From the village of Suluigata and Lilisiana in the Malaita Province of Solomon Islands, Leotina Akwai, has dedicated her life to serving the church through storytelling and servant hood.
From a young age, Leotina’s journey into leadership and service began with a deep desire to follow Christ’s example of love, compassion, and humility. Inspired by her late mothers’ humanitarian work with the Solomon Islands Red Cross while she was a child, Leotina learnt the true meaning of serving others with a generous and selfless heart. “Watching her dedicate her life to helping people in need, no matter their background, planted in me a strong desire to do the same”.
Leotina is the Child Protection Coordinator and Catholic Communications Director at the Catholic Archdiocese of Honiara, a role she is passionate about as she serves the church using the God-given gifts of storytelling and communication. “I love capturing stories of Church events and celebrations, especially the Holy Mass, and sharing the Gospel message proclaimed in the Church with the wider community, and helping people feel connected and inspired. It brings me so much joy to see how a simple story can touch hearts and bring people closer to God”.
Leotina is also passionate about advocating for child protection and the dignity of life, believing the Church should be a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and loved.
Through her roles in parish activities, documenting events, and speaking up for others, Leotina has grown in faith and learned that true leadership is about humble service and not titles or recognition, but being present and using her gifts for God. Saying “yes” to serve has brought unexpected blessings and deepened her relationship with Christ. “I truly believe that even the smallest act of service, when done with love, can transform lives, including our own”.
Her faith, leadership, and service have shaped nearly every decision she makes. They remind her to put God first and choose paths that bring hope and love to others. Through serving in the Church and telling stories, she’s learned to listen, be compassionate, and consider how her choices can help build God’s Kingdom. Her mother’s example continues to guide her, encouraging her to choose what uplifts and protects the dignity of others.
In everything, she asks herself: “Will this bring me closer to God and help others feel His love?”
Leotina is grateful for mentors who have shaped her journey. Her late mother remains a powerful example of faith in action. Fr. James Ere’ai, a priest, medical doctor, and expert in moral theology, whose guidance, encouragement, and example of humble service has inspired Leotina to deepen her faith. She also acknowledges His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone, who keeps them grounded and continues to guide the young people with a fatherly heart, offering spiritual direction and helping them discern life’s important decisions.
Leotina lives by a quote from St. Mother Teresa: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God” and is taking each day as it comes, while being hopeful.
To other young people, Leotina shares this encouragement: “𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦—𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶
