From Oʻahu to Utah: Policing, Pacific values and purpose

From Stories From The Pacific by ABC Radio Australia

April 21, 2026 · 7 min

About this episode

Jennifer Faumuina discusses her journey into law enforcement and the importance of Pacific values in her work.

Jennifer Faumuina leads some of America’s most demanding work - overseeing crime scene investigations and critical domestic violence programs - yet her journey into law enforcement began far from the mainland, in the tropical islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Now a sergeant with the Utah Department of Public Safety, Jennifer brings Pacific values of service, family and community into a profession where calm leadership, clarity under pressure and everyday courage are essential. As one of only a handful of Pacific Islanders in a large US police force, she carries both responsibility and representation on her shoulders. In this episode of Stories From the Pacific, Jennifer shares how she found her path into policing, what it means to work at the intersection of justice and compassion, and why she views law enforcement not simply as a career — but as a profound commitment to protecting others. Listen to this episode on ABC Radio Australia with host Bobby Macumber.

People in this episode

Host: Bobby Macumber

Guest: Jennifer Faumuina

Topics covered

policing
Pacific values
domestic violence
law enforcement
community service
justice
compassion

Keywords

policing
Pacific Islanders
domestic violence
law enforcement
community
service
justice
compassion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Utah Department of Public Safety, ABC Radio Australia

Places: Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi