Born in Western Samoa in 2002, Tagiralani Luafalealo moved to O‘ahu in 2009 and has still never been back.
As a youth, Luafalealo picked up golf, honing her craft at Newtown Driving Range in ‘Aiea. After graduating from Moanalua High School in 2001, she went on to have a successful collegiate golf career at Grand Canyon University, earning all-conference honors.
Despite not returning to her country of birth, Luafalealo has carried her heritage with her. On Wednesday, she became the first player to represent Samoa in an LPGA event while competing at the Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club. A tribal tattoo on her right leg was visible as she walked off the 18th green on Wednesday with her caddy, Austin Teal.
When asked about playing in an LPGA event for the first time, and becoming the first person to do so for Samoa, she gave an emotional answer.
"Not being able to go back to my Motherland, I will never forget where I came from," she said while collecting herself.
Luafalealo was then asked if her family back home would be able to watch her compete in the Lotte, either online or on television.
"Nobody knows I'm playing. ... I don't even think my mom knows, and she's here on island," Luafalealo joked.
Luafalealo, who works at Kapolei Golf Club, hit copious amounts of golf balls before and after shifts in preparation for the tournament. She was decked out in Kapolei Golf Club gear on both days. She also credited Teal, her coworker at Kapolei, for being a calming presence.
"This is my dream. This is my passion," Luafalealo said. "It doesn't feel like a chore to me. I love being out on a golf course or being at the range."
With a first round score of 1-under 71 on Wednesday, Luafalealo put herself squarely in the hunt to make the cut. But after shooting a 5-over 77 on Thursday that brought her two-round total to 148, she finished five strokes short of the cut line.
"It was fun. I didn't play too well today, but I think it was a really fun experience," she said after her round on Thursday. "I wouldn't do anything different. My caddy was very helpful. ... I have a lot of family and friends that was out there that I really appreciate coming out. But other than that, it was really fun."
After two rounds at Hoakalei, Luafalealo was in awe when reminded she became the first player to represent Samoa in an LPGA Tour event.
"It's a lot to take in. That's crazy. It means a lot. This is literally all I've played for," she said. "All of the hard work, the dedication, the passion, it's all because I'm doing it for my culture. ... So, to know that means a lot to me."
Also competing in an LPGA event for the first time was Punahou sophomore Alexa Takai. Takai also finished shy of the cut after shooting a two-day total of 149.
"All the support I got...just grateful to be out here and take it all in," Takai said after Thursday's round. "I think just learning how to play under those pressure shots, playing tee balls, you kind of get a little nervous on the first couple holes and then coming in, learning how to manage that was a little bit better and was a great opportunity for me.
"The main thing is always to have fun. I think playing in this kind of environment, playing on the Mainland in the states in bigger tournaments, it's definitely something you have to get used to, playing under pressure and learning how to calm your nerves. As I play more I think I'll keep getting better at that."
Another amateur golfer born in Hawai‘i, Honorine Nobuta Ferry, missed the cut with a 148.
Meanwhile, a pair of professionals with Hawai‘i ties in Punahou alumnae Mariel Galdiano and Allisen Corpuz will both continue on Friday and Saturday after making the cut. Galdiano is tied for 40th with a 3-under 141, while Corpuz is tied for 12th with a 137. South Korea's Youmin Hwang is alone atop the leaderboard with a 15-under 129.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
