What is your name, and what do you prefer the public know you as?
My name is Lupe Tuitoga Moe, blessed eldest daughter of the late Tuitoga & Lydia Moe. My endearing names are Aunty Lupe or Mama Lupe from the island of Missouri.

Tell us where you are from, your ancestry, where you were raised, and where you live now?
I am full blooded Samoan. I am one of the Polynesian Pioneers who migrated to Independence, Missouri as a teenager at age 15 when my father, Tuitoga Savea Moe, youngest son of Aupiu Savea Moe & Talalupelele Tuitogamaatoe, retired from the US Marine Corps in October 1970. We landed in Missouri on March 5, 1971. My father was from the village of Pesega and my mother is Lydia Pagai Pili daughter of Salaevalu Pili & raised by her brother, Talio Magalei from the village of Mapusaga Fou. I am blessed to be raised in the United States of America. I currently reside in Missouri for almost 50 years with my sisters, Laina Vaiola Letuli (married to Viliamu Letuli); Ioana Lydia Ulberg (married to the late Jeffery Ulberg); and brothers, Tuitoga Leland Moe (married to Liliani Iloilo) and Tunamafata Anderson Moe (married to Sheila Allen). We have a legacy of over a hundred children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Discuss your education.
I graduated from Truman High School and attended the University of Central Missouri receiving a BS in General Studies with an emphasis on Social Work. I worked for the State of Missouri Department of Family Services for 35 years and retired in 2010. Currently I serve as the Samoan Commissioner of the Kansas City’s Mayor’s Ethnic Enrichment Commission for 15 years representing 55 countries. I serve on the City of Independence Human Relations Commission being the chairman for 5 years. I was released in October 2018 & reappointed to this Commission in October 2019 (after dealing with breast cancer). I have served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Independence Stake Communications Council (formerly the Stake Public Affairs) since 2013. In 2018 I was named as one of the Pioneering Women of Color for the city. I am currently on the city’s Martin Luther King Jr Celebration Coalition for the last 10 years. I am a member of the Independence Ministerial Alliance and Church Women United and volunteer with many community programs.

What is your current profession?
With COVID alive and well, my life has slowed down quite a bit. I am mainly a happy and blessed grandmother. I have six children. I have 27 grandchildren (18 girls and 9 boys). I have 2 great-grandsons and another on the way. I am focusing on education for my posterity because this will make a huge difference in their lives. I am so happy to be a part of NPIEN. Not being a professional educator, I am honored to be on the NPIEN board bringing in another perspective. We have celebrated our Pacific Island culture in Missouri since 1999 with the “Heritage Festival” and renamed it “Island Friday” in 2007. I believe networking with NPIEN nationally and being the Midwest Chapter will open more doors of opportunity for our young people.

Discuss your family, and interests. (See above).
I have some famous family members - my uncle Tau Moe - The Aloha 4 traveled throughout Europe in the 1930s - 1950s. His grandson - Joey Moe, a national music artist in Denmark. My son is Alo Key-R&B music artist. You all know Dr. Victor Thompson. He is awesome.