SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah artist had the unique honor of being recognized by the White House for his work this month.

Selu Alofipo, a North Salt Lake resident, was recognized May 4 along with nine other Asian American and Pacific Islander artists who use their mediums to tell stories about their experiences, according to the White House. These artists traveled to Washington DC, where they were honored for their contributions.

“My trip to the White House was amazing, truly inspirational,” he said. “I was in company with people from all walks of life making a real difference in their respective communities. I even got to have dinner where our president elect, Barack Obama, was the keynote speaker. However, my visit to the Lincoln Memorial and other historical sites of our country's founding fathers touched me deeply and will stay with me for an eternity. The spirit there was palpable. I felt the dead cheering me on in my endeavors. I am blessed to have had such a special opportunity and it was an experience I will not soon forget.”

Alofipo, an expressionist who immigrated from Samoa with his parents, combines acrylic and oil paint and a variety of other mediums to portray messages of freedom, liberation, individuality, courage, tenacity, energy and other characteristics.

“I was born in a small village called Vaitoloa in Western Samoa. Our family immigrated to the United States in 1983 when I was just 6 years old,” he said. “I remember the transition being a bit difficult as the culture and the language was significantly different and very hard to understand. We also didn't have a lot of money so we learned to make a dollar stretch. Despite all this, I don't think I ever viewed myself as ‘different.’ For the most part, I felt I belonged and had the same opportunities as anybody else.”

Self-taught, he began drawing at a young age.

"Princess Ikalka" by Selu Alofipo. (Photo: Selu Alofipo)

“Art didn't play much of a role in my education, however it was fairly significant in my early childhood serving as a nice companion during difficult times,” he said. “Art was very much therapeutic for me and gave me lots of satisfaction and enjoyment especially because I didn't have very many friends growing up.”

Alofipo eventually went on to get a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University, earning a football scholarship. A digital marketing consultant, a solar power consultant, as well as an artist and football coach, he said he doesn’t limit himself to just one career or personal aspiration. Alofipo is always making art, not out of a desire to turn it into his livelihood, but to create and enjoy the natural process.

Read more at KSL.com

The Criminal Investigation Division is currently trying to locate Ms. Feagai Tianara Aufaga-Naea, a 15-year-old female from the village of Vaitogi. She is a student at Leone High School.

Ms Feagai left her home on Wednesday morning (April 13, 2016) at about 07:00 a.m. and has not returned home. She was last seen wearing a brown T- shirt and blue jean shorts. Ms Feagai is a child, a minor whose family loves and cares for her. Please help us locate her and bring her safely home to her family.

If you have any information about her whereabouts please contact the Central Police Station in Fagatogo at 633-1111 or the on-call cell phone 733-6522.

You can also contact the Tafuna Sub-Station at 699-1911, Leone Sub-Station at 688-8800, or East Sub- Station at 622-7250. Thank you.
 
Samoa News understands that the girl reported missing yesterday has since been reunited with her family.

I totonu o le ripoti e 98 itulau sa tu’uina atu e le Ofisa autu e pulea polokalame o le Medicare ma le Medicaid a le malo tele o Amerika (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - CMS) i le Pulesili o le Falema’i o le LBJ i le masina o Aperila na te’a nei, o lo o fa’amanino auiliili ai i lea ripoti vaega ta’itasi o lo o fa’atamala ai le LBJ i le fa’atinoina o lana tautua, aemaise lava i le vaega o le Fale Fa’amama Toto.
 
O le ripoti mai le CMS, sa tu’uina atu fa’atasi ma se tusi mai le Pulesili o le CMS, susuga Rufus Arther i le Pulesili o le LBJ ia Taufete’e John Faumuina, e fa’amanino ai tulaga o lo o ela ai le fa’atinoina o le tautua a le LBJ atoa ai ma le fuafuaga a le CMS ua fuafua e faia i lenei mataupu, pe afai e fa’atamala le LBJ e faia se gaioiga e foia ai nei fa’aletonu.
 
O le vaega muamua o le ripoti o lo o taua ai le fa’atamala o le aufaigaluega i le fa’atinoina o a latou tiute.
 
Mo se fa’ata’ita’iga e pei ona taua i le ripoti, o fa’atalatalanoaga ma ripoti sa mafai ona faitauina e sui o le CMS i le taimi o le latou asiasiga lona lua ia Oketopa e oo atu ia Tesema 2015, ua atagia mai ai le fa’atamala o le LBJ i le mata’ituina o ana matafaioi fa’atino, e pei o le fa’aaogaina lea e le aufaigaluega ma foma’i o toniga talafeagai i soo se taimi e togafitia ai se tagata e a’afia i le gasegase o le fa’amamaina o le toto.
 
E le gata e le lelei le tausiaina o gasegase i le taimi e oo atu ai i latou i le falema’i, ae fa’atamala fo’i le aufaigaluega i le teuina o mea faigaluega e fa’aaoga i le togafitiina o gasegase ta’itasi, e aofia ai ma le le fufuluina lea o lima i le taimi e mae’a ai ona togafiti le isi gasegase ma le taimi e aga’i atu ai mo le togafitiina o le isi gasegase.
 
“E le fa’aaogaina e le aufaigaluega toniga sa’o i le taimi e togafiti ai gasegase, e pei o le fa’aaogaina o vaega e ufiufi ai o latou foliga mai le ono aafia i le pipisi i le fa’ama’i, e le malu puipuia fo’i vaega e tu’u i ai ofu e fa’aaoga i le togafitiina o gasegase ta’itasi, ina ia puipuia ai le aufaigaluega mai le ono a’afia pe a pipisi atu i ai siama o lenei fa’ama’i,” o se vaega lea o le ripoti a le CMS.
 
“O se fa’ata’ita’iga, sa i ai se foma’i ua maua lona tusi pasi i le fa’atinoina o togafitiga mo i latou e a’afia i le gasegase o le fa’amamaina o le toto, sa molimauina lona fa’atino o ona tiute i totonu o le potu e togafiti ai gasegase e aunoa ma lona fa’aaogaina o totini lima, ae sa molimauina lona pa’i atu i le tino o le gasegase, sosoo ai ma lona tago atu i le masini, tago atu i le api o lo o tusia ai fa’amaumauga, ona ia tuua lea o le potu ae ta’atia ai le api i luga o le laulau e aunoa ma lona tu’uina i se tulaga e malupuipuia mai isi tagata,” o le isi lea vaega o le ripoti a le CMS.
 
E lei umi ona alu ese atu le foma’i lea ae toe vaaia lona toe ulufale atu i totonu o le potu, ona ia tui lea o totini lima i ona lima ua e lua ae fa’atino ana tiute masani i le togafitiina o le isi gasegase, ma, ina ua mae’a, sa ia tatala ese ona totini lima ae tia’i i le lapisi, ona ia toe savali ese lea ma le potu.
 
Sa fa’apena fo’i le isi foma’i e pei ona taua i le vaega lona lua o le ripoti a le CMS, lea fo’i sa ia fa’atamala i le fa’aaogaina o mea faigaluega sa togafitia ai se tagata gasegase, e ala i lona le ofuina o le ofu e tatau ma talafeagai i soo se taimi e togafitia ai gasegase.
 
I le tausaga e 2012 e pei ona taua i le ripoti a le CMS, e to’a 12 le aufaigaluega a le Fale Fa’amama Toto sa faia i ai ni suega ma fa’amaonia ai, ua latou tauaveina le la’asaga muamua o le gasegase lea e aga’i atu i le fa’amamaina o le toto.
 
O ni isi o i latou sa mafai ona fesiligia e sui o le CMS e fa’atatau i lenei ripoti, o i latou sa avea ma ta’ita’i o sifi i taimi na fa’atinoina ai le asiasiga, ma fa’ailoa ai e ia Ta’ita’i, o gaioiga e pei ona molimauina a le aufaiglauega, e le o tusa lea ma ta’iala o lo o fa’atonu e le CMS le LBJ e fa’atino ai a latou matafaioi fa’atino.

In the spirit of this graduation season, Uilisone Falemanu Tua who reads Samoa News online, shared a milestone set by a fellow Samoan in the Armed Services, giving hope and motivation for our recent High School graduates to reach for the stars.  

Louise Lafitaga Togia'i graduated from the University of Hawaii Law School in 2015. She recently passed the Hawai’i Bar exam and is now a licensed attorney in the State of Hawai’i. Louise was also commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corp.  She will start her training as an Air Force JAG Attorney in June 2016, and is slated to be the first Samoan JAG Active Duty Attorney in the Air Force.  

