For Ma’afu Suliafu, community has always been about more than belonging—it has been about creating space where others can finally breathe freely. As the co-founder of the Nuanua Collective, Suliafu has become a leading voice for LGBTQ+ Pacific Islanders in Utah, helping to bridge the gap between cultural tradition and queer identity in ways that affirm, heal, and empower.

Utah is home to one of the largest Pacific Islander diasporas in the nation, yet queer Pasifika voices have often been pushed to the margins, silenced by colonization, missionary influence, and Western ideas of gender. In 2019, Suliafu, alongside Lauren Ulugia, launched the Nuanua Collective to begin rewriting that story. Rooted in the belief that Pacific cultures have always embraced gender diversity—including Samoan identities like fa’afafine and fa’afatama—the collective reclaims ancestral knowledge and creates platforms for queer Pasifika to be seen and celebrated.

Since its founding, Nuanua has blossomed into a vital hub of activism, education, and celebration. Through cultural programming, arts showcases, sexual health classes, drag performances, and peer support, Suliafu and the leadership team have cultivated what they call an “ocean of opportunities” for LGBTQ+ Pacific Islanders. Their work does more than uplift queer voices; it reminds the wider community that Pacific traditions have always carried space for fluidity, resilience, and leadership across genders.

Suliafu’s vision is both deeply cultural and boldly future-oriented. By centering Pacific Islander experiences within broader queer advocacy, he ensures that issues of identity, belonging, and justice are addressed on Pasifika terms. Under his leadership, the Nuanua Collective has received significant support, including a grant from United Way in 2022, and continues to partner with local LGBTQ+ and QTBIPOC groups to build lasting systems of care.

For Suliafu, the work is as personal as it is collective. Each gathering, performance, and workshop reflects the ongoing effort to reclaim erased histories while planting seeds for generations to come. In creating Nuanua, he has built more than an organization—he has built a sanctuary where queer Pacific Islanders can honor their ancestors, celebrate their full selves, and chart a future rooted in both culture and freedom.