Sione A Mokofisi
Contributing Writer
Sione on vacation 2010, San Diego Beach, CA. - Brenda
Education and Writing Career:
Ironically, it was his photography skills (learned at a photography studio in his native South Pacific islands of Tonga) that landed him the job on the Brigham Young University - Hawai'i college newspaper, where he began writing sports articles as a student. Promoted to sports editor a year later, Mr. Mokofisi was named the first Pacific Island student-editor of Ke Alaka'i in his senior year.
Since English is the second language in his native Tonga, he continually searched for opportunities to improve his writing style. "My greatest writing education came in the form of editorial critiquing by my editors," Mr. Mokofisi said. "The most encouraging advice I received was that my writing style has an unique voice."
He holds a M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix-Utah School of Advanced Studies; a B.S. in electronics communication, and a Travel Industry Management Diploma from Brigham Young University -Hawai'i; and an A.A. from Mesa Community College, Arizona. Mr. Mokofisi is advancing his literary career to novel writing and scholarly publication.
Thrills of Writing
- While a college student, reporting for the North Shore News (Hawai'i), and writing on community/social issues, he published a critical article about Hawai'i's most popular attraction, the Polynesian Cultural Center where he and fellow Polynesian students at Brigham Young University -Hawai'i entertained tourists.
- Writing for the daily Billings Gazette (Montana/Wyoming), he published a three-part feature series on the journey of an aging boxer, which received high acclaims from readers. He also wrote sports articles part-time for the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska.
- The biggest thrill as business reporter for the Alaska Journal of Commerce was getting an interview with the Alaska Native Corporation mayor of the North Slope Borough (Iñupiat Eskimos) during a standoff between the Native Corporation, the Oil Companies, and the national media.
- As editor of Alaskan Natives' Tundra Times, his two-part series on the troubled community (drugs, domestic violence, government corruptions, etc.) of Bethel, Alaska, was praised by locals for its "fair and balance" reporting, and helped to restore their community pride.
- The biggest thrill in becoming a freelance photo-journalist was landing a photo on the cover of America's national Rugby Magazine while on an assignment from the magazine to cover an U.S. Eagles-Canada test match in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
- The biggest thrill as a bi-lingual writer is the publication of his articles and columns in English, and in his native Tongan language in the Taimi 'o Tonga, The Tonga Chronicle, and Talaki which are distributed in Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.
- The biggest thrill as senior photojournalist on the Officiating.com staff was interviewing the International Rugby Board's head referee and covering a World Cup qualifier (Americas Region) match between the U.S. Eagles and Uruguay in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Joining Suite101.com brings the joy of free literary expression. He enjoys the freedom to write on any topic or issue his research would lead him. He prides the opportunity as a duty to inform, educate, and entertain his readers.
Latest Articles
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Hawaiians' Souls Are Wandering at Sea, Without a Country!
Hawai'i's indigenous people died as a distinct race, sending their souls to wandering at sea, after American Marines dethroned Queen Lili'uokalani in 1893.
Mar 4, 2012
- Sione A Mokofisi
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Chinese-American Jeremy Lin Defies Basketball Stereotypes
Harvard University graduate Jeremy Lin (2010) breaks professional basketball's superiority arrogance on the highest level, and defies racial stereotyping.
Feb 26, 2012
- Sione A Mokofisi
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Soccer & Baseball: Which is the Most Boring Sport vs. Halloween?
It's Halloween time and baseball fever is at "high pitch" throughout North America, Japan, S. Korea, and some Latin countries tuning in to the World Series.
Oct 24, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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How to Write Suite 101 Articles Beyond College English 101
Mastering English composition is an intellectually daunting challenge until Suite 101 unleashed my passion for freedom of literary expression.
Oct 10, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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England's Roses Inching Closer to Crucial Date With Black Ferns
England's perfect hat-trick record (2-0 wins; 109-0 points; 16-0 tries) after two rounds of Pool Play makes a title clash with the Black Ferns unavoidable.
Aug 24, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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Champions Black Ferns on Collision Course With England's Roses
Defending Women's World Cup champs Black Ferns suffered underfunding, lack of support and publicity in their humble beginning in rugby-crazed New Zealand.
Aug 21, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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England's Roses Favored to Win Women's Rugby World Cup 2010
New Zealand are ready to defend their three-peat title in Pool A. England are favorites in Pool B, and Canada are poised to rule Pool C. Winner: England.
Aug 16, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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Pacific Islands Navigators Land in Americas Before Columbus?
Before Christopher Columbus's 1492 New World discovery on the Atlantic Ocean side, Polynesian navigators may have already landed on the Pacific Ocean side.
Aug 13, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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How Can USA Women Rugby Reclaim #1 in World Cup 2010 this Summer?
They fell off the top of women's Rugby World Rankings; the U.S. Women Eagles national team can regain their former glory by kicking butts again.
Jul 14, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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Hawaiians Want Identity Hijacked by Americans Restored
Native Hawaiians lost more than their Kingdom and Royalties, forced upon them by a "de facto" government, and U.S. Statehood: Their identity was stolen.
Jul 10, 2010
- Sione A Mokofisi
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