A Pacific Love Story Rooted in Strength, Tested by Illness, and Fueled by Hope
Mālō e lelei and Aloha, warmest greetings to you all.
My name is Alana Wilson Fusitu’a, and I humbly ask for your support on behalf of my little family. I am a Native Hawaiian graduate student, a cancer survivor, and the devoted wife of Hamani Fusitu’a, a kind-hearted Tongan man facing serious and ongoing mental health challenges. We are in a moment of crisis—and we need your help.
A Love Story Rooted in Compassion and Struggle
I met Hamani in January 2024 while on vacation in Australia, where he was working as a fruit-picker. Despite having very little—his entire life packed into a single duffle bag—he showed me nothing but warmth, generosity, and love. He was the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
But life in Australia was unkind to him. He struggled to find stable work and safe housing, and his emotional and mental health began to deteriorate under the weight of these hardships. From Hawaii, I did all I could to support him financially, but many of the people he stayed with took advantage of our help, leaving him vulnerable and dependent.
Fearing for his safety and well-being, I bought him a one-way ticket back home to the Kingdom of Tonga, where he gratefully returned to try to rebuild his life.
A Year of Unimaginable Hardship
In 2024, I was honored to be working in my dream role at the Hawaii State Energy Office as their Outreach and Community Engagement Specialist, serving both Hawai‘i and the greater Pacific Region. But in May of that year, my world turned upside down: I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Between May and August, I underwent countless surgeries and procedures. During this terrifying time, my parents, my supervisor, and Hamani—calling daily from Tonga—were my constant sources of strength. Even though he had no financial resources, he found ways to call every day by borrowing phone credit, simply to pray with me, check in, and offer love from afar.
In October, after regaining some health, I used my vacation time to travel to Tonga. Hamani and I got married. What was meant to be a two-week trip turned into something much more—because while I was there, I discovered the severity of his untreated mental health condition.
Mental illness is still deeply stigmatized in Tonga, and there were little to no resources available to help him. As someone who believes in human dignity and justice, I stayed longer to advocate for him, fight for resources, and protect his well-being. It was heartbreaking. When I returned to Hawai‘i, I had only a suitcase and a dream to keep going—for both of us.
Trying to Survive and Build a Future
I made the difficult decision to resign from my job so I could prioritize my health and continue my graduate studies in Climate Finance for the Pacific Region, which I had been pursuing alongside my work.
I stayed on a friend’s floor, poured my strength into healing and studying, and was blessed to finish the Spring 2025 semester with a 3.95 GPA.
But I am still struggling.
Hamani is still in Tonga. He recently experienced another mental health breakdown and is now on sedatives to help stabilize. I have not seen him in person since January 2025. We are both unemployed, and the emotional, medical, and financial toll is growing unbearable.
We dream of a day where we can be together again—healthy, safe, and contributing to our communities. We want to build a small business that reflects our values. But before we can do that, we need stability, treatment, and your support.
How You Can Help
Your donation will directly support:
Mental health treatment and medications for Hamani in Tonga
Visa and immigration application fees to reunite us
Living expenses while I search for safe, sustainable work
Tuition and academic costs for my ongoing graduate studies
Seed funding for our future small family business
With Wholehearted Gratitude
Whether it’s $5 or $500, your contribution makes a difference. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing our story with others who may be able to help.
From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for your compassion, your prayers, and your aloha/ʻofa.
Mahalo nui loa and Mālō ‘aupito,
Alana Wilson Fusitu’a