Louise attended Matafao Elementary School the majority of her childhood, until she moved to Hawai’i for church ministry. She is pictured here with her parents, Reverend Elder Falelua and Ieta Lafitaga of the village of Fagasa.  She is married to Terramo Togia'i of the village of Ili'ili and Tula, who is also in the Army.   Aim High, Louise!
 

O le aso Lulu na te’a nei na sainia ai se feagaiga a le Kamupani Kesi fou i le atunu’u, fa’ato’a lima masina talu ona tatala faitoto’a e tautua le atunu’u, “Le Afi” ma sui totino o Koalisi Kanesa  e lua ole ASCCC male Gale’ai Cancer Foundation  o lo’o tautuaina le atunu’u, e fa’amautu ai ala o le a fa’atino ai se sailiga seleni e afua mai latou fa’atauga mo le fa’amoemoe e fa’ao’o i nei Koalisi e fa’auia atu ai i tagata ua faagasegasea i le Kanesa o le atunu’u.
 
“O lenei taumafaiga o se toe fa’afo’i i le atunu’u sina vaega o se tupe maua mai fa’atauga, e fa’ailoa ai fo’i le agaga o lenei Kamupani Kesi, e fa’asoa atu i o tatou tagata sina manuia, e ala ia i latou o lo’o tautiga e saili se vaega tupe e fesoasoani mo latou talavai ona ua po’ia i le Kanesa.” ole saunoaga lea a le pule sili o le “Le Afi,” Richard Young.
 
O le faiga o lenei foa’i, ua iloga mai e faia lava fa’atauga o tane kesi e aiga e pei ona masani ai, mai faleoloa ua mae’a fa’atutuina ai a latou saini “Le Afi.” A’o le $1. mai le tau o lau tane kesi, o le a toina ese mo le fa’amoemoe e fa’aalu lea mo le foa’i.
 
O lona uiga, pe a mae’a le tausaga talu ona amatalia lenei fa’amoemoe, o le a tu’ufa’atasia le aofa’i o tane kesi ua mae’a ona fa’atauina pe toe fa’atutumu fo’i e aiga ta’itasi, ma o le aofaiga fo’i lea o le seleni e vaelua tutusa e faia ma foa’i mo le Koalisi Kanesa e lua.
 
“O se mea matagofie pe afai o le a mae’a atu le tausaga e tasi lenei, ae ua atoa se 10,000 o tane kesi ua mae’a fa’atau atu ma toe fa’atutumu fo’i, ina ia maua ai se $10,000. O le foa’i mo i latou e a’afia ma taumafai e fa’atino togafitiga mo le gasegase lea ole Kanesa. O le auga lea o le fa’amoemoe, ua ala ai lenei taumafaiga. O se fa’amatalaga lea a le ali’i o Solip Hong, le tasi o ali’i e to’atolu na latou amatalia lenei pisinisi Kesi i le atunu’u, “Le Afi,” ma o le CFO o le pisinisi.
 
O Tane Kesi nei a le “Le Afi” o le a e matauina e i ai le lipine fa’apitoa e fa’ailo ai tane o le a ofoina ai le $1. mo lea fa’amoemoe. O le Lipine ua filifilia nei, ua fa’ailoa mai e Richard Young, “O lona lanu ua filifilia ai le “Lanu Viole Vaivai” aua ua mae’a la’u suesuega mae’ae’a i lenei fo’i itu, o lea lanu e fa’ailo ai Kanesa uma lava o so’o se ituaiga i tina ma tama o le lalolagi. O lea la ua maua le ‘autasi, o le a fa’aaoga lea lanu e fa’alipine ai tane nei.”
 
“O le Kamupani Kesi o le “Le Afi” na fa’ato’a tatala o latou faitoto’a e tautuaina le atunu’u i le fa’ai’uga o le masina o Tesema 2015, peita’i, e fa’afetaia le agaga foa’i o i latou mo tatou tagata lautele, e ala i lo latou silasila toto’a i e ua lutia i lenei ma’i faigata o le Kanesa. Fa’afetai mo le latou agaga, e tusa la pe na’o le feagaiga ua sainia nei, ae o le agaga ua faia ai, ma ua mautinoa fo’i e i ai lava le taimi e maua taua’aoina ai, o se fiafiaga tele lea, ona o lo’o maua’a le loto foa’i i le pulega ma le aufaigaluega a lenei kamupani kesi.” O se tala lea a le Taitaifono o le Galea’i Cancer Foundation, Pete Galea’i.
 
O se saunoaga fo’i a le tama’ita’i Taitaifono o le American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, Mrs Rochelle Tuitele Reid sa ia fa’ailoa ai lona agaga fa’afetai. “ O feagaiga fa’apenei e fesoasoani malosi ai i le ASCCC ina ia mafai ona fa’ataunu’u le latou mau mo tagata e a’afia i le Kanesa, o le taua’aoina atu lea o se fesoasoani tupe mo i latou e fesoasoani i a latou tapenaga o talavai e tatau ona faia mo i latou. O lea ua matou fiafia tele ai, e auau fa’atasi ma le “Le Afi” i lenei fa’amoemoe, ma e matua matagofie lenei avanoa e galulue fa’atasi ai ona o le agaga alofa ma le lima foa’i i e o i ai le mana’omia, ae maise i taimi fita o gasegase.”
 
O sina tala’aga o lenei Kamupani Kesi fou i le atunu’u, ua fa’ailoa atu ai, “O lenei kamupani e to’atolu i matou o lo’o ua tutu fa’atasi e amata fa’atuina ma fa’afoea lenei Pisinisi Kesi: O le tofa Ponaofo Tilei, le fa’atonu sili o Galuega i le Faigamalo a Togiola -Ipulasi, Richard Young o se tasi ua loa tausaga o galue i le Origin Gas, le isi Kamupani Kesi i le atunu’u e fa’aofi mai Ausetalia ma Solip Hong o se tasi o ali’i faipisinisi talavou o Amerika Samoa.”
 
O lenei tafatolu o le pulega, e aia tutusa i mea uma, ae tofu ma le vaega e fa’afoea i le “Le Afi” ina ia mautinoa ua faavaeina lenei pisinisi e toe aoga i o tatou tagata ma le tamaoaiga tausi o le atunu’u.
 
O lo ua avea nei i latou ma se kamupani i Amerika Samoa e faipisinisi ma latou pa’aga ma pisinisi kesi i Niu Sila, Ausetalia ma Amerika fo’i ina ia mautinoa e le sioti le o’o mai o latou tane i le atunu’u ma isi latou sapalai mo le tautua.
 
O tau o le kesi ua toe fa’aitiitia nei, ma ua fa’afetaia fo’i lea auaunaga, ina ia avea ma se tasi o pisinisi e tauva i ni tau e taugofie mo le mamalu o le atunu’u. I tulaga lava o fefa’ataua’iga, a tutasi se kamupani i so’o se tautua, e le taugofie ai oloa, ona ua leai se isi kamupani latou te tauva ia fa’aititia tau o oloa o latou fa’atau atu, ia alumia ai.
 
O lenei Kamupani Kesi o le “Le Afi” ua i ai nei i le fa’asologa o atugafale e soso’o atu i le NAPA Samoa i Tafuna i le nofoaga tuai sa i ai le Kamupani Ofu na tapunia.

If nothing else, #4 IBF Joseph Parker (19-0, 16 KOs) proved that he had the better engine than the 35-year-old Carlos Takam (33-3-1, 25 KOs) in outworking him to win an unimpressive 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night in their IBF heavyweight eliminator bout at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau City, New Zealand.

The win for the 24-year-old Parker makes him the IBF mandatory challenger to champion Anthony Joshua. Never the less, Parker is going to need to have much better stamina if he wants to beat Joshua because he looked lacking in that department last night in his win over Takam.

The judges’ scores for the Parker-Takam fight were 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113. Those were pretty fair scores for Takam. I had Parker winning 9 rounds to 3. The only rounds I could give Takam were rounds 1, 5 and 9. Takam was simply outworked in the other rounds by Parker.

It’s not that Parker was throwing a lot of punches to win the rounds. He wasn’t throwing a lot of shots. It was that Takam was just too lazy throughout the fight by not being busy and just letting Parker win most of the rounds by doing a little bit more. Parker’s stamina looked poor, but Takam’s was far worse.

Each time Takam would appear to win a round by throwing a lot of punches, he would then do absolutely nothing in the next four rounds, as if he needed to rest from the exertion of throwing a lot of shots. Takam looked like he did not have the stamina to fight hard round after round. That’s basically the entire reason Parker won the fight. It wasn’t because he did a great job. He was just a little bit busier than Takam.

The taller 6’4” Parker used his jab to keep the shorter 6’2” Takam on the outside for most of the fight. Parker had the better hand speed of the two, and he was able to nail Takam with left-right combinations, short left hooks and jabs all night long.

In Takam’s best round of the fight, he backed Parker up constantly in round five and punished him with shots to the head and body. Up until that point in the contest, Parker had been able to dominate four of the first five rounds with his sharp combinations. However, Takam’s pressure in the 5th round had Parker looking both unnerved and very tired. Parker was clearly there to be knocked out in this round if Takam had been able to land the perfect shot. Parker backed up much of the time in the round to try and escape the heavy pressure from Takam.

It looked for the most part like Parker was on a full scale retreat through the three minutes of the round. The tide of the contest had changed in this round with Takam taking control. However, Takam failed to take advantage of the situation in the following rounds, as he fought in a lazy manner, waiting too much and not letting his hands go.

It had to have been frustrating for Takam’s corner to work with him in this fight, because he just didn’t have engine to throw the punches that he needed to for him to win. The victory was there for Takam if he had been able to fight hard for three minutes of every round, but he simply could not do it for some reason.

I le fonotaga a le American Legion ma totino o Dept. Veterans Affairs, Small Business Administration, Asian Pacific American Advocates ma sui tofia o le Ofisa o le Faipule Amerika Samoa i le Konekeresi, Aumua Amata ina ia latou toe iloilo toto’a ma faia ni suiga lelei mo fitafita tuai uma o lo’o ua alaala tumau i teritori o Amerika e aofia ai Amerika Samoa ma isi atumotu o le pasefika e aofia ai Samoa Tuto’atasi.
 
Ua fa’atulaga le isi fonotaga e faia ia Iuni 15 e soso’o ai ona soalaupule mataupu sa talanoaina, ma ua fa’ailoa o ala e maua a’ia’i uma ai penefiti o lo’o maua e isi vetereni e alaala i setete eseese, e alagatatau fo’i ona maua e fitafita tuai nei i atumotu o le pasefika ma ona teritori. O le fonotaga o lo’o talo fa’apitoa e le American Legion i latou Ofisa Autu i le Laumua i Uosigitone.
 
Pe afai e fa’atusalia penefiti o lo’o maua e fitafita tuai e alaala i setete ma i latou e alaala i teritori ma isi motu o le pasefika, e matua vava mamao lava, o lea ua talanoaina fa’apitoa ai i lea fonotaga, ni ala vave e fa’autagia atili ai le mataupu, ia fa’ao’o vave mai nisi o vaega o nei penefiti ia toe fa’aleleia atili nai lo le mea o i ai.
 
“O fitafita uma nei, o i latou sa tautua tutusa i le Malo Tele, sa le fa’ailoiloga po’o fea e te sau ai, e laugatasia i latou uma i tiute ma faiva fa’afitafita, ae afai tatou te le faia se mea e ave’esea ai le laina o fa’aeseesea i tatou uma ina ua mae’a le tautua, o lona uiga e tatou te le o taumafai ae aveesea le lagona lea e alia’i mai i taimi,  e le o tutusa le aoga o le latou tautua mai le tautua a i tatou o alaala i setete uma o Amerika,” o se folasaga lea a Joe Sharpe, fa’atonu sili o le American Legion’s Veteran Employment & Education Division.
 
I le aotelega o se tautua e ao ina vave fa’ao’o mo nei Vetereni, ua pasia ai i le fonotaga lea le fa’aaoga o le falema’i tutasi i Amerika Samoa, LBJ Medical Center e fa’ao’o atu ai ni togafitiga mo Fitafita tuai ona o le mamao e tau saili togafiti mai ai i setete tulata atu o Hawaii. Peita’i, e le o maua uma e lea falema’i agava’a e tatau ona fa’aaogaina ai e le VA mo togafitiga o fitafita tuai.
 
O le isi vaega tele o penefiti o lo’o ua mae’a tautalagia ma faia i ai fa’ai’uga o tautua nei e maua mo Vetereni ma o latou aiga i tulaga o a’oa’oga,  ma isi polokalam tau pisinisi ma fa’ato’aga e aoga mo le tausiga o i latou ina ua mae’a le tautua.
 
I se manatu fa’aalia o le Faipule i le Konekeresi a Amerika Samoa, Aumua Amata, sa ia fa’ailoa ai i lea fonotaga, “O se mea mautinoa, a le talanoaina ma una’ia malosi mai lea eseesega tele o le tautua o lo’o maua e fitafita tuai e alaala i Setete ma i latou o lo’o alaala i atumotu e aofia ai ma teritori o Amerika, e le taitai ona maua se suiga lelei mo lea tautua i le lumana’i ma le taimi lava lenei.”
 
Ua le o toe fa’atali le American Legion i lo latou tautalagia ma una’ia malosi nei tautua ua le gatusa ai le auaunaga mo fitafita tuai uma, na fa’ailoa mai e le fa’atonu Sharpe i le fonotaga lea, “O le tautalagia e i tatou ma fa’ao’o i luma o fonotaga fa’atasi ma le HVAC, e mafai ai ona maua mai fa’ai’uga lelei, ma e tatau ia i matou ona faia le mea sa’o, ina ia tautua tutusa fitafita tuai uma ma o latou aiga.”

Washington D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the Hokule’a as it made its way to Washington D.C. via the Potomac River this past Thursday.  Many from the local Pacific Island community showed up to join in the festivities and welcome the crew to Washington.
 
 “It is always nice to see our local Pacific Island community here in the Washington area come together to celebrate our shared heritage” stated Amata. “The Hokule’a has been traveling the world for many years, serving as an ambassador of the Pacific Island people to the world, and it’s an honor to be here to welcome the crew to our nation’s capital” continued Amata.
 
The Hokule’a travels across the globe uniting people and nations through the mission of Malama Hounua-caring for our home, our place.  The focus of its mission is to educate the public about the importance our oceans play in the global ecosystem, and to promote their health through environmental activism.
 
“Hokule’a, translates to “Star of Gladness”, and represents the canoes that brought the first Polynesians to the archipelago of Hawaii,” said Amata.  “The Hokule’a reminds us of the perseverance of the Pacific Island peoples, and helps us to ensure that our values and way of life do not disappear,” concluded Amata.

HAGATNA, Guam - E na o le fa’atolu ona fa’afiafia le au siva a Amerika Samoa talu ona tatala aloaia Fa’aaliga o Tu ma Aganuu a le Pasefika i Guam nei, ao lea ua fa’atoai mai ni isi o valaaulia mo le au siva a le fanau aoga mai Fa’asao Malisi, e sisiva ai ma fa’afiafia i aso o lo o avanoa mai ai i a latou fa’afiafiaga mo le Festival.

E tusa ai ma le polokalame sa tu’uina atu e le Komiti Fa’afoe o le Festival a le atunu’u o Guam, e na o le fa’a 8 ona sisiva Amerika Samoa i le fa’agasoloina o le polokalame mo le lua vaiaso, peita’i o suiga ua toe faia, ua tula’i mai ai, ua toe fa’aopoopo isi avanoa e lua e sisiva ai Amerika Samoa mo polokalame lava ia o le Festival.

“O lea ua toe aumai le suiga o le polokalame, e fa’a sefulu ona sisiva Amerika Samoa mo le Festival, ae ese ai valaaulia faapitoa mai ni isi o Kamupani tetele i totonu o Guam, lea ua latou molimana’o mai mo Amerika Samoa ina ia fa’afiafia mo i latou”, o le saunoaga lea a le Ta’ita’i o le ausiva a Fa’asao Malisi, susuga i le ali’i Faiaoga ia Leiato Fausia.

Na fa’amaonia mai e le Puleaoga a Fa’asao Malisi, susuga J. Victor Langkilde i le Samoa News e fa’apea, e lua kamupani tetele i totonu o Guam ua latou talosagaina le ausiva a Amerika Samoa ina ia fa’afiafia mo i latou, i le taimi ma le aso e leai ai sa latou fa’afiafiaga mo le Festival.

“O lea ua taunu’u mai le talosaga a le Peresetene o le Faletupe a Guam, pe mafai ona malaga atu le au siva a Amerika Samoa e fa’afiafia mo i latou, mo tagata faigaluega fa’apea o latou aiga atoa uma lava, ae o le a tapena lava fo’i e le Faletupe le nofoaga ma tulaga uma mo lea mafutaga”, o le saunoaga lea a Langkilde.

O le aso Faraile o le vaiaso nei (aso Tofi taimi Amerika Samoa) lea ua fuafua e fa’afiafia ai Amerika Samoa mo le Pulega o le Faletupe a Guam.

O le fesili tele o lo o taumafai le Samoa News e saili ai se tali, pe aisea ua toe faaopoopo ai isi fa’afiafiaga e lua mo Amerika Samoa, aemaise ai fo’i o nei mau valaaulia ua tu’uina mai, pe aisea ua molimana’o mai ai Guam i le au siva a Amerika Samoa.

Na taua e le tama’ita’i pu’eata ia Juliett Arbunes, o se tama’ita’i na te pulea se kamupani latou te ta pu’eina ata ma fa’amaumauga mo mea e tutupu i Guam ma fa’asalalau, e leai se isi ausiva e pito sili ona tuli mata’i i ai tagata Guam e fia matamata i ai, ua na o le au siva a Amerika Samoa.

“O le au siva a Amerika Samoa lea ua to’atele tagata Guam ua tulimata’i i ai la latou silasila, e fia maimoa i le matagofie ma le manaia o a latou gaioiga ma fa’afiafiaga i soo se taimi”, o le molimau lea a Arbunes.

Na taua foi e ni isi o tagatanu’u o Guam e fa’apea, o le matagofie o le aganu’u atoa ai ma fa’afiafiaga a Samoa i taimi e fa’afiafia ai, o le isi lea mafuaaga e ala ai ona naunau le to’atele o tagata Guam e tuli mata’i le taimi e sisiva ai le au siva a Amerika Samoa, atoa ai ma Samoa.

Na taua e Arbunes, le mae’a lea ona ia tu’u fa’atasia o se ata ua i ai fa’afiafiaga uma a Amerika Samoa, talu mai ulua’i aso e lua o le Fa’aaliga o Tu ma Aganu’u a le Pasefika, ma ua faamoemoe na te fa’aalia i taimi e faia ai ana tau talaga i le taua o aganu’u eseese a le Pasefika i totonu o le aoga maualuluga eseese i Guam o lo o faiaoga ai i mataupu o Tala Faasolopito atoa ai ma le mataupu o le Puipuia o Measina a le Pasefika.

“O le taua o foliga eseese o siva ma aganu’u a atumotu o le Pasefika, o le a mafai ai ona malamalama tagata Pasefika uma i le taua o ma le aoga o le fetufaa’i e le Pasefika o ana measina ma aganu’u”, o le saunoaga lea a Arbunes.

“Ana leai fa’aaliga fa’apeni a le Pasefika, e le fiafia tagata Guam i siva ma fa’afiafiaga a Samoa, ma e iloa lea tulaga i le taimi sa faia ai le Taualuga a Amerika Samoa i aso e tolu ia sa fa’afiafia ai, sa molimauina ai le to’atele o tagata Guam na o atu ma lafo tupe i le Taupou sa siva, ina ua latou iloa o le isi lea vaega o le aganu’u a Samoa i taimi o ana fa’afiafiaga”.

O le isi valaaulia a Amerika Samoa, na maua mai lea i le Asosi a Tagata Samoa uma i Guam, lea fo’i ua latou sauni e talia le fa’afiafiaga faapitoa mai alo ma fanau a le atunu’u.

Se tasi o gaioiga mataina a le au siva mai tama ma teine o le Aoga Maualuga a Fa’asao Malisi, i le taimi na fa’afiafia ai i le Dededo venue, o le isi lea nofoaga ua mae’a ona fa’atulaga e le malo o Guam e fa’agasolo ai fa’afiafiaga a atunu’u eseese o lo o auai i le Fa’aaliga lona 12 o Tu ma Aganu’u a le Pasefika.

[ata AF]

Na tutu fa’atasi ta’ita’i o le malo fa’apea ni isi o le mamalu lautele o le atunu’u i le taeao ananafi, e lagolago le sauniga e fa’amanatu ai le atoaga o le 100 tausaga talu ona fa’avae le tautua a le Vaega o Tausima’i i Amerika Samoa.

E muliga fo’i le sauniga lotu o le sisigafu’a i le sauniga lotu lea na fa’ataunu’uina i le taeao ananafi i le malae o le Veterans Memorial Stadium i Tafuna, e tatala aloaia ai polokalame fa’atino mo le vaiaso atoa lenei ua fa’atulaga e fa’amanatu ai le atoaga o le Senetenari, lea na sosoo ai loa ma le sisiina o tagavai a le malo tele fa’apea ai ma le tagavai a Amerika Samoa, e sui o le Vaega Tausima’i.

O le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga sa fa’afetaia le tautua a le Vaega Tausima’i, ae o le malo valaaulia mai Amerika, le faletua ia Shirley Brekken, o ia lea o le Peresetene o le o le Komiti Fa’afoe o Tausima’i a Amerika na saunoa i le saunoaga autu o le aso.

Na fa’afetaia e Lolo le tautua a le Vaega Tausima’i, ona o le latou tautua fita o lo o latou fita i tuga i ai i le ao ma le po, e ala i le tausiaina lea o le soifua maloloina o le atunu’u.

“O la outou galuega i aso fai soo, e le na o se galuega e fa’atino i so o se taimi, ae o lo outou valaauina lena mai le Atua”, o le saunoaga lea a Lolo.

E lua vaega sa fa’amanatu e le ali’i kovana i lana saunoaga fa’afetai i le Vaega Tausima’i, o le fa’atinoina lea o le tautua sili sa fa’atonu i latou e fai, atoa ai ma le fa’avae o le auaunaga i le alofa.

“E lua vaega tetele ou te fia fa’atauaina i lenei tausaga ao fa’amanatuina ai la outou Senitenari, o le fa’atinoina lea o tautua sili ona lelei sa a’oa’oina ai outou e fa’atino, e pei ona i ai le saunoaga mai se tasi o Mua’au o le Vaega Tausima’i i le lalolagi, ma le fa’atinoina lea o galuega alofa sa fa’atinoina e lo tatou Fa’aola ao i ai i le lalolagi”, o le saunoaga lea a le ali’i kovana.

I le fa’amamafa ai e le ali’i kovana o galuega alofa sa fa’atinoina e le Mesia, sa ia taua ai fo’i le tatau lea ona faataua le upu o le alofa, o le upu lea e aui uma i ai mea lelei uma o le olaga.

Sa ia fa’afetaia Tausima’i uma sa latou asaina maia le gasu o le taeao, lea ua fai i lagi la latou folauga, ae o ni isi o lo o molimauina pea lo latou soifua laulelei e o o mai i lenei taimi.

“O la outou galuega, o le fa’ataunu’uina lea o le valaauina o i tatou e le Fa’aola, ina ia fa’aauau le tautua o le alofa atu ma fesoasoani atu i isi tagata, fa’afetai mo la outou tautua, o lea ua atoa le 100 tausaga talu ona fa’avaeina la outou tautua i Amerika Samoa”, o le saunoaga lea a le ali’i kovana.

E lei fa’agaloina fo’i i le saunoaga a le ali’i kovana isi vaega o le malo o lo o fesoasoani i le fa’aleleia atili o le tautua a le Vaega Tausima’i, e pei o le Pulega a le Falema’i o le LBJ i Faga’aalu, aemaise ai fo’i o le Matagaluega a le Soifua Maloloina a le malo.

Saunoa Lolo e fa’apea, e le faigofie fo’i le matafaioi o lo o fa’atinoina e i latou uma nei o lo o lagolagosua i le fa’alelei o le auaunaga a le Vaega Tausima’i, e le gata i le sailiina mai o tupe e fa’atupe ai le tautua, ae o lo o latou uanaia malosi fo’i auala uma ina ia fa’aleleia atili ai le auaunaga fa’a foma’i i le atunu’u.

Na fa’ai’u lana saunoaga i lona fa’amalosia lea o le Vaega Tausima’i uma aemaise ai i latou uma o lo o lagolagosua i lenei tautua, fa’apea ai uo, aiga ma le atunu’u atoa, ina ia fa’aauau pea ona ave la latou lagolago i le Vaega Tausima’i mo le fa’atinoina o le latou matafaioi tausi mo le atunu’u.

Na taua e le Faletua o Mrs Brekken lona agaga fiafia ina ua taunu’u mai i Amerika Samoa, ma ia vaaia ai le avatu e le atunu’u atoa ma ona ta’ita’i o le fa’aaloalo ia te ia, ma ua ia lagonina ai, o ia o se tagata fa’apitoa.

I le avea ai o ia ma Tausima’i mo le tele o tausaga, sa ia taua ai e af’apea, o le galuega fa’a tausima’i, e le o se galuega e faigofie, ae o se galuega e faigata ma fita, ona e galue mo le 24 itula i le aso, 365 aso o le tausaga, e le fa’atuaoia fo’i le tautua mo na o tagata e avatu i le falema’i, ae mo soo se tasi e mana’omia le fesoasoani i totonu o aiga, nu’u, faalapotopotoga, ekalesia, atoa ai ma le atunu’u atoa.

