With roots to both Laie and a BYU education ingrained in her repertoire of social work and passion for helping people, Losaline Hafoka completes her first few months as new Academic Advisor for art, English, and music with success and hopes for the future.
“When I saw this job opening, I applied for it and I didn’t really think much of it,” said Hafoka. “But then when I got called in for an interview and I started researching the job more, I realized it was something that I would actually really enjoy. It’s been a really nice fit for me.”
Hafoka grew up in Laie, but left at age 18 for Provo, Utah. “I wanted to experience BYU away from home, and that’s what BYU in Provo provided for me, and I loved it there,” said Hafoka who lived in Provo all of her adult life until she moved back to Kahuku last summer with her husband--also local to Laie--and four kids.
After 7 years of being a stay-at-home mom, Hafoka and her husband decided it would be best for them financially if she reentered the workforce. “Our kids are a little bit older and so it worked out a little bit better,” she said.
“Logistics aside, what I have really enjoyed about working here is working with people. I did want to be in a position that allowed me to work with students directly and also help me feel like I’m making some kind of difference in their education and helping them progress.”
Coming from a clinical background, Hafoka graduated with a master’s degree in social work and worked in various clinical settings.
“I’ve never worked at a university,” said Hafoka. “It’s always been in more clinical settings like residential homes for troubled teens. I’ve worked with teenage girls with eating disorders; I’ve worked at the mental hospital in Provo. I’ve had very intense jobs before, and so I feel like because I haven’t been working for 7 years this has been a very good job to transition from being at home.”
Despite her first day being “overwhelming” and a lot to learn, Hafoka feels she is getting into the swing of things, and students have noticed too.
“Sister Hafoka seems very quiet,” said senior and English major Dona Maifala from American Samoa, “but deep down inside I know she has the passion to assist her students. Although she has only been an academic advisor for a few months, she is already comfortable and plays the role as if she’s been an advisor for years.”
Hafoka loves working directly with people in the workforce, but the people who hold top priority in her life are her family. She describes the happiest moment of her life as being sealed to her husband in the Laie temple and having her kids as a close second.
Outside of work, much of her time is dedicated to family: date nights, trying new restaurants, movie nights, and hiking. She wishes to one day see the Seven Wonders of the World, but most especially Machu Picchu.
Although this job is on the more the academic side than her previous positions, Hafoka still looks to the future and views it as long term. “My main goal is to help students graduate successfully and to feel successful by the time they graduate.”
Esther Candari, a sophomore majoring in fine arts from Kaneohe said, “She is very helpful and interested in making sure students have their goals made into solid plans.”
“I do really like working at a university,” said Hafoka. “I like that I work for both the university and the Church. It makes me appreciate my job more.”