Hawaii native finds happiness in Yuma

Say "Aloha" to the new president of Yuma Jaycees.

Loke Aulds was born in Hawaii and loves the island paradise dearly, but she says she's a citizen of Yuma now - and she's getting busy. Aulds explains that she loves Yuma and wants to assure a bright and strong future for this community. That's why she's taken the helm of Jaycees.

"I just believe in leadership development for the individual. With Jaycees that's our mission, to help develop young adults' leadership through training and getting involved in our community."

Service to the Jaycees turns out to be a family thing for Aulds. She was just recently sworn in by her favorite local member - her husband. Eddie Aulds recently celebrated his own new milestone with the organization. He stepped into the state's highest role in the Jaycees, serving as Arizona's state president.

But for someone who identifies so much with her Hawaiian blood, Aulds sure has taken to serving her adopted home. She quickly explains, though, that even if her heart remains in Hawaii, her mind and hands are here and they're ready to work.

"This is home. It's beautiful go to home to Hawaii and visit, but not to live. Yuma is home. This is where I need to be - and I love it."

Aulds, who is extremely active in Yuma's Hawaiian community, not only grew up in the state, but she is also Hawaiian by blood.

"I am Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, Irish, Scottish, Dutch, Cherokee and Iroquois," she said, laughing as she caught her breath. "People in Hawaii always know exactly how much native Hawaiian is in their blood. It's just part of our understanding of who we are. It doesn't make you any more Hawaiian or better than anyone else. It's just part of your heritage."

Aulds, 36, is 5/32nds Hawaiian, which may not sound like a lot, but the fact earned her the prestigious honor of attending a high school dedicated to serving only native youth. She is also a quarter Portuguese and an eighth Chinese.

"One of my great-grandfathers came from China," she said. Aulds added that people can see the ethnic diversity more in her children, plus several siblings who look "very Hawaiian."

Her father served in the Army, which meant that Auld became used to leaving her beloved Hawaii from an early age.

"I loved the fact that we moved every three years, though. That's what made us a close family. Mom always taught us that no matter where you move, you have your family. The other thing we were taught was that our home was where our family was."

After high school she attended the University of Wisconsin on full academic scholarships for awhile, but then returned to Hawaii to earn more scholarships through beauty pageants. Aulds always wowed judges in congeniality and interviews, but she admits that crowns were still not an easy win.

"The best I did was first runner-up to state. I just didn't have the body for it, the looks to be in a pageant, and I wasn't willing to compromise myself."

So Aulds got married and began one of her greatest passions - being a mother. She and her husband now have five children, all of whom have Hawaiian names, meaning "the heavens," "the sands," "the oceans," "fire" and "the wind."

The couple moved to Yuma in 1997 when Auld's military husband was stationed here. Eddie Aulds now works for Yuma Police Department.

Aulds may be far from Hawaii, but her expression of her Hawaiian identity sure hasn't dimmed a bit. Through the organization Hui O Hawaii of Yuma, Aulds not only gets to enjoy fellowship with other Hawaiians, but she gets to share her culture with the rest of Yuma. The mission of the organization is to educate others about their special culture.

"All five of my kids dance hula," she said proudly. "I leave hula practice refreshed. It's hard work and my thighs are killing me, but it's my culture and it's beautiful."

Hui O Hawaii performs a special Christmas pageant in front of Harkins Yuma Palms.

Aulds works the graveyard shift as a labor and delivery nurse at Yuma Regional Medical Center.

"I love it! And people don't realize until they go out of town what a wonderful hospital we have in Yuma."

That means some pretty rough hours, but Aulds still finds time for a second job as owner of a Slumber Parties business.

"I promote sexual health for women. I'm a romance enhancement specialist. I help women and couples."

She added that she plans to one day go back to school and become a professional sex therapist.

Although her service to the Jaycees amounts to a third job, Aulds would be the first to say that getting paid in terms of fulfillment makes it all worth while.

With the annual rodeo coming up in February the local Jaycees are certainly busy. But they aren't just busy doing their traditional annual favorite events like the rodeo. The club is also busy implementing more programs to teach interview skills, resume building, and general leadership. They are also developing a fundraiser that would benefit people struggling with depression.

"We have so much going on," Aulds said, adding that she can't wait for the future. "Yuma Jaycees is going to be big - big! And I'm just so glad to be a part of it."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at

dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.