“O lau tautua e fa’apitoa mo soo se tasi, e te galue filiga ina ia maua e tagata uma le mapusaga, e te naunau fo’i e faia le tautua sili mo le atunu’u, fa’afetai mo la outou tautua, o lea ua atoa le 100 tausaga talu ona fa’avae lau tautua i lou atunu’u”, o le saunoaga lea a Brekken.

Sa ia taua fo’i e fa’apea, e le gata o le galuega a tausima’i o le tausiaina lea o le soifua maloloina, ae latou te a’oa’oina fo’i tupulaga talavou ina ia iloa fa’atino lenei galuega, ma avea ai fo’i i latou ma tausima’i mo le lumana’i.

O le mae’a ai o le sauniga lotu, na sosoo ai loa lea ma solo fa’aaloalo a le vaega tausima’i, lea sa vaevaeina i vaega e 5, fuafua lava i tausaga eseese sa ulufale mai ai i latou i totonu o le galuega.

Sa faatinoina fo’i Ta’avale Teuteuina e 5, e fa’amatala mai ai vaega eseese sa tutupu i le tala fa’asolopito o le tautua fa’a tausima’i, atoa ai ma suiga ua vaaia i le taimi nei i le latou tautua.

O le vaiaso atoa lenei o lo o fa’atinoina ai polokalame a le vaega tausima’i, mo le fa’amanatuina o le latou Senetenari i lenei tausaga.

Ni isi o Tama’ita’i Tausima’i mai le tausaga e 1989-1999 i le latou savali fa’aaloalo i le taeao ananafi, ao fa’agasolo ai polokalame mo le fa’amanatuina o le latou Senetenari i lenei vaiaso.

[ata AF]

Apia, SAMOA— Eight men between the ages of 20 and 30 have been arrested in connection with a brutal attack of a father of eight in Vaimea, Samoa right outside a night club. Vailigi Rarotoga died early Friday morning; this is according to his cousin, Titi Tua who spoke to Samoa News on Monday (Apia, Time) at his residence. According to Titi, Vailigi is a father of eight and he and his wife reside in Savaii.
 
Vailigi an employee of the Land Transportation Authority for close to 20 years comes to Apia from Savaii during the week for work and stays in the village of Vaimea.
 
Tua told Samoa News that he was sleeping when a relative woke him up informing him that Vailigi has been attacked and his body had since been taken to the Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Moto’otua where he was officially pronounced dead by physicians on duty.
 
Tua told Samoa News that the family was still trying to come to terms with the incident and while the family is hurting, they leave the incident in the hands of the law.
 
The cousin said, “The men arrested in the matter are neighbors and it’s hard to believe that this was done by the same men that have shared meals in our home. While it’s hard to swallow what has happen, we are people who lean on God for understanding and help and we have left the matter in the hands of the law.”
 
Tua told Samoa News that when he visited the morgue and saw his cousin, the injuries were severe and his face appeared to be crushed inwards and it appeared as if a rock was used. He also said that Vailigi also suffered a laceration on the back of his head. “No wonder he died instantly, he was badly beaten,” said Tua while fighting back his emotions.
 
Vailigi’s eldest daughter is 17-years-old and she and her siblings were at the house when Samoa News visited the residence and they still cannot believe that their father is gone.
 
In the meantime, Samoa’s Police Spokesperson, Maotaoali’i Kaioneta Kitiona confirmed that several young men have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death. He did not specify how many men the police have arrested, but only confirmed that “several men” were arrested. He also told Samoa News that the matter is still being investigated and he cannot go into details of the case.

E ui o lea ua faia le fa’aiuga a le afioga i le Fa’amasino o le Fa’amasinoga Fa’aitumalo ia Muagututia Fiti Sunia, e tu’uina atu ai le mataupu a le ali’i o Uatau Falanai i luma o le Fa’amasinoga Maualuga, mo le fa’atulagaina o se aso e faia ai sana ulua’i iloiloga, ma fa’asolo ai taualumaga o lana mataupu, peita’i o se fesili sa lu’i ai e le Loia Fautua a Falanai ia le loia a le malo, fa’apea ai ma le Fa’amasinoga i se iloiloga sa faia i le vaiaso na te’a nei, poo le a le mafua’aga e le mafai ai e Leoleo a le malo ona faia se suega mo le sailia o le DNA i mataupu tau solitulafono e tofu atu i le fa’amasinoga.
 
E ui o lea ua solofua e le fa’amasinoga fa’aitumalo le moliaga mamafa o le tagofia lea o itutinosa o se tama’ita’i i le tulaga muamua sa tu’uaia ai e le malo ia Falanai, peita’i na taua e Douglas Fiaui i lana fa’afinauga e fa’apea, ana mafai e le malo ona fa’amaonia mai tulaga o suavai papa’e na tu’uaia le maua i luga o le moega sa moe ai le tama’ita’i na a’afia fa’apea ai luga o le fola o le fale, atonu e faigofie ai loa iina e le malo ona latou maua le tagata sa’o na ulufale fa’amalosi i totonu o le fale o le na a’afia i le masina o Aperila 2016.
 
Na taua e le Leoleo Su’esu’e sa autu i ai le su’esu’eina o le mataupu a Falanai ia Det. Filemoni Amituana’i i lana molimau fa’atauto i luma o le fa’amasinoga e fa’apea, sa mafai e leoleo na muamua taunu’u i le fale o le aiga na a’afia i Peseta ona latou pu’eina ata o mea e pei oni suavai papa’e sa maua i luga o le moega ma lalo o le fola o le fale, ina ia mafai ai ona avea ma mea molimau i lenei mataupu.
 
Na fesiligia e Fiaui ia Det. Amituana’i pe sa latou faia se suega e saili ai mea pei oni suavai papa’e sa ia taua i lana molimau, po o ai le tagata e ana, ae na tali le ali’i leoleo, latou te lei faia se suega e uiga i mea sa maua, e leai fo’i ni mea faigaluega a le ofisa o leoleo e mafai ai ona faia lea ituaiga suega.
 
O le leai o se suega na faia e leoleo e iloilo ai le tagata e ana le DNA sa maua i le fale o le aiga na a’afia, o le isi lea manatu sa autu i ai le fa’afinauga a Fiaui, ina ia solofua tu’uaiga fa’asaga ia Falanai, ae na taua e le afioga i le ali’i fa’amasino ia Muagututia e faapea, e ui e taua le fa’afinauga, peita’i e le o sa’o le taimi o lo o tu’uina atu ai, ona o le iloiloga a Falanai sa faia, o le taumafai lea o le fa’amasino e iloilo mea molimau a le malo, pe fa’amaonia sa i ai se solitulafono sa faia, ae o le taimi sa’o e tatau ai ona fa’aleo le fa’afinauga lea, o luma o le vaega iloilo iuga pe a oo i le taimi e fa’ataunu’u ai se fa’amasinoga autu a Falanai, ona tu’u atu ai loa lea o le avanoa i le vaega iloilo iuga latou te filifili ai i mea moni ma mea e le moni.
 
E le i finagalo le loia a le malo ia Joseph Murphy e fa’ailoa sona manatu e uiga i lenei mataupu, ina ua fesiligia o ia e le Samoa News, ae i lana fa’afinauga sa tu’uina atu i luma o le fa’amasinoga, sa ia finau malosi ai ina ia ‘alo ese le silasila a le fa’amasinoga i le fa’afinauga a le itu tete’e, ae tu’u sa’o le mataupu e fa’atatau i le faia o se suega mo le DNA i le vaega iloiilo iuga latou te fa’atinoina.
 
Ae na taua e Fiaui i lana fa’afinauga e fa’apea, o se tasi lea o molimau maumaututu mo le malo e lagolagoina ai la latou tagi fa’asaga ia Falanai, o le latou faia lea o se suega mai mea e pei ona sua papa’e sa latou maua, ae foliga mai o lea sa mafai e le malo ona pu’e ata o mea sa maua ma avea ma mea molimau, ae leai ma se suega sa faia e saili ai le tagata e aumai ai.
 
E 3 mataupu tau solitulafono mamafa o lo o tu’uaia ai e le malo ia Falanai, e mafua mai i ni fa’alavelave se tolu na a’afia ai ni fale o ni aiga se to’atolu, lea e finau mai le malo sa osofa’i e le ua molia.
 
O lo o taofia pea Falanai i le toese i Tafuna ina ua le mafai ona ia totogiina le salatupe e $40,000 e tatala ai o ia i tua.

Apia, SAMOA — “Sexual violation cases are becoming an epidemic in Samoa,” said Samoa’s Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson in an interview with Samoa News, pointing out that what has increased most is the cases being reported to the authorities, unlike before, when these matters were literally taboo.
 
