Several organizations are vying to do their type of Samoan Flag Day in Keehi Lagoon Park in Honolulu. Should there be one or can everyone should have their own Flag Day or Festival the way they want. Or should we care?
Several incidents have happened at Keehi Park due to these several competitive organizations. Whats your say?
Monday, February 2, 2009
What's missing in the MANU SAMOA Rugby team
What do you think is needed to improve Manu Samoa?
If its a coach, what type of coach?
money?
field?
philosophy?
future?
We welcome your comments
Faafetai
If its a coach, what type of coach?
money?
field?
philosophy?
future?
We welcome your comments
Faafetai
Advice for the Governor of American Samoa
If you are asked to give advice to the Governor of American Samoa, Togiola Tulafono, what would you say?
Politics?
Administration?
Culture?
Sports?
Right Hand Drive?
Economy?
Airline?
Tourism?
Development?
Freedom of Speech?
Parliament?
Laws/Legal/Bills?
Remmittances?
others?
We welcome your comments
Politics?
Administration?
Culture?
Sports?
Right Hand Drive?
Economy?
Airline?
Tourism?
Development?
Freedom of Speech?
Parliament?
Laws/Legal/Bills?
Remmittances?
others?
We welcome your comments
Advice for the Prime Minister of Samoa
If you are asked to give advice to the PM of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, what would you say?
Politics?
Administration?
Culture?
Sports?
Right Hand Drive?
Economy?
Airline?
Tourism?
Development?
Freedom of Speech?
Parliament?
Laws/Legal/Bills?
Remmittances?
others?
We welcome your comments
Politics?
Administration?
Culture?
Sports?
Right Hand Drive?
Economy?
Airline?
Tourism?
Development?
Freedom of Speech?
Parliament?
Laws/Legal/Bills?
Remmittances?
others?
We welcome your comments
Samoan Athletes
What are your thoughts on Samoan athletes?
Because of the nature and the culture in America (and New Zealand), our most visible ambassadors good or bad are our Samoan athletes. They have become the most powerful role models for our young generation. What they say and do impacts our most vulnerable and populous segment of our community, the young generation. While we wish our most educated leaders should be in those position, the media has elevated athletes and entertainers as powerful models in pop culture and the now generation. What are the positive and maybe the negative impact of such phenomena. Do parents share the responsibility of guiding their children to instill in them the values of having role models in education, law, medicine, entrepenuers, business people? We welcome your opinion.
Because of the nature and the culture in America (and New Zealand), our most visible ambassadors good or bad are our Samoan athletes. They have become the most powerful role models for our young generation. What they say and do impacts our most vulnerable and populous segment of our community, the young generation. While we wish our most educated leaders should be in those position, the media has elevated athletes and entertainers as powerful models in pop culture and the now generation. What are the positive and maybe the negative impact of such phenomena. Do parents share the responsibility of guiding their children to instill in them the values of having role models in education, law, medicine, entrepenuers, business people? We welcome your opinion.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lauga Manumalo (Winning Speech)
O le lauga na manumalo i le tauvaga fa’apitoa na tu’ufa’atasia a le YWCA
Sunday, 26 October 2008 16:44
LAUGA
O Le Tiute O Tina Ma Tama’ita’i
O le ‘a ou le faloina le ‘afaloloa pe ou te toe si’i se matalalaga i paia ma mamalu, o sa ma faiga o le Komiti, aua o paia ma mamalu e tumau. Ae o le ‘a aga’i tonu se manatu i le autu filifilia o le lauga e faapea ‘O le taua o tamai’ita’i i faiga fa’aiuga i totonu o Samoa”.
E lua ni vaega ua on vaevaeina iai le autu.
1. O le taua o tama’ita’i?
- O so latou aoga po’o so latou sao; e ala ini tiute o latou faatinoina po’o ni matati’a o latou ausia latou te lagolagosia ai ile atina’e ina ole taou malo.
2. Fa’aiuga fai e totonu o Samoa.
- Oni tonu autu ia olo’o faia po’o fuafuaga fa’ataotooto mole lumana’i manuia o se si’osiomaga.
O tina and tama’ita’i e taua tele aua oi latou ua filiafilia ele Afua e avea ma fautua i totonu o so’o se fa’a lapotopotoga latou auai ai aua o lo latou leo e amanai’a e tagata e fai ma pae ma auli i so’o se si’osi’omaga, latou te faaleleia eseesega ma soloia faafitauli. O tina fo’i ma tama’ita’i ua mafai ona avea ma faauluuluga o fea’lapotopotoga ma matagaluega ale malo aua ua mafai ona latou ausia le tulaga maualuga ole ola a’oa’oina e mafai ai ona latou fa’atautai’a so’o se fa’aiuga latou te mautinoa e aga’i ai i luma le Atina’e ole malo o Samoa i so’o se itu.
O a’u, ou te talitonu i aia-tatau fa’avae ma le sa’olotoga o tagata, o tulaga mamalu ma le taua o le tagat soifua, o aia tutusa a le ali’i ma le tama’ita’i i tiute fai i so’o se si’osi’omaga o le soifuaga; pe se si’osi’omaga o se aiga, se nu’u, se mali se ekalesia po’o le a lava.
O si tatou atunu’u o Samoa, o le atunu’ tuto’atasi. Ma e ogatototu lana aganu’u ma ona talitonuga fa’a-kersiano i lona soifuaga o aso uma. E fa’amaonia lea i ana tu ma aga fa’aaloalo ma le va fealoa’i o tagat i so’o se li’o o se si’osi’omaga. Le aganu’u lea ma tu fa’a kerisano o lo’o fa’afailele ai le amana’ia o aia-tatau fa’avae ma le sa’olotoga o tagata pei ona ta’ua.
O le ala foi lea o lo’o fa’atauaina ai le Tulafono Fa’avae o le Malo o Samoa aia-tatau fa’avae ma sa’olotoga o tagata, aemaise le fa’amamafain o avanoa tutsa mo ona tagata-nu’u uma, pe se ali’i po’o se tama’ita’i. O i o lo’o fa’atauaina ai le aia-tatau a so’o se ali’i po’o se tama’ita’i i totonu o nu’u ma afioaga, aua o ia o le suli i le suaga matai atoa ma le fanua.
E matauina fo’ lea itu i tualaga tau a’oa’oga, lea e avanoa tutusa ai le ali’i ma le tama’ita’i. Fai mai nisi, o le 30 tausaga talu ai, sa seasea se tama’ita’i ona pale i se tulaga fa’auluulu i se matagaluega po’o se fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo, pei o se tofiga e fa’apitoa i ali’i ma e seasea se tama’ita’i ona ausia, vagan Fanaafi Ma’ia’i i le 1970 i le tulaga Fa’atonu Sili o le matagaluega o A’oga. Peita’i le vaitaimi lenei, ua le sa’o ai lena talitonuga. Aua ua to’atele tama’ita’i ua papale ma tutu i matagiolo e fai ma fa’aululuga o matagaluega ma fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo, ma nisi o fa’alapotopotoga ma kamupani i Samoa.
I le taimi nei, o lo’o avea ma fa’ululuga o le Komisi e PuleaGaluega ale Malo(PSC) se tama’ita’i. E fa’apena ai le matagaluega o Tina ma Tama’ita’i ma Aga Feso’ota’i (Ministry of Women Affairs), ole matagaluega o Tupe ale Malo(Minstry of Finance), ole Fa’alapotopotaga o Fale a Samoa(Samoa Housing Corporation), ole matagaluega ole Soifua Maloloina(Ministry of Health) ma isi matagaluega ma fa’alapotopotoga.
Ma ole fa’avaeina ole Matagaluega a Tina ma Tamai’ta’i ma Aga Feso’ota’i a Samoa, o se la’asaga taua tele lea o saga fa’amautuina ma fa’amalosia ai le tiute ma le sao taua o tina ma tama’ita’i, a leai se tina po’o ni tama’ita’i se aiga, se nu’u, se Ekalesia ma se Malo, ua le atoa le lelei o se aiga,se nu’u, se Ekalesia ma se Malo. Ae mafua mai i taua tele o le sao o Tina ma Tama’ita’i, ua misia i lo tataou si’osi’omaga i tiute faia mo le manuia o o tataou tagata.
Soifua
Saunia e Sanita Ioapo Taua’i
Kolisi o Samoa
Fa’ai’uga o le tauvaga lauga fa’a Samoa:
Tulaga muamua Sanita Ioapo
Tulaga lua Katie Asafo
Tulaga Tolu Peresia Mua
Vaisola Fuimaono
Mamaele Fonoti
Sunday, 26 October 2008 16:44
LAUGA
O Le Tiute O Tina Ma Tama’ita’i
O le ‘a ou le faloina le ‘afaloloa pe ou te toe si’i se matalalaga i paia ma mamalu, o sa ma faiga o le Komiti, aua o paia ma mamalu e tumau. Ae o le ‘a aga’i tonu se manatu i le autu filifilia o le lauga e faapea ‘O le taua o tamai’ita’i i faiga fa’aiuga i totonu o Samoa”.
E lua ni vaega ua on vaevaeina iai le autu.
1. O le taua o tama’ita’i?
- O so latou aoga po’o so latou sao; e ala ini tiute o latou faatinoina po’o ni matati’a o latou ausia latou te lagolagosia ai ile atina’e ina ole taou malo.
2. Fa’aiuga fai e totonu o Samoa.
- Oni tonu autu ia olo’o faia po’o fuafuaga fa’ataotooto mole lumana’i manuia o se si’osiomaga.
O tina and tama’ita’i e taua tele aua oi latou ua filiafilia ele Afua e avea ma fautua i totonu o so’o se fa’a lapotopotoga latou auai ai aua o lo latou leo e amanai’a e tagata e fai ma pae ma auli i so’o se si’osi’omaga, latou te faaleleia eseesega ma soloia faafitauli. O tina fo’i ma tama’ita’i ua mafai ona avea ma faauluuluga o fea’lapotopotoga ma matagaluega ale malo aua ua mafai ona latou ausia le tulaga maualuga ole ola a’oa’oina e mafai ai ona latou fa’atautai’a so’o se fa’aiuga latou te mautinoa e aga’i ai i luma le Atina’e ole malo o Samoa i so’o se itu.
O a’u, ou te talitonu i aia-tatau fa’avae ma le sa’olotoga o tagata, o tulaga mamalu ma le taua o le tagat soifua, o aia tutusa a le ali’i ma le tama’ita’i i tiute fai i so’o se si’osi’omaga o le soifuaga; pe se si’osi’omaga o se aiga, se nu’u, se mali se ekalesia po’o le a lava.
O si tatou atunu’u o Samoa, o le atunu’ tuto’atasi. Ma e ogatototu lana aganu’u ma ona talitonuga fa’a-kersiano i lona soifuaga o aso uma. E fa’amaonia lea i ana tu ma aga fa’aaloalo ma le va fealoa’i o tagat i so’o se li’o o se si’osi’omaga. Le aganu’u lea ma tu fa’a kerisano o lo’o fa’afailele ai le amana’ia o aia-tatau fa’avae ma le sa’olotoga o tagata pei ona ta’ua.
O le ala foi lea o lo’o fa’atauaina ai le Tulafono Fa’avae o le Malo o Samoa aia-tatau fa’avae ma sa’olotoga o tagata, aemaise le fa’amamafain o avanoa tutsa mo ona tagata-nu’u uma, pe se ali’i po’o se tama’ita’i. O i o lo’o fa’atauaina ai le aia-tatau a so’o se ali’i po’o se tama’ita’i i totonu o nu’u ma afioaga, aua o ia o le suli i le suaga matai atoa ma le fanua.
E matauina fo’ lea itu i tualaga tau a’oa’oga, lea e avanoa tutusa ai le ali’i ma le tama’ita’i. Fai mai nisi, o le 30 tausaga talu ai, sa seasea se tama’ita’i ona pale i se tulaga fa’auluulu i se matagaluega po’o se fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo, pei o se tofiga e fa’apitoa i ali’i ma e seasea se tama’ita’i ona ausia, vagan Fanaafi Ma’ia’i i le 1970 i le tulaga Fa’atonu Sili o le matagaluega o A’oga. Peita’i le vaitaimi lenei, ua le sa’o ai lena talitonuga. Aua ua to’atele tama’ita’i ua papale ma tutu i matagiolo e fai ma fa’aululuga o matagaluega ma fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo, ma nisi o fa’alapotopotoga ma kamupani i Samoa.
I le taimi nei, o lo’o avea ma fa’ululuga o le Komisi e PuleaGaluega ale Malo(PSC) se tama’ita’i. E fa’apena ai le matagaluega o Tina ma Tama’ita’i ma Aga Feso’ota’i (Ministry of Women Affairs), ole matagaluega o Tupe ale Malo(Minstry of Finance), ole Fa’alapotopotaga o Fale a Samoa(Samoa Housing Corporation), ole matagaluega ole Soifua Maloloina(Ministry of Health) ma isi matagaluega ma fa’alapotopotoga.
Ma ole fa’avaeina ole Matagaluega a Tina ma Tamai’ta’i ma Aga Feso’ota’i a Samoa, o se la’asaga taua tele lea o saga fa’amautuina ma fa’amalosia ai le tiute ma le sao taua o tina ma tama’ita’i, a leai se tina po’o ni tama’ita’i se aiga, se nu’u, se Ekalesia ma se Malo, ua le atoa le lelei o se aiga,se nu’u, se Ekalesia ma se Malo. Ae mafua mai i taua tele o le sao o Tina ma Tama’ita’i, ua misia i lo tataou si’osi’omaga i tiute faia mo le manuia o o tataou tagata.
Soifua
Saunia e Sanita Ioapo Taua’i
Kolisi o Samoa
Fa’ai’uga o le tauvaga lauga fa’a Samoa:
Tulaga muamua Sanita Ioapo
Tulaga lua Katie Asafo
Tulaga Tolu Peresia Mua
Vaisola Fuimaono
Mamaele Fonoti
Head of State of Samoa Speech, National University of Samoa
Lauga: Faauuga e avea ma faa-Ao o le Iunivesite o Samoa
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Ao o le Malo, Samoa
Vailele, Samoa
20 March 2008
Fai mai o le atua sa faitaulaga i ai le itumalo o Atua i aso la ae le’i taunuu mai le Tala Lelei o
Tupualegase, o le paneta o loo alala i le lagi. O le uiga o le upu “tupua” o tupua e taumate,
tauiso, tau’ite’ite, faailogafesili. O le uiga o le “le gase” e tumau, e le gase, e faaauau se’ia oo
i le faavavau. O lona uiga, o le moni, o le alofa, o le amiotonu o le Atua, o le fesili e taumate
e le tagata.
O le uiga tonu o le upu “tofa sa’ili”, o le tau sa’ili, tauiso, tau’ite’ite, taumate le fesili o le
“tupualegase”.
Ma afai o le Atua o le tupualegase, ua ou lagona ua mafuta mai le Atua ma i tatou i le aso
lenei. Aua mo a’u, atonu fo’i e faapea mo nisi tagata, ua taumate i le ‘ete le tupualegase.
Sa ou fesili ia Auseuga le failautusi o le Malo, “O le a tonu a le uiga o le faa-Ao o le
Iunivesite o Samoa, a o le a lana fe’au faatino?” Tali Auseuga, “’Aua e te popole Tupua, o
lea o le a aga’i mai le savali a le Iunivesite. Ma o i latou tonu ia o le a e maua ai le tali o lau
fesili.”
Ona oo atu lea o le savali a le Iunivesite. Faatu atu le fesili, “O le a tonu a le uiga o le faa-Ao
a le Iunivesite o Samoa, a o le a lana fe’au faatino?” Ae fai mai le tali, “E te le maua ia
matou le tali, aua fo’i fai mai le Tulafono, o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta e togia ma tofia le
faa-Ao o le Iunivesite. Ma e ono mafai e le Palemia ma le Kapeneta ona tofia le Ao o le
Malo e avea ma faa-Ao o le Iunivesite mo le lima (5) tausaga. O lona uiga, vagana le
Palemia ma le Kapeneta e mafai ona faamatala atu pe mafua isea ona togia ma tofia oe o le
faa-Ao o le Iunivesite.”
Ona toe oo atu fo’i lea o Auseuga, o le Soo’upu a le Palemia ma le Kapeneta, ona ou toe fai
fo’i lea iai: “Se’i e alofa e le’i maua lava se tali o le fesili, o le a tonu le uiga o le faa-Ao a o
lea fo’i lana fe’au faatino? ‘Aua e te poi, afai lava ua na o se teu fugalaau po ua na o se
2
faalupega, ‘aua e te popole e le pe lo’u fatu, ona o a’u o le tamaloa Atua e taumateina le
tupualegase.
I le afiafi ananafi, na taunuu atu ai se faamalamalamaga mai le Sui Soo’upu o le Palemia ma
le Kapeneta. Ua na o se kopi o le Tulafono e faamatala ai le matafaioi a le Palemia ma le
Kapeneta e tofia le faa-Ao o le Iunivesite ma le avanoa e tofia e le Palemia ma le Kapeneta le
Ao o le Malo i lenei tofiga.
Afai la ua le maua se tali o le fesili mai le Ofisa o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta poo mai le
Iunivesite, malilie la, o lea o le a faaauau le ‘anava a Atua e tauiso le tupualegase.
Ona ua siliga i le Ofisa o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta ma le Iunivesite o Samoa, o lea o le a ou
silisili i le tuugamau.
Tula’i mai Tofilau Eti Alesana, o oe lea sa ta fai’upu i le Iunivesite lenei. Masalo ua e faapea
nei, “Ua la Tupua, o lea ua e faa-Ao nei i le Iunivesite; a o fea fo’i lou faatuu’ala?” O la’u
tali, “O le faavae lea o le tofa sa’ili. Tatou te taumate le tupualegase. O le uiga lea o upu, ‘o
le tofa fetala’i’. Ua toe fuata’i le taeao; o le aso ma le filiga, o le aso ma le mata’igatila; o
le fuata ma lona lou.”
I lenei aso o le tofa fetala’i, o le aso o le filiga ma le tofa sa’ili, ua ou toe silisili i la’u uo i le
faasinoala. Fai mai Tofilau, “E mafua ona faatu le Iunivesite lenei, ona e avanoa ai ona
faataua le gagana, le tala faasolopito ma tala o le vavau, le tu ma le aganuu a Samoa, le mau a
Samoa. E le mafai ona ave le faamuamua i mea nei pe afai e pule’esea pe pule faaluafesasi.”
Afai o le tofa alualu mamao lea o loo limata’ita’iina ai le fe’au a le Iunivesite, e mafai ona ou
faapea atu, afai ua ou sala i la’u faatuu’ala, ae o lo ua fai ma o loo faaauau pea la’u galuega
togisala aua o loo faamaonia i faamaumauga a le Iunivesite, ua fai la’u sao i le gagana
Samoa, i le tala faasolopito, le tala o le vavau, le tu ma le aga ma le mau a Samoa – fai mai a
Tofilau o mafuaaga ia na faatu ai le Iunivesite lenei.
I le televave o suiga o le olaga, e foliga mai o le fesili tausisi, pe iai se aoga o le gagana
Samoa, o le tala faasolopito, o tala o le vavau, o le tu ma le aga ma le mau a Samoa. Pe iai se
aoga o le faasinomaga, o le tofi, o le matafaioi? Ma o le lu’itau i le tofa sa’ili e ono
faa’upuina faapenei. Muamua, ia sa’ili ma faamautuina le alofa, le amiotonu ma le filemu o
3
le Atua o loo i totonu o le mau a Samoa. Lua, a maua, ona momoli mai lea e fai ma faavae e
limata’ita’iina ai le fe’au a a’oga ma faia’oga, le fe’au a pulegamalo ma le fe’au a e faafoeina
le Tulafono.
Ae o le faavae o lenei tofa sa’ili o se galuega faaauau, e sa’ili ma toe sa’ili; aua e le mafai
ona aofa’i e le poto o le tagata le tofa a le Atua. Afai sa ou lape i le vaitaimi ua tuana’i, toe
fuata’i i lenei taimi. E le mafai ona tamau se tulafono, pe fuaao faapea o le moni ma le atoa o
loo sili i lo’u taliga poo taga i lo’u ‘ie. O le Atua o le tupualegase, o la tatou matafaioi o le
sa’ili pea o le moni o le Atua ma lo tatou iloa mautinoa, e iai suiga e aliali mai e ao ona
fetala’i ai le mafaufau ma toe fuata’i ma faafouina.
Fai mai le upu, e matuaoti le puapuaga ma le tuavale. O lona uiga, e leai se isi e fia
faasalalau o a’u o le tina po o le tama o le puapuaga po o le tuavale.
Ae le masino matua o mea e tualelei. ‘Aua tatou te te’ite’ivale pe faasea pe a finau o ai na
faafailele, o ai na fofoaina le Iunivesite lenei? Aua o se tasi lea o molimau, o le tualelei. Ia
atonu e mafai fo’i ona ou pasese ai. A faapea ane se isi, aisea ua faa-Ao ai Tupua i le
Iunivesite? Aua o se tasi lena molimau o le tualelei. Afai fo’i sa talitonugata se taofi i fatia
ua alu, o aga lava na o le tofa sa’ili.
Ona ua le maua se tali o le fesili, o le a le uiga a o lea le fe’au? Ia o lea o le a ou fai atua le
tali. E le taua ia te a’u o le faa-Ao ua na oe se faalupega. E le taua ia te a’u o le faa-Ao ua na
o se teufugalaau. Ae taua ia te a’u, ia avea a’u o se auauna aoga.
Ona ou manatua ai lea o le faasea a se tasi o lo’u aiga, “Se Tupua tuu lena ofutino pa’epa’e
ona e foliga ai oe o se waiter po o se auauna i se fale’aiga.” Ona ou fai atu lea, “E le afaina
lena mea, ae a fo’i la e fai mai le faalagiga o le Pope, ‘o le auauna o auauna’.”
Afai e iai sa’u auaunaga i e o loo auauna nei i le Iunivesite o Samoa, ona ou talitonu lea ua
‘anoa ma ganea lo’u tofi, o le faa-Ao o le Iunivesite o Samoa.
Soifua
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Ao o le Malo, Samoa
Vailele, Samoa
20 March 2008
Fai mai o le atua sa faitaulaga i ai le itumalo o Atua i aso la ae le’i taunuu mai le Tala Lelei o
Tupualegase, o le paneta o loo alala i le lagi. O le uiga o le upu “tupua” o tupua e taumate,
tauiso, tau’ite’ite, faailogafesili. O le uiga o le “le gase” e tumau, e le gase, e faaauau se’ia oo
i le faavavau. O lona uiga, o le moni, o le alofa, o le amiotonu o le Atua, o le fesili e taumate
e le tagata.
O le uiga tonu o le upu “tofa sa’ili”, o le tau sa’ili, tauiso, tau’ite’ite, taumate le fesili o le
“tupualegase”.
Ma afai o le Atua o le tupualegase, ua ou lagona ua mafuta mai le Atua ma i tatou i le aso
lenei. Aua mo a’u, atonu fo’i e faapea mo nisi tagata, ua taumate i le ‘ete le tupualegase.
Sa ou fesili ia Auseuga le failautusi o le Malo, “O le a tonu a le uiga o le faa-Ao o le
Iunivesite o Samoa, a o le a lana fe’au faatino?” Tali Auseuga, “’Aua e te popole Tupua, o
lea o le a aga’i mai le savali a le Iunivesite. Ma o i latou tonu ia o le a e maua ai le tali o lau
fesili.”
Ona oo atu lea o le savali a le Iunivesite. Faatu atu le fesili, “O le a tonu a le uiga o le faa-Ao
a le Iunivesite o Samoa, a o le a lana fe’au faatino?” Ae fai mai le tali, “E te le maua ia
matou le tali, aua fo’i fai mai le Tulafono, o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta e togia ma tofia le
faa-Ao o le Iunivesite. Ma e ono mafai e le Palemia ma le Kapeneta ona tofia le Ao o le
Malo e avea ma faa-Ao o le Iunivesite mo le lima (5) tausaga. O lona uiga, vagana le
Palemia ma le Kapeneta e mafai ona faamatala atu pe mafua isea ona togia ma tofia oe o le
faa-Ao o le Iunivesite.”
Ona toe oo atu fo’i lea o Auseuga, o le Soo’upu a le Palemia ma le Kapeneta, ona ou toe fai
fo’i lea iai: “Se’i e alofa e le’i maua lava se tali o le fesili, o le a tonu le uiga o le faa-Ao a o
lea fo’i lana fe’au faatino? ‘Aua e te poi, afai lava ua na o se teu fugalaau po ua na o se
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faalupega, ‘aua e te popole e le pe lo’u fatu, ona o a’u o le tamaloa Atua e taumateina le
tupualegase.
I le afiafi ananafi, na taunuu atu ai se faamalamalamaga mai le Sui Soo’upu o le Palemia ma
le Kapeneta. Ua na o se kopi o le Tulafono e faamatala ai le matafaioi a le Palemia ma le
Kapeneta e tofia le faa-Ao o le Iunivesite ma le avanoa e tofia e le Palemia ma le Kapeneta le
Ao o le Malo i lenei tofiga.
Afai la ua le maua se tali o le fesili mai le Ofisa o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta poo mai le
Iunivesite, malilie la, o lea o le a faaauau le ‘anava a Atua e tauiso le tupualegase.
Ona ua siliga i le Ofisa o le Palemia ma le Kapeneta ma le Iunivesite o Samoa, o lea o le a ou
silisili i le tuugamau.
Tula’i mai Tofilau Eti Alesana, o oe lea sa ta fai’upu i le Iunivesite lenei. Masalo ua e faapea
nei, “Ua la Tupua, o lea ua e faa-Ao nei i le Iunivesite; a o fea fo’i lou faatuu’ala?” O la’u
tali, “O le faavae lea o le tofa sa’ili. Tatou te taumate le tupualegase. O le uiga lea o upu, ‘o
le tofa fetala’i’. Ua toe fuata’i le taeao; o le aso ma le filiga, o le aso ma le mata’igatila; o
le fuata ma lona lou.”
I lenei aso o le tofa fetala’i, o le aso o le filiga ma le tofa sa’ili, ua ou toe silisili i la’u uo i le
faasinoala. Fai mai Tofilau, “E mafua ona faatu le Iunivesite lenei, ona e avanoa ai ona
faataua le gagana, le tala faasolopito ma tala o le vavau, le tu ma le aganuu a Samoa, le mau a
Samoa. E le mafai ona ave le faamuamua i mea nei pe afai e pule’esea pe pule faaluafesasi.”
Afai o le tofa alualu mamao lea o loo limata’ita’iina ai le fe’au a le Iunivesite, e mafai ona ou
faapea atu, afai ua ou sala i la’u faatuu’ala, ae o lo ua fai ma o loo faaauau pea la’u galuega
togisala aua o loo faamaonia i faamaumauga a le Iunivesite, ua fai la’u sao i le gagana
Samoa, i le tala faasolopito, le tala o le vavau, le tu ma le aga ma le mau a Samoa – fai mai a
Tofilau o mafuaaga ia na faatu ai le Iunivesite lenei.
I le televave o suiga o le olaga, e foliga mai o le fesili tausisi, pe iai se aoga o le gagana
Samoa, o le tala faasolopito, o tala o le vavau, o le tu ma le aga ma le mau a Samoa. Pe iai se
aoga o le faasinomaga, o le tofi, o le matafaioi? Ma o le lu’itau i le tofa sa’ili e ono
faa’upuina faapenei. Muamua, ia sa’ili ma faamautuina le alofa, le amiotonu ma le filemu o
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le Atua o loo i totonu o le mau a Samoa. Lua, a maua, ona momoli mai lea e fai ma faavae e
limata’ita’iina ai le fe’au a a’oga ma faia’oga, le fe’au a pulegamalo ma le fe’au a e faafoeina
le Tulafono.
Ae o le faavae o lenei tofa sa’ili o se galuega faaauau, e sa’ili ma toe sa’ili; aua e le mafai
ona aofa’i e le poto o le tagata le tofa a le Atua. Afai sa ou lape i le vaitaimi ua tuana’i, toe
fuata’i i lenei taimi. E le mafai ona tamau se tulafono, pe fuaao faapea o le moni ma le atoa o
loo sili i lo’u taliga poo taga i lo’u ‘ie. O le Atua o le tupualegase, o la tatou matafaioi o le
sa’ili pea o le moni o le Atua ma lo tatou iloa mautinoa, e iai suiga e aliali mai e ao ona
fetala’i ai le mafaufau ma toe fuata’i ma faafouina.
Fai mai le upu, e matuaoti le puapuaga ma le tuavale. O lona uiga, e leai se isi e fia
faasalalau o a’u o le tina po o le tama o le puapuaga po o le tuavale.
Ae le masino matua o mea e tualelei. ‘Aua tatou te te’ite’ivale pe faasea pe a finau o ai na
faafailele, o ai na fofoaina le Iunivesite lenei? Aua o se tasi lea o molimau, o le tualelei. Ia
atonu e mafai fo’i ona ou pasese ai. A faapea ane se isi, aisea ua faa-Ao ai Tupua i le
Iunivesite? Aua o se tasi lena molimau o le tualelei. Afai fo’i sa talitonugata se taofi i fatia
ua alu, o aga lava na o le tofa sa’ili.
Ona ua le maua se tali o le fesili, o le a le uiga a o lea le fe’au? Ia o lea o le a ou fai atua le
tali. E le taua ia te a’u o le faa-Ao ua na oe se faalupega. E le taua ia te a’u o le faa-Ao ua na
o se teufugalaau. Ae taua ia te a’u, ia avea a’u o se auauna aoga.
Ona ou manatua ai lea o le faasea a se tasi o lo’u aiga, “Se Tupua tuu lena ofutino pa’epa’e
ona e foliga ai oe o se waiter po o se auauna i se fale’aiga.” Ona ou fai atu lea, “E le afaina
lena mea, ae a fo’i la e fai mai le faalagiga o le Pope, ‘o le auauna o auauna’.”
Afai e iai sa’u auaunaga i e o loo auauna nei i le Iunivesite o Samoa, ona ou talitonu lea ua
‘anoa ma ganea lo’u tofi, o le faa-Ao o le Iunivesite o Samoa.
Soifua
E mana Lauga a Obama, pei ose Samoa
E mana lauga a Obama, pei o se Samoa
By Joseph Stowers, on 04-01-2009 15:14
Tusia: Fata Letunu Ariu Levi
Barack Obama
E muamua lava ona ou fa’atulou atu Paia ma mamalu o Samoa aua e le i mavae le iliai’a i ou taulagi mai le vavau e e o’o lava i le fa’avavau. Ia, fa’ata’alolo ia mulito’a lililo e le fati, ae fa’ataoto upu fa’avae a le Atunu’u. Tulou, tulou, tulouna lava.
Ae se’i si’i lou va’a e ala i le mafua lea ua Ta’aalii i tua galu. Ma oute tatalo ia fegaoioia’i le Agaga Paia i ulu ma i’u o galu aua se i’a o lo tatou faiva. Ia alo maia le fa’afofogaaga ae se’i o’u taumafai atu mo se vaivaiga fa’atauva’a i lo’u talitonuga i le Mana o Lauga a le Susuga Le-Peresetene manumalo i Palota a le Iunisetete o Amerika o Obama.
Ole taimi muamua lava na ou fa’alogo ai i lafolafoga a Obama ile Fonoaufa’atasi a le pati Temokarasi o Amerika i le 2004 lea na fai ai le Palota lea na manumalo ai Siaosi Bush, Jr lea e nofo mai nei, o ina na’ou i’ite ai le mamao ma le maualuga le tapula’a lea e fa’atu iai le sa a Obama. O le tamaoaiga la lenei o le failauga a Obama ou te manatua ai le matafaioi a Samoa o le failauga. Ae le’i ou vailiilia atua vaega e tutusa ai laugaga a Obama ma lauga Samoa, e muamua ona ou auiliili atu nai lauga a le susuga Obama e fa’atulaga ai la’u mau—ia toe elieli mai la tatou matafaioi e toe fa’ama’ai ma toe u’u i le fanu’upopo e se’e ai le ‘anavataua aua poipoina o le i’a o le mau.
Ia, ne’i ou si’ifa’amalimali lape upu o le atunu’u ia fa’amagalo mai, Tulou. Ae aumaia la outou fa’autaga mamao sau se taimi ona toe momoli atu lea ae alo maia tatou “popo fesagani” e pei o le fetalaiga i le tamaita’i o Ulalemamae. O le manumalo o le Susuga Obama i lenei Ofisa Sili o le Peresetene o Amerika o se mea mata’utia ona o ia o se tagata lanu uliuli ma le fa’atauva’a o lona tupuaga ua muamua o’o i lenei tofi maualuga. Ma o se palota na talitali ma mata’aina uma e le to’atele o le lalolagi. E le natia le maoa’e o le poto ma le atamai o le susuga Obama i le tapenaga ma le fa’atulagana o le galuega o le tausinioga mai le amataga se’i o’o lava i na ua tau le sini.
O le loloto o le tofa ma le moe alualu i ana filifiliga ma le fauina o lana mau po’o le feau lea ua i’u manuia. E molimau le ‘au atamamai a Amerika i le tausinioga palota o le tapula’a fou lea ua si’i e Obama ma lana ‘au taupulega ma le ‘aufaigaluega. Ae pei o le alaga upu lea na maua i Faleata—“O le faiva ese a lo Pepe”. Ia fa’ataoto ia le tele o mafua’aga o le fa’amanuiaga o le fa’amoemoe a le Susuga Obama, ae se’i ou taumafai atu i le itu lea o ana lauga ma lo na fofoga malie i ana lafolafoga ma Saunoaga.
E le fuga le logo malie o le tanoasaunoa a le Susuga Obama o taunu’uga lelei e le taofia. O le paepaeulufanuaina mai o le mau ma le fe’au o le savali e maoa’e le tomai ma le agava’a.
O le lauga lea na si’i ai lona Sa e alu i le palota mo le Peresetene o le Iunisetete o Amerika lea na fai i Sikako (Chicago) i a Fepuari 2007, o ina na lauiloa ai e tagata Amerika e le o sefa’ata’ita’iga fa’alagamaea le sa a Obama. O le mea mao’i. O le folasaga maia ole mau ole savali ma le auivi ole galuega. Sa manino lelei ma le malie o le fofoga. O le mau – “O le luiga mo se Suiga”. Ole feau ma le lu’iga-“Po’o le a lou lanu, pe mauoloa pe mativa, pe matua pe lai’ititi, pe tane pe tama’ita’i, pe i’u mai aoga maualuga pe maualalo, pe faigaluega i se ofisa pe se fa’atoaga, oute fia fai a’u ma Peresetene mo outou uma”.
Ma e le’i i ai se taimi na saunoa ai Obama o lo na tagata o se tagata lanu uliuli. Sa mamao i ona manatu ma a na upu le lanu o lo na tino. O le lagaga o le tafa o taua fa’apalota na fa’atulaga mai o se lu’iga ma le tulivalaauia a Obama mo tagata uma o Amerika. O la na fa’aupuga-“E le na o Amerika, a’o le ‘aufa’atasi o Iunisetete o Amerika”. O le isi fa’aupuga o le Mau e fa’apea ua o’o i le taimi e toe si’i ai le matalalaga o le fa’atinoga lea o se suiga.
Sa ou pu’eina mai i lauga a Obama si’u leo o fa’aupuga lauga a isi Peresetene ma ta’ita’i a isi atunu’u ua tuana’i, fa’apei o le au Keneti (Jack, Robert, Ted Kenedy), Pili Kelinitone (Bill Clinton) ma Matini Lutelu Kini (Martin Luther King) ma isi. Sa ou maua ni fa’amaumauga e fa’amaonia ai le si’i mai a o le fa’aupuga a Matini Lutelu Kini, “O la na miti, e sau se aso e fa’amasino ai lana fanau lea e toafa e laiti i o latou amio ae le o le lanu o latou tino”.
O le lauga lea na fai i le nu’u lea o Filatofia, le Setete of Peniselevenia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) o le ma’atulimanu lea i le tausinioga palota a le Susuga Obama ona o le itu lea. Talu ai ni fa’afitauli ua ‘a’asa mai e mafua mai i lana faifeau o latou ekalesia lea e lauga fetu’u ma fa’atu’umana i tagata papa’e o Amerika. O le lauga la lea a Obama na ta’u “Ole lauga ile Vanonofo fa’atasi o tagata uma e le fa’ailoga lanu, pe mauoloa pe mativa, pe tane pe tama’ita’i, ma isi eseesega”. Ole saunoaga lea na a’apu ai Obama i le fa’avaepopo ole Iunisetete o Amerika e toe fa’amanatu ma toe fa’amaumau atili i le mau o le aia tatau ma le saolotoga o le tagata.
O le vaevaega mai a Obama o le tala fa’asolopito o Amerika ma le savali a tagata matitiva ma e o lo’o mafatia i le sailiga o se tamaoaiga mo se atina’eina o le soifuamaloloina mo aiga ma le malo o Amerika. Aemaise e na tautua i taua lea na momoiloto ai tagata i ana fa’aupuga. O le tomai o Obama e alu ese mamao mai se fa’aupuga fa’apitoa mo tagata uli o Amerika ae aga’i e tauaofa’i tagata uma o lo’o puapuagatia i le sailiga o se tamaoaiga mo alo ma fanau ma le aiga atoa ma le Atunu’u. O i na na osofa’ia ai tagata i le lagona o Obama e le fa’ailoga tagata ae fa’amaoni i lana savali – “O ia mo tagata uma”.
O le tele o lauga a Obama e pei o na ou fa’ailoa atu muamua e fau i tala fa’atusa ma e si’i mai fa’ataoto mai isi lauga pei o le mau a le Peresetene o Pili Kelinitone i la na tausinioga palota lea na manumalo ai ia Siaosi Bush, Sr. le tama o Siaosi lea e nofo mai nei. O la na mau na si’i mai i le Tusi Paia ile tusi o Isaia 58:12. Na valoia ai e Isaia ia Isaraelu, “e tupuga mai ia te oe (Isaraelu) le autupulaga o le a latou toe fauga fa’avae fou ma o latou e fa’amamaina mea na fa’atafuna mai anamua…”.
Ele gata i lea ae tele fa’aupuga ma fa’avasegana o manatu ma upu na maua mai ia Peresetene Apeleamo Linitone (Abraham Lincon), “O lo’o i outou lima le pule e tau pe le tau ai le taua”, ma le lauga fa’atoese a Sokorate (Socrate) i lona fa’amasinoga lea na fai e Atenai (Athens). E fa’apea fo’i le lauga a Iesu i le mauga lea na maua mai ai le fa’aupuga a Keniti lea na toe sui laititi e Obama e fa’pea-“’aua e te ole mai (ile Malo) i mea na fua mai ia outou galuega, ae ia outou fesili (ile Malo) pe fa’apefea ona latou pulea ma fa’aaogaina, ma teu ma afifi le oloa mo nei ma taeao.” O le Tusi Paia Samoa e fa’aogaina le upu “ole mai” ae ua fa’aaoga e Siati Keneti le fa’aupuga “ae fesili mai”.
