ST. GEORGE — Hearing music as a 1-year-old touched Seilala Tofu’s heart and inspired her to become a singer.

The young Polynesian girl, now 8, said she is proud of her heritage and the support her family and community give her.

“I love my family because they always look out for me and always have my back,” she said. “Why I started singing was because when I first heard music for the first time, I thought it was so beautiful that when I started growing up, I wanted to be a singer.”

Seilala said she enjoys musical theater and takes vocal lessons every week. She currently attends Vista Performing arts school and has been in performance groups throughout her life, such as Encore Performing Arts Group and the Te Fano O Te Ra Polynesian dance group in St. George.

Seilala recently won first place in the talent division of the All-American Girl Utah Pageant held in Hurricane. She reflected on this and other aspects of her life in May, which was Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Seilala’s gifts have also landed her a position in the Utah Conservatory of the Performance Arts prodigy company. The group will tour during the school year nationwide and open more opportunities for her to engage in musical theater, dance and vocal practice.

“Sometimes I get nervous on stage, but sometimes it’s not so scary, ” she said. “Sometimes, it might be so exciting for me because I love being on stage.”

During summer vacation, Seilala said she enjoys talking to her friends on her phone, going to the movie theater, spending time with her family and singing.

When she grows up, Seilala said she wants to be a singer and an actress and have fun.

“She’s a dedicated, young artist,” said Melanie Tofu, Seilala’s mother. “We are so proud of how far she has come at such a young age. She knew what she wanted to do in life and so we went with it.”

Her family of eight moved from Santa Anna in California to Ivins, Utah, five years ago. They wanted to be someplace more affordable and adventurous for the children. They have six children, three boys and three girls; Sebastian, Juniro, 13, Syrus, 12, Sagan, 10, Seilala, 8, Sophia, 7, and Silverina, 6.

“We teach all our kids the importance of having God first in our lives and keeping their grades up in order to participate in sports and music activities,” Melanie Tofu said.

The children are a part of a Polynesian dance group called Te Fano O Te Ra taught by their “Aunty Malia,” who has been teaching them since they were young.

Seilala started dancing at 4 years old, and her mother said she would sing from morning until night, which prompted them to put her into classes to hone her skills. She has taken vocal lessons once a week from Ami Kawailani Gent for the past two years.

“Teaching the kids their culture was also a big thing for us,” Seilala’s mother said. “We wanted to make sure they knew where they came from, to know their roots.”

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