About 30 students held hands.

Heads bowed in spiritual prayer, the Federal Way High School’s Pacific Islander Club was no longer a group that met after school in the old cafeteria. It was family.

“Clubs like this give an opportunity, especially Pacific Islanders who are out of place here in America, they get a chance to learn about their roots and where they truly come from,” Mane Tuiaana, the club’s adviser, said. “… I think the kids have a sense of belonging when they come here and a sense of celebration, and they have a space where they can call their own and feel like it’s a second home.”

This week, the family had a lot to celebrate.

Newly named the Lumana’i O Le Pasefika, meaning “Future of the Pacific,” the 60 to 80 member club won first place at the Samoan Arts and Academics Competition — Seattle at Highline College, April 29.

Not only did the team win the overall competition, it won the Award of Academic Excellence with the highest grade point average of 3.09.

Two years ago, the club entered the same competition with a 1.7 GPA. Last year, it won the category with a 2.8.

“For the first time in a long time, since Pacific Islanders have been here in the Northwest, we have something that holds our kids accountable, academically, but it also builds our community together and bridges them together,” Tuiaana said about the competition. “It’s beautiful because you have churches that come in, you have schools that come in to help support, organizations that help support these kids.”

Funds raised from the Samoan Arts and Academics Competition go toward scholarships for Pacific Islander students. This year, Leapaagatele Atanoa won $1,000, Raymond Westerlund won $700 and Kaleigha Lang won $500.

Tuiaana said the club’s new name symbolizes the work that has been done to make a difference in the lives of Pacific Islander students academically, spiritually and emotionally.

“The kids, they live that name,” he said. “They live it every single day, and we’ve been through so much drama and overcoming barriers, but they got back to their roots and what we’ve taught them and know they can do everything if they just keep their mind on the prize.”

Tuiaana, who has been the club’s adviser since 2012, said he knows first hand how challenging those barriers are.

He said he used to be “one of those rebels” that roamed the streets causing trouble. He was even at risk of not graduating.

But joining the club his senior year led him to not only find the willpower to graduate, but to give back to his community.

“We try to break the common stereotypes of Pacific Islanders, which is they’re known for fighting, they’re known for gang violence, they’re known for skipping school, they’re known for all of these bad things,” he said. “But when they get into this club, I give them their real identity back.”

Caitlin Belle Nysta, a 17-year-old junior at Federal Way High School, said she’s grown since joining the club.

“I’m capable of a lot more than I expected from me, just academic wise,” she said. “Also, dancing – even though this is in my culture because I’m also Micronesian, it was pretty cool to see me grow over the years being in this club.”

When Nysta first started her freshman year, she felt like she was home, she said.

“I was with my people, and I could just be myself,” Nysta said, adding that she’s Micronesian-Marshallese. “It’s a safe zone for me.”

Julio Chavez-Tilei, a 16-year-old sophomore, said he originally joined to help his grades, as the club has offered University of Washington and peer tutors to the students during study hall. In doing so, he’s learned about the Samoan side of his family.

“I’ve lived with my mom my whole life, and she hasn’t really gotten to teach me about my Samoan side, but ever since I joined this year, I’ve learned a lot from Mane,” he said, noting that he’s half Mexican as well. “Our dance moves aren’t just dancing. He told us when we dance, we’re telling stories about ancient history.”

Because many Pacific Islander students are born in America and spend time away from home during their busy school lives, Tuiaana said it’s very common for them to lose their language and cultural practices. The club, however, brings elders in to discuss lessons across the Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian cultures.

Each culture has its differences, but one major similarity is the importance of respecting one’s self and others.

“So when we teach them basic things on how to respect themselves as students, how to respect their elders or their teachers … then they learn to value life, learn to value their education, learn to value everything that’s around them,” Tuiaana said.

Edward Huakau, an 18-year-old senior, reflected on overcoming his stage fright at the competition last weekend and also on his hopes for a family he’s been a part of for four years as the end of the school year approaches.

“I hope the [Pacific Islander] club will become bigger than it is every year, just keep increasing and increasing, and [I] hope that not only will the population increase but also our graduation rate,” he said.

According to the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the adjusted four-year cohort graduation rate data showed 69.4 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders graduating in the district in 2014-15. In 2015-16, that rate increased to 73.1 percent.

Huakau plans to not only graduate this year but attend Central Washington University in the fall to study psychology and criminal justice.

“Next, for this club, we’re trying to reach out to as many kids as possible, trying to bridge that achievement gap and letting these kids know they have a future and they can do all things if they just believe in themselves,” Tuiaana said. “I’m just really excited for the future of this club and where we’re heading because, from the past five years I’ve been here, we’ve just been heading up.”

The community is invited to attend the Lumana’i O Le Pasefika’s annual luau at 5 p.m. May 13 at Federal Way High School. The family will celebrate its Samoan Arts and Academics Competition accomplishments and perform traditional dances. Food from vendors and merchandise will also be available to purchase.

“One thing that’s unique about our luau is it’s all about love, aloha, building that stepping stone for our community to be proud of where we come from,” Tuiaana said. “It’s all hosted here at Federal Way High School.”