“But there are two theories behind that, one is that a lot of these crimes are not being reported. What’s increased is not the number of crimes but it’s the numbers of reporting of the crimes. Women are now more confident to come forward and report these things and families are more comfortable and report it to the police, that why the sex cases are increased. But its not an increase in the number of cases rather its an increase in the number of cases being reported to the police,” said Vui.
 
He said that the second theory behind it is that there’s just more sexual cases, “but I think it’s a combination of both — causing the substantial increase of sex cases coming before the court.”
 
The Samoa Supreme Court Justice said that is why he wants to start Samoa’s Sex Offender Registry so that sexual offenders that can be monitored and the ability to re-offend is reduced, because if they are not monitored they are ‘free as a bird’.
 
Vui told Samoa News that most of the sex offenses in Samoa are done in the urban areas.
 
“Although there is a portion from the village or rural areas, but the majority of the sex offenses occurred in Apia, Vaitele in the urban population — areas where there is little or lack of policing of the village councils. As compared to the rural areas, according to statistics comparing sex cases in Savai’i and Samoa, there is a substantial difference.”
 
Vui said that the village councils play a huge role in the policing of the villages where the villagers know that they will be penalized by the village if they commit a crime, and even though the matter is before the court the council carries out their due diligence in doing their duties and penalizing any offender in the village.
 
The Supreme Court Justice made it clear that he’s not saying that the village councils in Upolu are not doing their duties as chiefs of the village, but he’s pointing out the fact that in Savai’i, it’s much more traditional. 
 
Samoa News should point out that sex crimes in rural areas could be under reported due to villagers knowing each other — with many related through clan ties, making it more traditional. Vise versa: Reporting on Upolu could be more frequent because of the mobility of the villagers; many of them coming into the urban areas to work and live, only returning to their villages to visit family or participate in a faalavelave.

A o fa’agasolo ai polokalame mo le fa’amanatuina o le 100 tausaga talu ona i ai i laufanua o Amerika Samoa le tautua a le Vaega Tausima’i, na taua ai e le Peresetene o le Vaega o Tausima’i a le Falema’i o le LBJ i le taeao ananafi e fa’apea, o se tasi o vaega o le latou polokalame i lenei vaiaso, o le aloaia lea ma fa’ataua le lagolago mai o latou aiga ma uo.

“O le isi vaega o le polokalame i lenei vaiaso e pei ona i ai le malaga ta’amilo i luga o le va’a o le MV Sili, o le taumafai lea e fa’aalu se taimi e mafuta ai ma aiga ma uo, o i latou ia o lo o sili ona lagolagoina malosi la matou tautua i soo se taimi”, o le saunoaga lea a Tofiga Tufele.

Na matua fa’atumulia luga o le va’a a le malo i Tausima’i, o aiga ma uo na maua le avanoa e malaga ai e ta’amilo ma maimoa i le gataifale o le atunu’u.

Na taua e le Faatonusili o le Pulega o Taulaga ma Uafu ia Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele e fa’apea, o se lagona fiafia ia te ia ina ua mafai ona tu’u atu le avanoa e malaga ai Tausima’i i le va’a mo le fa’atinoina o le isi vaega o le latou polokalame o le Senetenari.

“E taua avanoa fa’apenei ua mafai ai ona tu’u atu se sao o lenei Ofisa e lagolago ai le tautua a Tausima’i i le atunu’u”, o le saunoaga lea a Poumele, lea fo’i sa i ai fa’atasi ma lana sui fa’atonusili ia Chris King, i le fa’aeeina lea o le malaga ina ia mautinoa e saogalemu tulaga uma mo le fa’amoemoe a le Vaega Tausima’i.

Saunoa atili Tufele e fa’apea, o le to’atele o Tausima’i o lo o auai i le polokalame i le vaiaso atoa lenei, o lo o faigaluega i latou i le po ma le fa’amoemoe e auai i polokalame o le taeao, ae o i latou o lo o galulue i le taeao i le falema’i, o lo o maua lo latou avanoa e auai i polokalame o lo o fa’atinoina i le po.

“O avanoa fa’apitoa fa’apenei e mafai ai ona mapu mai le Tausima’i mai lana galuega fita i totonu o le falema’i, ae alu atu ai e fa’asavali ma manava sina ea fou, ma vaavaai i le natura o mea sa faia e le Atua i le foafoaga, o le taua lena o le malaga ta’amilo e maimoa i le gataifale o le atunu’u, e maua ai fo’i mafaufauga fou mo le toe ala usu atu i le galuega i le isi aso”, o le saunoaga lea a Tufele.

Malaga ta’amilo Asosi o Vaega Tausima’i a le LBJ e maimoa i gataifale o le motu, i se vaega o a latou polokalame mo le fa’amanatuina i le latou Senetenari i lenei vaiaso.

[ata AF]

Each spring the McDonald’s Corporation of American Samoa generously funds five scholarships to local high schools students who will attend the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) and one scholarship for an ASCC graduate to meet the cost of continuing their college studies off-island. ASCC spring 2016 graduate Ms. Faavela Trianna Ah Sam, 19, of Faleniu recently received the good news that she is this year’s recipient of the McDonald’s off island college scholarship.
 
Thanks to the scholarship, Ms. Ah Sam will begin her studies this fall at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Hawaii as a Political Science major. Born and raised in American Samoa, she is the daughter of Alefa and Sione Ah Sam. Faavela attended Pavaia’i Elementary School and Tafuna High School before majoring in Liberal Arts at ASCC.  She was a member of the National Honor Society, Business Club, and the Y2Y Coalition while in high school, and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at ASCC.
 
“I like Political Science because I’m interested in politics and mainly law,” said Ah Sam. “I plan for my Bachelors degree in Political Science from BYU to be my entrance to law school. I like Political Science because it’s a major that can be a transition to the career I want, which is to become a lawyer.” She said she looks forward to becoming an intern at a law office, and gaining experience with each position that leads up to becoming an actual lawyer.  “I want to start from the bottom so when I get to the top I know what to expect, and how to handle anything that comes my way,” she said.  
 
With the milestone of her Associate of Arts degree from ASCC now completed, Ah Sam looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead. “Life is like a race,” she said. “We all have to make it to the finish line, but it all depends on us and it doesn’t matter how slow or how fast we go, as long as we keep going, never look back, and never stop.”
 
ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i congratulated Ms. Ah Sam on her award, and on behalf of the College’s administration and faculty, wished her the best of luck. “We also thank the McDonald’s Corporation for their generous support of tomorrow’s leaders and professionals in our community,” said Dean Le’i, “and we remind all ASCC and local high school students that if they do their best, then they may also qualify for scholarship assistance to fulfill their educational goals.

The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) hosted its Annual Environmental Fishing Camp in Lauli'i July 20-22. 
 
A total of 35 campers between 7 and 13 years old participated in the event that also saw the participation of ten junior counselors, 14-20 years old.
 
According to Malia Vaofanua, DMWR’s Education Coordinator, the goal of the camp was “to teach the kids about our marine habitat.”
 
Subject matters that were discussed included health of coral reefs, fish, and invertebrates. 
 
“We also covered threats to these resources, both man made and natural causes such as pollution, destructive fishing methods, crown of thorns, and climate change,” Vaofanua explained. “Another key component of the camp was to make sure the campers knew the different parts of a fishing rod and reel, how to assemble the fishing rods and reels, knot tying for hooks, and proper and safe casting.”
 
According to Vaofanua, the kids learned a lot and had fun at the same time. 
 
“We hope to instill in these campers a sense of ownership of their resources, so they can understand the threats to our fishery resources and formulate solutions to combat these problems.”
 
She concluded, “At the same time, we want to make sure they appreciate and continue to enjoy the joys the fishing.”
 
The camp was free of charge and everything was provided at no cost to the participants.
 
The camp has been a yearly event and hosted at various locations including Poloa village and $2 Beach in Avaio.
 
Camp participants slept in tents and experienced life on the beach, first hand. There were no computers or television sets but instead, volleyball and other physical activities served as entertainment.
 
Swimming and fishing were part of the exciting 3-day, two-night experience.

Ua fa’aalia e le Asosi o Ta’aloga mo Aoga Maualuluga i Amerika Samoa le to’atele o fanau aoga o lo o fa’aauau pea ona agava’a mo avanoa sikolasipi, e fa’alautele ai lo latou tomai i ta’aloga eseese i totonu o Kolisi ma Iunivesite i Amerika.
 
O le vaiaso nei na fa’alauiloa aloaia mai ai e le Asosi o Ta’aloga mo Aoga maualuluga ni isi o fanau ua talia mo avanoa sikolasipi i Amerika, e pei o le tama’ita’i aoga ia Agape Mafua mai le Aoga Maualuga a Fagaitua, lea ua ulufale atu e aoga ma koleni i le aoga a Spokane, WA i le ta’aloga o le volipolo, ma le ali’i o John Ma’a lea ua aga’i atu i Pittsburg e fa’aauau ai lana taleni i le ta’aloga football.
 
