The Oko Family: A Journey of Faith and Learning

The Oko family proudly wears traditional Tongan attire. The “ta’ovala,” a woven mat worn around their waists, symbolizes their Tongan heritage, while Hauloto’s red scarf, the “kahoa kula,” signifies her Christian faith within the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. For the Oko family, these symbols are not just garments but expressions of identity and pride in their cultural and spiritual roots.

Kalistiane and Hauloto Oko were married in July 2018 in their home country of Tonga, where they met at Sia’atoutai Theological College while earning their bachelors degrees. Only a few months after marrying, they relocated to Claremont to pursue Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degrees at CST. After completing their MTS degrees in 2021, they both entered the DMin program and in May 2024, were part of the first CST commencement at the new Westwood campus.

During their time at CST, they experienced a number of major life changes, including the birth of their son, ‘Akapusi Tau’alupe (pictured above); the COVID-19 pandemic; and the subsequent loss of close family and friends. “But we also gained incredible friends,” said the Okos. “We remain grateful for the nurturing place that is CST as it has encouraged our focus on becoming a compassionate presence in the world that we live in. We learned from world-renowned, but humble and down to earth, theologians that tapped into our spiritualities and helped us to integrate our new found reflections. We engaged in mind boggling conversations with our fellow colleagues that have encouraged us on our journey.”

The Okos specifically noted CST professors Phillip Clayton, Roland Faber, Marvin Sweeney, Belva Jordan Brown, Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, Andrew Dreitcer, and Frank Rogers as having particularly significant impacts on their academic experiences. These mentors nurtured the Oko family’s spiritual and academic growth, shaping their understanding of Christianity and deepening their compassion for others. From exploring the nuances of Christology to delving into spiritual practices, each course and conversation at CST left an indelible mark on their journey.

Looking ahead, Kalistiane plans to pursue a PhD program and Hauloto seeks to earn a degree in a specialized style of writing. Rooted in their faith and culture, the Oko family’s ultimate aspiration is to return to Tonga and contribute to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. Both Kalistiane and Hauloto envision themselves nurturing future theologians at Sia’atoutai Theological College, reflecting their commitment to giving back to their community and church.

The Oko Family’s motto is “’Oku puli ‘a e ‘amui ‘i he ‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua,” a Tongan proverb that is used by a person who sits in awe of God’s work in their lives. It means that God’s love has brought us to places and to experiences that were unknown to us; that God was there in the future preparing for us ahead of time.