and texts. She said the Tongan community is strong because it is so small.
“We’re very ... clan- and village-oriented people. So wherever we are, we’re related to someone somehow if they are from Tonga,” Tupou-Fulivai said.
Tupou-Fulivai and others around the world have been unable to contact family in Tonga since the eruption.
The eruption disrupted the internet connection to the nation. Tonga depends on underwater cables to connect to the rest of the world, according to the Associated Press.
“It’s been very scary,” she said.
Tupou-Fulivai has started a campaign to raise funds that will directly reach residents in need. Thus far, she has raised more than $3,400 from donors around the world.
She has become jaded by organizations raising funds that don’t reach the people in need. National media outlets followed money donated to Haiti following a 2010 earthquake. More than $13 billion was donated to the Caribbean country, very little of which has ended up in the hands of Haitians. Tupou-Fulivai wants donors to feel that there is accountability in this fundraising effort.
Family members of those on the Tongan islands are encouraged to submit an application for funds on their behalf, with a cap of $500.
“As soon as communications go up, they can go over to Western Union MoneyGram to pick up that money. They don’t have to call and wait for their family, which we’re anticipating is going to be a mess,” Tupou-Fulivai said.
Tongan people across the globe are helping Tupou-Fulivai raise funds and sort through applications to ensure dollars reach families in need. Activity on Facebook groups of Tongan people living around the world has jumped, with members sharing updates on the island and looking to provide relief, Tupou-Fulivai said.
“It’s really been like a communal effort,” she said. “That’s not just from Tacoma, that’s literally from a worldwide network of other Tongans pitching in.”
The pandemic has made the natural disaster even more difficult for the Tongan community, Tupou-Fulivai said. They have to text or call each other rather than gather in person.
The coronavirus has disproportionately affected the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community in Pierce County. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reports that while the population accounts for only 1.7 percent of the county’s 921,130 residents, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island community has accounted for 5.1 percent of reported COVID-19 cases and 4.9 percent of COVID-19-related deaths.
Washington state holds almost 65,000 residents who identify as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, according to the U.S. Census data.
“It’s just the sheer nature of how we gather. We’re very communal people. COVID has really sort of knocked us out,” Tupou-Fulivai said.
The pandemic has also brought about her Pacific-Islander e-commerce business.
In addition to working in the records department of a health insurance company, Tupou has started a side retail business, LiaMoLinePasifika. She sells shirts, bags and other items geared towards Pacific Islanders. Her products pair Pacific Island sayings, cultural movements, people and items with young, vibrant designs.
She hopes the Tongan community can help those hit by the natural disaster, while many wait to see the aftermath of their home country.
“For a lot of us, there’s a lot of uncertainty and suffering and waiting,” Tupou-Fulivai said. “I think we’re just trying to keep busy, to stay occupied and to have hope and faith.”
To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/diaster-cash-assistance-for-citizens-of-tonga.
This story was originally published January 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
