About the Author

From a magical childhood growing up on the island of Upolu, Western Samoa to a healing journey on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and then on to the islands of Kiribati, Jon Shute has lived many years in the South Pacific and has developed a great interest in the island culture and folklore. Mr.Shute attended Brigham Young University - Hawaii where he received a Bachelor's degree (honors) in Elementary Education. After graduation, he and his young family journeyed to the Republic of Kiribati, his wife's island homeland, to teach school for three years. After their sojourn in Kiribati, Mr. Shute returned to Provo, Utah where he earned a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Brigham Young University. In 2007 he earned a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Buckingham in Buckingham, England. His doctoral studies focused on ethnic minorities and the challenge of truancy. Mr. Shute has been a school teacher for over 16 years, teaching young people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. He currently resides with his wife, Meere, in Laie, Hawaii, where he is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Brigham Young University - Hawaii. The Ali'i Warrior is Mr. Shute's first novel.