Meet Our Past Guests of Honor

Lesieli Tauki’uvea:

Taught English at Havelu Prep School from 1980 to 1981

She also taught English (Form 5 School Certificate) at Liahona High School for 10 years from 1981 – 1992.

Sesili Tauki’uvea:

Taught Agriculture at Liahona High School from 1980 to 1984

Taught Seminary at Liahona High School from 1985 to 1992

They both had other assignments and worked a lot with students (pay or not pay, they loved the students at Liahona High School.

Both Sesili and Lesieli were coordinator for both boys and girls dorm (or dorm parents) from 1980 to 1984. The first couple years of their service, they organized the graduation balls.

After 2 years of becoming the dorm parents, Sesili was called as a Bishop for the same

students him and Lesieli looked after as dorm parents. After their assignments of being the dorm parents, Sesili remained as the bishop for 8 more years. That's a total of 10yrs of being a Bishop from 1982 to 1992.

Sesili was Student Body Advisor from 1980 to probably 1988. He coached rugby (grade 3 and 4) approximately from 1985 to 1987. Sesili also coached boys volleyball from 1990 to 1992. Liahona won the championships in both years and one year in particular, he ended up in jail because Toloa lost the match and they came to fight the boys. Everyone ran and climbed the fence, but Sesili was trying to protect the boys and got locked up and as a result was locked up. Luckily, Pasi Havea was Chief of police and at the time and he got him out. Sesili assisted in all sports from 1980 to 1992 (Rugby, Track and field, Volleyball to name a few).

Interesting fact, in the early 80’s, Kingi Tonga and Sesili taught high jump in Liahona and Sesili (since he did upholstery), created the first cushion that the students could fall on after the jump. He remembers Viliami Kaufusi was the record holder in Tonga until Percy Harris beat his record.

 Mosese Fehoko Naeata, was born in Kolofo’ou Tonga on the 8th February, 1940 to Viliami and Ofa Naeata.  Mosese grew up in Ha’alaufuli Vava’u where his father’s family hails from. At the age of 12, Mosese’s father grew ill and passed away. With his older brother and sister attending Liahona High School on Tongatapu, Mosese assumed the responsibility of taking care of his mother and younger sisters.  This made for a very challenging life for him.  Eventually Mosese followed his older siblings and attended Liahona High School where he graduated in 1960.  Immediately after graduating, Mosese served a full-time mission in the Nukualofa Tonga Mission and eventually, was able to further his education at the Church College of Hawaii, now known as Brigham Young University of Hawaii.  There he met his lovely wife ‘Akanesi Tilila Naeata and were sealed in the Laie Hawaii Temple on August 8th, 1970.     

While at CCH, Mosese represented the university in the nation collegiate rugby competition where they won CCH’s first and only National Rugby Championship in 1970.  After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree, Mosese was approached by Alton Wade (Assistant to the Commissioner of the Department of Education of the Church) with a calling to return to Tonga to help build the church.  Without any hesitation, Mosese agreed to the calling in spite of the hesitancy from his wife.  Eventually, Mosese and Akanesi agreed to return to Tonga temporarily for a couple of years, with the intentions of heading back to the United States to establish a life for their family.   Mosese, his wife and 2 very young children arrived in Tonga 1973.  Upon their arrival, Mosese was hired by Liahona High School as the P.E. teacher and Head Coach for Liahona High School’s Track and field Team and Senior Rugby Team.  Mosese remained in this position from 1973 to 1981.     

During this period of time, Liahona Athletics achieved the highest amount of athletic accolades in the history of the school.  For 8 consecutive years, Liahona High School under the coaching of Mosese, his coaching staff and the school administration, set a standard of excellence and championships for the entire country of Tonga even to this day.  In spite of all the success on the field, Mosese unfailingly taught the student athletes to attribute their massive accomplishments to the Lord.  Mosese and Akanesi “Hanai’d” many of the athletes and continue to have a relationship with most of them even 40 plus years later.  Much of Mosese’s coaching accomplishments are captured in a song composed and sung by the talented Iongi brothers.     

Mosese’s influence in coaching was not limited to just Liahona High School.   Later in his coaching career, he branched out to coach the National Tonga Team for track and field where Tonga competed in the South Pacific Mini Games held in Fiji and Honiara.  Finally, Mosese was named as the head coach for Tonga’s National Volleyball Team.   After leaving Liahona High School in 1982, Mosese took a position as the Church’s Materials Management Manager and Real Estate Manager at the Presiding Bishoprics Office, Service center up until he retired in 2005.   Mosese Naeata is a God fearing man and he loves God more than anything in this world.  He has proven it through serving faithfully in numerous church callings throughout his life.  He loves his wife very much and his children.  

Today he continues to serve the Lord in his callings as a Temple Sealer, a Sunday school teacher and also the Stake Patriarch for the Liahona Stake.  He is a spiritual hero in the lives of his family, immediate and extended.  As a coach, he has passed on a motto to his children and grandchildren found in the book of Luke 22:42 which reads:   “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:  nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”   Mosese currently resides in Tonga and continues to serve his God in whatever he is asked to do.  

Mosese Fehoko Naeata – 82 years old 

• Born  -  Vaiola Hospital, Kolofo’ou, Tongatapu 

• DOB  -  8th February, 1940 

• Parents  -  Viliami Naeata (Uvea Futuna – Ha’alaufuli)

 Ofa Kongaika (Pangai Ha’apai) 

• Married  -  to Akanesi Tilila Hikila at Laie Temple Hawaii  -  8th August, 1970 

• Children  -  6 

• Residence  -  Matangiake, Temple View Street  -  Home:  Viola’ofa   

Education: 

- Ha’alaufuli elementary school 

- Liahona High School 1954 – 1960 

Mission: Nuku’alofa Tonga Mission 1960 – 1962

BYU Hawaii: 1964 – 1970   

Church Assignments: 

- Bishop – (1975-1977)(2005-2007) 

- Mission Presidency – (1977 -1980) 

- Stake President – (1983 – 1992) 

- Mission President – (1997 – 2000) 

- Temple Presidency – (2007 – 2010) 

- Currently a Temple Sealer, Stake Patriarch and ward Sunday School Teacher   

Employment: 

- Teacher & coach – 9 years 

- National coach for Volleyball & sprinter 

- Material Management Manager (PBO) 

- Real Estate Manager (PBO)