O Mafua lea ua koleni fa’atasi ma le susuga a Allen Allen, o le ulua’i Samoa lea ua ta’alo mo le au volipolo a Amerika i ta’aloga o le Olimipeka. Na taua i le pepa o faamatalaga mai le Vaega o Taaloga a aoga maualuluga le fiafia o le susuga Allen ina ua maua le avanoa e taalo fa’atasi ai ma Mafua, ma oo lo o molimauina le tulaga mataina o le taumafai a Mafua talu ona fa’agasolo mai koleniga.
 
E pei ona taua i le ripoti a le vaega o Ta’aloga mai le Ofisa o Aoga a le malo e fa’apea, o Mafua ma Ma’a sa auai uma i laua i le Fa’a Samoa Initiative Academic Camp i le 2015, ma filifilia mai ai i laua, o le tama ma le teine sa pito iloga le maoa’e o le ta’aloga, atoa ai ma le tomai i le fa’atinoina o le ta’aloga, ma agava’a ai loa i laua i avanoa sikolasipi.
 
“O le agaga atoa o le Vaega o Ta’aloga mo aoga maualuluga i le atunu’u a le Matagaluega o Aoga, ia fa’aauau pea ona maua e fanau aoga a le atunu’u avanoa sikolasipi faapenei, e mafai ai ona ulufale atu i latou i aoga i fafo ma fa’aauau ai lo latou tomai i le fa’atinoina o ta’aloga o lo o tulaga lelei ai la latou taumafai”, o se vaega lea o le ripoti mai le Vaega o Ta’aloga.
 
Na taua atili fo’i e fa’apea, e le gata i le unaia o fanau aoga ia lelei i tulaga o ta’aloga, ae o lo o fa’amalosia fo’i le itu tau aoaoga ina ia mautinoa e o gatasi le lelei o le mafaufau i le aoga atoa ai ma le lelei o le ta’alo.
 
“Matou te le o taumafai e atina’e pito tasi le polokalame lenei mo fanau aoga a le atunu’u, ae o lo o matou unaia uma itu e lua, e le mafai ona agava’a se tama poo se teine i se au taalo pe afai e fa’aletonu togi i le aoga, lona uiga, e taua le lelei uma o itu ia e lua, ina ia paleni ma lelei ai le ola a’oa’oina o fanau mo le lumana’i”, o se vaega lea o le pepa fa’amatalaga sa tu’uina mai i le Vaega o Ta’algoa.
 
O le susuga a Ma’a na fa’au’u mai i le aoga maualuga a Leone, ma ua molimauina le tulaga mataina o lana taalo i le ta’aloga football, ma ua i ai nei o ia i totonu o le polokalame e fa’aleleia atili ai lana taleni i le ta’aloga football.
 
O lo o fa’atagaina i lalo o le polokalame le malaga o le fanau aoga ma se sui o matua, lea fo’i o lo o fa’atupeina uma e le polokalame pasese ma le totogiina lea o nofoaga e nonofo ai ao i ai i Amerika.
 
E pei ona ulufale mai ai le polokalame lenei o le Fa’a Samoa Initiative Academic Camp, i lalo o le ta’ita’iga a le Troy and Theodora Polamalu Foudation, ua to’atele alo ma fanau a le atunu’u ua ulufale atu i fafo mo le fa’aleleia o le latou taleni ta’alo.
 
ATINA’EINA O TA’ALOGA ESEESE
 
E tasi le autu e mafai ai ona unaia fanau laiti e fa’aleleia le itu tau ta’aloga, o le fa’amasani lea o i latou i soo se ta’aloga e fiafia i ai.
 
O le agaga atoa lena o lo o galulue malosi ai pea le Vaega o Ta’aloga a le Ofisa o Aoga a le malo, ma le tele o Asosi o ta’aloga eseese i le atunu’u, ina ia fa’aauau pea ta’amilosaga o ta’aloga mo fanau aoga i le vaitaimi o tu’uaga o aoga.
 
O le vaiaso na te’a nei na fa’ai’uina ai le tele o ta’amilosaga o ta’aloga i totonu o le atunu’u, mo le taimi lenei o le tuuaga o aoga, e pei o ta’aloga Baseball ma le Softball a ali’i ma tama’ita’i, lea sa lagolagoina malosi e le Ofisa o Paka ma Malaetaalo a le malo.
 
Na taua e le Peresetene o le Asosi Baseball a Amerika Samoa ia J. Victor Langkilde e fa’apea, o le agaga maualuga o lo o mafua ai ona fa’agasolo taamilosaga Baseball ma Softball mo fanau aoga i le tuuaga o aoga, ina ia fa’aleleia le taleni ma saili ai lumana’i lelei mo fanau i fafo.
 
Sa ia taua le to’atele o ni isi o alo o le atunu’u ua maua avanoa sikolasipi o ta’aloga Baseball ma le Softball, o le mafua’aga fo’i lea e fa’aauau ai pea le fa’amalosi i fanau laiti, inaia finau e saili lo latou lumana’i i ta’aloga ma aoga.
 
O le ta’amilosaga a le Baseball, ua toe manumalo ai le ‘au a le Little Rascal i le Major League, ma ua sosoo ai tausaga e lua o siamupini le Kalapu Baseball lea i le ta’amilosaga, i lalo o le ta’ita’iga a le afioga a Leaupepe Vili Fa’apouli.
 
O le ta’amilosaga a le Minor League lea ua siamupini ai le Westside A, lea o lo o ta’itaia mai e Dave Lam Sam ma Melissa Coulter.
 
O le a’u a le susuga ia Patrick Ah Fook lea ua siamupini i le ta’amilosaga a le Minor League Girls Softball mo lenei tausaga.
 
  
Fa’ai’u ma le manuia ta’amilosaga baseball a fanau aoga, mo le atina’eina o le olaga taalo mo le lumana’i.
[ata AF]

Apia, SAMOA— People in the vicinity of Chan Mow Wholesale are holding their noses and some are even wearing masks because of the foul smell coming from the company’s warehouse that was destroyed by fire earlier this week. Located in Apia, the warehouse stores dry goods and frozen foods at Togafuafua. Employees of the businesses near by such as Blue Bird Lumber and people at the market were seen wearing masks due to the foul smell.
 
According to one businesswoman, an official complaint has been filed with the Ministry of Health as the foul smell is a health hazard. A Catholic school in the area has also filed a complaint with the MOH after they were forced to close their school on Friday because the smell was so bad. Marist Brothers School, which has an enrollment of close to a 1,000 students, is located across from the warehouse.
 
This is according to the school principal, Tualasea Kalala Samuelu. She told Samoa News over the phone that there was no way they could proceed with classes when the bad smell from the warehouse was unbearable and due to the safety of the students and the staff the school was forced to close down.
 
Samuelu told Samoa News that the students should be back to school on Monday, but if the foul smell continues over the weekend, they will have no choice but to close the school until it’s safe for the students and the staff to return to the classrooms.
 
Emails sent to the Leausa, Dr Take Naseri, Chief Executive Office, for the Ministry of Health were not answered as of press time. However in the meantime, Samoa’s Police Spokesperson Maotaoali’i Kaioneta has confirmed that investigations are underway into the fire that destroyed Samoa’s largest wholesale company’s warehouse.
 
He said that there are leads they are working on but the police are very happy that although nothing could be salvaged from the warehouse, no one was injured from the fire. Maotaoali’i also commended the firemen whose actions contained the fire within the building and did not let it spread to nearby businesses — otherwise it would've been a disaster. He said that investigations are underway and they will be looking at contracting outsiders to investigate the fire if necessary.

Ua fa’aalia e le to’atele o le au usufono a le Ekalesia Faapotopotoga a Kerisiano i Amerika Samoa (EFKAS) lo latou ta’ape fiafia i le mae’a ai lea o le 2 vaiaso na avea ai ma sui usufono mo le fonotaga tele lona 31 lea na mae’a atu i le vaiaso na te’a nei, e ui i le tele o fesili sa latou naunau e fia malamalama i ai, peita’i e tapunia lea le Fonotaga latou te le’i mauaina ni tali o ia fesili.
 
E ui i lagona eseese o ni isi o le au usufono e fa’atatau i mataupu eseese sa mafai ona fa’asoa, talanoaina ma pasiaina, peita’i na taua e le to’atele o le au usufono le avea o lenei tausaga, o se tasi o tausaga sili e le mafai ona toe fa’agaloina i le tala fa’asolopito o le Ekalesia, i le mafai ai lea ona toe aumai fonotaga masani a le Ekalesia e fa’ataunu’uina i lona laumua i Kanana Fou, talu mai le 2 tausaga na talu ai na usuia ai i Amerika.
 
