Pacific Islander community desperate for answers in unsolved murders

SALT LAKE CITY — This weekend, dozens of men will turn out for a walk in high heels at the International Peace Gardens to raise awareness about domestic violence in Polynesian communities.

As part of their Domestic Violence Awareness Month efforts, nonprofit Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources highlights one unsolved case of violence against Polynesian women. However, they will be focusing on three cases this year.

Right now, families in Utah’s Pacific Islander community are desperate for answers after the deaths of three women. All murders that are unsolved, and cases that their loved ones say deserve more attention.

A victim’s advocate told KSL’s Garna Mejia they’re not sure if overall violence against women in the Polynesian community is going up, but three cases are unusual and deserve the community’s attention.

The serenity you feel at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City is fitting of its name. However, on Saturday, it’s the clickety-clack of heels that you’ll hear — specifically, men in heels.

“I think the first year we did it we had six men. Now, we have hundreds of men,” said Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, founder of Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources.

The Heels To Heal Walk, sponsored by the Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources, is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence, in light of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Men are invited to walk in support of victims and survivors of domestic violence.

“It’s an actionable item that men can stand with the women. There’s a lot of really good synergy that happens,” Feltch-Malohifo’ou said.

As part of this year’s walk, Feltch-Malohifo’ou is putting the spotlight on the deaths of three Polynesian women, including two unsolved murder cases.

“On Saturday we have three … homicides of women that have never been solved. Nobody is paying their crime,” Feltch-Malohifo’ou said.

Feltch-Malohifo’ou said the cases are more than she has seen in previous years.

“Last year we had one case — Chynna Toilolo’s. Now we have three,” said Feltch-Malohifo’ou. “So I ask myself so next year at this walk, do we end up having more females, with more unanswered deaths?”

The three cases highlighted during this year’s walk include the unsolved murders of Akosita Kaufusi and Katherine Blaire Leavitt, as well as the death of Ana Sisifa Ataata.

Ataata’s sister, Angelica Naeata, is advocating to have her death this past January investigated as a murder.

“All I know is that my sister didn’t commit suicide,” Naeata said. According to Naeata, authorities ruled the death as a suicide due to post-partum depression. According to Naeata, Ataata’s body was found on the side of the road on northbound Interstate 15 and authorities determined she jumped from an overpass.

“No change happens without advocacy and without the community saying there is something wrong here,” Feltch-Malohifo’ou said.

In addition to the walk, The Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources will also host their annual KAVA Talks dinner and fundraiser on Friday night. KAVA Talks is a male-focused peer support group that seeks to eliminate violence in Polynesian communities through education and resources.

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Available Resources

If you know someone who is going through abuse, there are ways you can help:

• Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
• Resources are also available online at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition website.

List of events in October as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• 5th Annual KAVA Talks Dinner and Silent Auction
  • Friday from 6-10 p.m.
    • They are looking for Silent Auction/Donations if anyone is willing to support. All proceeds will go to our communities to help families that are survivors of Domestic Violence.
      • Link: Tinyurl.com/KTD21Auction
    • Link to join in on dinner: Eventbrite for KT Dinner

• Seventh-annual KAVA Talks Heels 2 Heal Walk
  •  Saturday from 1-3 p.m.
    • Link to register: Eventbrite for H2H walk