Eleminoti Tu'uhetoka Sekona

‘Eleminoti “Tu’uhetoka” Sekona BKA Toka was called back to his Father in Heaven on March 17, 2022 at the age of 66. Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep in Magna, Utah where he resided with his daughter Kolokiholeva & son in ❤️ Hans “Chubby” Fonoimoana. Our Father was born on December 4, 1955 in Fo’ui, Tongatapu to Siosaia Kanavale from Fo’ui and Kalolaine Fakauho from Kolovai. He was the 7th of 13 children. His siblings are Atikono (Violani), Fonomanu (Lolohea), Uila Mohi (Latai), Vaiangina (Atalina) deceased, Samani (Epenisa), Manitisa (Alisi) deceased, Toka was born in the same year (IYKYK), Fungafa’imata, Maunaloa, Heamasi (Ema) deceased, Emalini (Vaini) deceased, Kolokiholeva Fifita (Ma’u), and Samani Sii Siale (Ma’ata). As a young child, Dad was raised by his paternal grandparents Makeleta Brown and Fine Sekona of whom he loved dearly. He was known to be spoiled by Makeleta, he could do no wrong in her eyes. Dad and his family migrated from Fo’ui, Tongatapu to Culver City, California in 1967 when he was 12 years old. Dad grew up in Culver City California. As he got older he spent a lot of his time in Santa Ana where his brother Heamasi lived. Dad became part of the ‘Kalapu Lolopa’ongo’ in California, Utah, & Hawaii. He also enjoyed spending time at the ‘Kalapu Kolokakala’ with his friends, who immediately became family as well. Our dad was a loving man… na’e faiteliha he taimi kotoa pe. People who knew our father loved him. He had a certain SWAG about him. He was young at heart. At any family function, when people are looking for him, you can find him hanging around his nieces and nephews, doing anything from playing cards to drinking kava or other beverages. If Dad was there, it was gonna be a good time. He was loved by people from all walks of life, it didn’t matter if you were rich, poor, young, old, hard working, hardly working, or a person of faith. You could have been Mormon, ‘Uesliana, Siasi Tonga, faithful or unfaithful IYKYK, it didn’t matter. Dad was easy to get along with. Koe tama mata ka’ing moe mata ‘OFA he taimi kotoa pe. He was a free-spirit. Dad lived a worry-free life, he didn’t have to worry about bills, always had a place to stay, literally anywhere in any state whether it was in California, Hawaii, Utah… Na’e ‘i ai ma’u pe ha feitu’u ke nofo ai, and it wasn’t only with family but Dad had friends everywhere. Our Father was a man of few words in public, but was an expert in persuasion & communication as many people learned as they played any card game, pool, checkers, rugby, it didn’t matter, he always had the last laugh. His laugh was so infectious. Any group he was in, whether he was at church, faikava, or with family, everyone around him was guaranteed a good laugh as he was the life of the party. In 1973, Dad married Teuila and had Toka sii, Vaiangina Sii, Margaret, Asi, Tofa, & Janet Moala. In 1985, Dad married Lea’aefaiva Sili from Vaini and had Tangi Nai, Siafa Nai, Samani Sekona, Kolokiholeva Fonoimoana (Hans “Chubby”), Fonomanu (Jackie), & Sosaia Sekona (Tupou Florena). Dad had 12 children that we know of, 39 grandchildren, & 19 & counting great-grandchildren. Throughout his life, Dad enjoyed Polynesian dancing as he danced for his Aunt Oloka’s Polynesian dance group at the Tiki in Culver City, California. Dad loved playing rugby and was part of the Young Tiger’s team from Los Angeles. Other hobbies included playing checkers, any card game (He was the biggest cheater), Dad could always pick a brother or cousin to work ‘Iate with… People would think he was working hard when in reality he was hardly working but still getting paid. In his final days, Dad enjoyed attending family functions, playing pool at the senior citizen centers in Glendale and Magna, but most importantly he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. They loved their Papa who always made sure they had their Mc Donald’s. Dad was not only an ENJOYER of life, but he loved it! He did not wait for life to pass him by, he jumped in and LIVED the best way he knew how, with a SMILE that was always accompanied with a joke, so that people around him were smiling & enjoying life too. Prior to Dad’s passing, due to old age, he began to lose his sight. He had surgery on his eyes and he was able to see again. He planned to take a trip to Hawaii with Lea & Ti. Leva & Chubby would later join them. He was excited to SEE beautiful Hawaii. Little did he know, his eyes were fixed to SEE all of the beautiful things in heaven as he is reunited with all his loved ones on the other side. Our Father was preceded in death by his grandparents: Makeleta & Fine, his parents Kalo & Kanavale, his brothers Manitisa, Heamasi, Vaiangina, his sister Emalini, his grandchild Raider and his great-grandchild Viliami. Dad is survived by his children: Vaiangina, Meki, Asi, Tofa, Janet Moala, Tangi Nai (Lesieli), Siafa Nai (Losina), Samani, Kolokiholeva (Hans “Chubby”), Fonomanu (Jackie) & Saia (Tupou Florena) Grandchildren: Jonathan, Esther, Naise, Lise, Blessed, Journey, Jamar, Christina, Asi, TJ, Noah, Gordon Faiva Zion, Lea Vanessa, Zacheria, Ika, Lea’aefaiva, Jennifer, Sifa Lopiseni, Sophia, Ryan Nimo, Samani, Neriah, Ekuasi, Jaidyn, Tangi Tiufilusi, Taniela, Sione Sili, Kovani Joyce’ann, Falakika Vaipongi, and LyanaRose Kaleia. Great-grandchildren: Valentina, Teuila, Akili, Tasi, Micah, Nancy, Sosaia, Matthew, Lieszel, Siva, Maggie, Latai, Maryann, Ave, Nahla, Navarra, Noah, and Dalton Jr. Until we meet again on that glorious day. Ki he ‘emau Tamai ‘ofa… Toka ā moe ‘Eiki… Funeral Services for our Father are as follows: March 27, 2022 Wake: 6-10pm Location: 3151 South Broadway Street Magna, Utah 84044 March 28, 2022 Viewing: 3/28/2022 9-11am Bishop’s Program: 11:30-12:30pm Burial: Redwood Cemetery 2pm Location: 6500 South Redwood Road Taylorsville, Utah 84123

Eleminoti Tu'uhetoka Sekona

December 4, 1955 - March 17, 2022