Na taua e se tasi o sui usufono i le Samoa News e fa’apea, e maualuga lona talitonuga e i ai lona aia tatau fa’atagata usufono, a o se totino fo’i o le Ekalesia o lo o lafo tupe ma fai lona sao i le atina’eina o le itu i le tino o le Ekalesia, na te iloaina ai soo se fa’aiuga sa iloilo ma pasia i le Fonotaga a le Au Toeaiina.
 
“O lea lava ua mae’a lenei fonotaga tele o lo o to’atele pea lava i matou o tagata usufono atoa ai ma isi tagata Ekalesia, e le o malamalama i mataupu sa talanoaina ma pasia i le fonotaga a le Au Toeaiina, amata mai lava i mataupu sa pasia i le fonotaga tele sa usuia i Kalefonia i le 2014, atoa ai ma mataupu sa talanoaina i lenei fonotaga”, o le saunoaga lea a Melania Uputonu, o se tasi o sui usufono mai le Falelima i Sasa’e.
 
Ae na taua e se sui usufono mai le itumalo o le Maoputasi ia Vaoga Unapo e fa’apea, pau le vaimoe lea e fa’aaoga e ni isi o le aufaigaluega e fa’anofofilemu ai lagona o tagata Ekalesia, o le latou fa’apea mai lea, “o lo o sologa lelei ma manuia mea uma i le galuega a le Atua”.
 
E talitonu Unapo, talu ai o le Ekalesia e fa’avae i le Atua, e i ai fo’i lona taofi o le finagalo o le Atua, ia malamalama fa’aiuga uma i totonu o le Ekalesia, aua ne’i fa’anunumiina ni fa’aiuga fai, aua fo’i nei faia i se auala fa’alilolilo se fa’aiuga ina ia natia ai le mea moni, aua e ati le siliafaga a le Atua, na te fa’amasinoina fo’i mea lelei, o mea leaga, atoa ai ma mea lilo”, o le saunoaga lea a Unapo.
 
SUIGA O TOFIGA A LE EKALESIA
 
E pei ona silafia, o le fonotaga tele lenei a le Ekalesia e saili ai le sui ta’ita’ifono ma le Failautusi. O le tofi ta’ita’ifono lea ua seei ai le susuga Rev. Elder Eveni Mamoe, o ia lea sa nofoia le nofoa o le sui ta’ita’ifono i le 2 tausaga ua mavae.
 
O le Failautusi la o le Ekalesia lea ua tula’i mai ai le susuga ia Rev. Dr. Amaamalele Tofaeono, o le sui peresetene lea o le Aoga Fa’a Faifeau i Kanana Fou, ae o le sui ta’ita’ifono lea ua manumalo ai i le palota ia Rev. Elder Fa’aeteete Saifoloi.
 
O le fonotaga tele o lo o sosoo ai nei i le 2018, o le a saili ai le tofi Teutupe ma le sui ta’ita’ifono. E pei ona fa’amanino e le sa avea ma failautusi o le Ekalesia ia Rev. Reupena Alo, lea ua tofia nei e galue i le ekalesia i Pava’ia’i e fa’apea, o le tofi Ta’ita’ifono a le Ekalesia, e le tau sailia i se palota, ae otomeki lava ona seei le sui ta’ita’ifono i le nofoa o le ta’ita’ifono.
 
Pau le tofiga a le ekalesia e saili i le ta’i lua tausaga e usuia ai lana fonotaga tele, o le sui ta’ita’ifono. O le Failautusi ma le Teutupe, e ta’i 4 tausaga ma saili i le palota.
 
O le tausaga lenei na saili ai le Failautusi, lona uiga, fa’atoa toe saili se failautusi fou i le fonotaga o le 2020. O le tofiga teutupe lea na tofia mai i ai Fiasili Haleck i le fonotaga sa faia i Kalefonia i le 2014, fa’atoa faia le palota e sui ai le teutupe i le fonotaga tele o le a sosoo ai nei i le 2018.
 
Na fa’afetaia e le to’atele o le au usufono le Ofisa o le tupe a le ekalesia o lo o i ai i le taimi nei, i le manino lea ma malamalama o fa’amaumauga i tupe maua atoa ai ma tupe fa’aalu a le Ekalesia i le 2 tausaga ua tuana’i atu.
 
FAIFEAU TOEAINA PENISIONE
 
E ese mai i tofiga a le Ekalesia sa faia e taualuga ai lana fonotaga i lenei tausaga, o le isi lea mataupu sa lua i ai mataupu na fa’amulimuli i le fonotaga, o le sauniga e aloaia ai le tautua a ali’i Faifeau Toeaiina e to’atolu ua malolo Penisione, po o i latou ua ausia le silia i le ta’i 70 tausaga o le soifua ae o lo o tautua pea i totonu o Ekalesia.
 
O susuga i ali’i Faifeau matutua ua malolo penisione e aofia ai Rev. Elder Mila Sapolu ma le faletua, lea sa galulue i le matagaluega a Hawaii, Rev. Elder Pesaleli Poufa ma le faletua lea sa galulue i Atu’u i le matagaluega tutotonu, ma Rev. Der. Elia Ta’ase ma le faletua lea sa galulue i le afioga i Nu’uuli.
 
ISI FA’AIUGA A LE EKALESIA
 
Na taua e ni isi o sui usufono i le Samoa News e faapea, o ni isi o i’ugafono a le Ekalesia i fonotaga ua mavae na mafai ona toe alia’e i ni isi o fa’aiuga a le Fonotaga a le Au Toeaiina, e pei o iugafono e toe fa’a a’e ai ni isi o faifeau sa fa’amalolo e pei o le susuga ia Rev. Ali’ioaiga Filoiali’i. O lo o taua ai fo’i le fa’amalolo o se tasi o faifeau matua a le Ekalesia, ona o lo o fa’agasolo su’esu’ega e fa’atatau i ni mafutaga ma ni tama’ita’i o lo o a’afia ai o ia.
 
Na taua atili e sui usufono ia i le Samoa News e fa’apea, na teena fo’i i le fonotaga a le komiti a le Au Toeaiina se mau ina ia talia i totonu o le aoga fa’a faifeau a le Ekalesia tamaiti aoga mai isi Ekalesia.

LONDON (AP) -- If you spend all day sitting, then you might want to schedule some time for a brisk walk - just make sure you can spare at least an hour.

Scientists analyzing data from more than 1 million people found that it takes about 60 to 75 minutes of "moderate intensity" exercise to undo the damage of sitting for at least eight hours a day. Not exercising and sitting all day is as dangerous as being obese or smoking, they found.

And the added risk of parking yourself in front of a television for 5 hours or more a day after sitting at the office is so high even the hour of exercise is not enough to reverse the ill effects of sitting.

It has long been suspected that sitting a lot, at work or at home, is not healthy, because it can weaken the heart, arteries, bones and muscles. Being sedentary is known to be a risk factor for problems including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Among other benefits, physical activity helps prevent insulin resistance, keeps the brain active and strengthens the heart, muscles and bones.

"We cannot stress enough the importance of getting exercise, whether it's getting out for a walk at lunchtime, going for a run in the morning or cycling to work," said Ulf Ekelund of the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences in Norway, one of the study's authors, in a statement.

In the new research , experts combed through 13 papers with data on factors including how long people spend sitting, their physical activity levels and their television-watching habits. The majority of studies included people older than age 45. All except one were done in the U.S., Western Europe and Australia.

Researchers found that people with the highest levels of moderate physical activity - 60 to 75 minutes daily- erased the higher risk of death linked to being seated for more than eight hours a day. But even that exercise regime was not enough to counter the hazards of also watching more than five hours of television a day.

The study's conclusions suggest that current guidelines from the World Health Organization - which recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day - may not be enough to offset the dangers of sitting.

The paper was published online Wednesday in the journal Lancet.

Lars Bo Andersen, who co-authored an accompanying commentary , called the new research "very convincing." He said watching lots of television was probably even worse than sitting at the office all day because it likely includes other unhealthy habits.

"A lot of people don't just watch TV, they eat fatty snacks at the same time," said Andersen, of Sogn and Fjordane University College in Norway.

Andersen said some cultures make it easier than others to squeeze in an hour of exercise every day, noting that in Denmark and much of Scandinavia, about half of all people either cycle or walk to work. But he said that getting the recommended amount of physical activity shouldn't be overly arduous and doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym for an intense workout.

"If you are walking and can feel yourself getting a little warm and your breathing is a little heavier, that's enough," he said. "You don't have to be sweaty and out of breath to get the benefits."