pacific-studies.net
Home > Expertise > Vaai

Browse Expertise

Search experts

You may enter information in more than one field.

By name

By keywords and topics

By countries or places

By discipline
(multiple selection allowed)


Upolu Luma   Vaai

Senior Lecturer
HoD Theology and Ethics Department
Pacific Theological College (Fiji)
Website(s):
[ http://ptc.ac.fj/ ]

I speak in the following language(s): Samoan, English

About
Born and raised in Samoa, Upolu Luma Vaai teaches theology, ethics, and hermeneutics at the Pacific Theological College (PTC), Suva, Fiji. He worked as senior lecturer at the Piula Theological College, Samoa. He is from the Methodist Church in Samoa. He worked as a board director for various boards and member of various committees in the Samoan government. He is also a member of the editorial board for the Pacific Journal of Theology (PJT). He has recently been involved in the Pacific Council of Churches (PCC) programs on social justice, climate change, economic development, solidarity, and self-determination in the Pacific region. He is known for his writings and publications on relational theology and relational hermeneutics as critical tools in challenging the colonial systems that have shaped the Pacific for a long time. He participates and presents in many regional and international conferences, including last year, he presented at the G20 Interfaith Summit at Istanbul, Turkey. He is now the HoD of Theology and Ethics at PTC, Suva, Fiji.
Specialities
Discipline(s)
Anthropology
Philosophy
Geographic administrative areas
Geographic places
Polynesia
Melanesia
Historical periods
20th century
21st century
Ancestral Oceania
Indigenous languages
Samoan
Experiences
  • PhD Research (2004 to 2007)
    Faaaloalo: God in Samoan Perspective — Griffith University, Australia
    Faaaloalo, relationality, Triune God, colonialism, Samoan holistic thinking,Missionary theology, Missionary philosophy
  • Academic Position (2008 to 2013)
    Senior Lecturer, Theology and Ethics — Piula Theological College
    Theology, Ethics, Indigenous studies, hermeneutics, gospel and culture, bible, colonialism
  • Academic Position (2014 to 2016)
    HoD Theology and Ethics — Pacific Theological College
    Theology and Ethics, Ecumenism, Colonialism, Relational Hermeneutics, Relational theology, Religion and Economic Development, Pacific indigenous way of thinking, Interfaith Dialogue
  • Consulting Work (2014-2016)
    Consultant — Pacific Council of Churches
    Ecumenism, Relational Hermeneutics, Theology and Economic Development, Economic and Climate Justice in the Pacific,Christianity and Colonialism
  • Collaborative Project (2015 to 2016)
    The Pacific Self: Indigenous Ideas of Personhood from Diverse Pacific Perspectives — Pacific Theological College
    Pacific Self, Epistemology, indigenous studies, anthropology, relational ontology, colonialism
  • Collaborative Project (2015 to 2016)
    Relational Hermeneutics — Pacific Council of Churches and Pacific Theological College
    Relational Hermeneutics, indigenous worldview, Pacific frameworks of understanding and interpretation, economic, justice, development, religion, climate change
  • Member's corner





    Scholars and specialists on Pacific Studies are invited to create an account and make their profile and expertise available to the public.

    Create an account


    Some figures...

    The database of experts counts today 1234 profiles, of which 592 are publicly accessible, while 642 have chosen to remain private.

    These persons have defined 747 unique keywords in which they situate their research interests and expertise.

    They have also defined and described 648 'experiences' (research and teaching activities, consulting work, or applied projects) in which they have contributed.