E tasi le manatu fa’avae na maua mai ile Lauga ile Mauga a Iesu ae eseese fa’aaogana e fa’aupu ai le mau a Keneti ma Obama. O nisi nei fa’aupuga na fa’aaoga e Obama i ana lauga oute talitonu e pogai mai nisi lauga:
• “O lou taimi lenei e tula’i ai e tau’ave le galuega;”
• “O lou tiute lea, o lou faia, o lou aia;”
• “O lo’o iou lima le pule mo se suiga;”
• “ E leai se mea tatou te le mafaia pe a tatou tutu fa’atasi, ae leai se mea mafaia pe a tatou tutu eseese i lenei palota;”
• “ Ia tatou fesili i tua’a mo se tofa ma se fa’autaga;”
• “E le o A’u, a’o Tatou!”
• “E Le o A’u, a’o le Lalovaoa ma autupulaga faimai e fa’asino iai le ‘autu olenei palota.”
O ni manatu taua e maua mai i’i ole lava o le su’esu’ega a le failauga i le tapenaga o lana Mau ma le tu’umomoli’ina o le mau ia se’e malie i finagalo ma loto o tagata o lo’o fa’atu i ai le Mau ma le fe’au.
E pei ole talitonuga Samoa, ole lauga e moemanatunatu ma moetausi’i iai le aufailauga. O le isi oloa e maua mai i’i ole fa’aaogaina o talafa’asolopito ma fa’avae popo o se atunu’u e fai ma molimau e fa’amalosia ai le Mau ma le fe’au. E fa’apea fo’i le tofa ma le fa’autaga a nisi o ta’ita’i po’o tulatoa mai anamua e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau ma le fe’au. O le tasi nei mea taua o lauga a Obama ole maumau atili i ana fa’aupuga e le suia e pei ona ta’ua i luga e momoli ai lana Mau. E le’i fealualu’ai ma fesese’ai ana fa’aupuga.
O i e tulei ma alei mautu ai ma talia le feau. O nei manatu ma fa’amaumauga e fai ma fa’atusa po’o ni fa’ata’oto e molimau ai le uga’ina o le Mau ma le feau. A’o ni oloa e tua i ai le aufai lauga po’o le au fueloloa a Samoa. Aua o le Lauga ole mea totino lava lea a le tagata lava ia. O aso nei i ofisa maualuluga pei o Peresetene ma Palemia ma Kovana Sili ma isi o lo’o ua iai latou e tusia a latou lauga. E ui lea e tatau lava o na o gatasi le fauga o le lauga male e tu’ufofogaina le Mau ma le fe’au. Aua e tusa lava pe lelei le fauga o le Mau ma le Savali ae le logo malie le tu’ufofogaina o le lauga e tuga le taliaina o le Mau.
Tatou te le mailoa tulaga o ni fua o le Mau a le Susuga Obama aua e le’i amata lana galuega. E le po se lilo i la outou silafia le mata’utia o umaga (ola talaulau) o se Mau po’o se fe’au pe a talia e tagata o lo’o fa’atula’i i ai le savali. E pei o le tu’umomoliina o le talalelei i itu e fa ole lalolagi. Ole fa’ailogavaai lea o le moni o le Mau o le Tusi Paia ona ua te’a le 2,000 tausaga o lo’o ola ufi sasa le Mau o Kerisiano i le lalolagi atoa. A’e tatou manatua fo’i le Mau a Hitila o Siamani ma Sitalini o Rusia lea e faitau miliona tagata na fasiotia ina ua talia e tagata o la ia Atunu’u la ia Mau.
E moni na talia lana mau ae na i’u lava ina uape fa’aumatia le mau. E ofaga le au popoto i le talafa’asolopito o le lalolagi i le talitonuga o le malie ma le sanisani o le tu’ufofogaina o lauga a Hitila ma Sitalini lea na logoitino ai loto ma agaga o tagata ma ua talia ai le mau. O i la e ta’u mai ai le vovo (malosi) o le lauga po’o le tu’umomolina o se mau ma se feau. Pe moni pe sese, pe se fa’atuatuaga i le Atua pe o se isi atua, ae a logo malie le susua o le tu’ufofogaina mai o le mau e i’u lava na talia se mau. O i la tatou te fa’aitete i ai ma tatou mataala i ai aua e fifiloi Mau lelei ma Mau leaga.
Tatou te silasila fo’i ma manatua le vovo o le Mau a Mahatma Gandhi o Initia ma le Mau a Mao Sitono (Zedong) o le Malo tele o Saina e faitau piliona o latou tagata o lo’o ola ile saolotoga o latou talitonuga fa’alemalo. A’o Mau olo’o ola ufisasa i le lalolagi atoa o Mau o tapuaiga i Le Atua silisili po’o nisi Atua fa’apei o le Au Kerisiano a Iesu, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism ale ‘au Siu o Isaraelu, ma Hinduism o Patisitani ma Initia i sisifo ma nisi tapua’iga.
Ia, tatou talosia e moni le Mau ma ia fa’avae i Le Atua le fe’au ma galuega ale Susuga ia Obama ia to mai ai ni manuia. Ole fa’aupuga fa’aSamoa e fa’apea, “E tautala fua o au galuega.” Pe lelei, pe leaga, pe ititi, pe tele, e fa’amasino lava ‘oe i au galuega.
Ole Uiga ole upu “Lauga”
A fai la o le vovo o le lauga e mafuli ai mauga i finagalo o tagata ua taliaina ma sapaia se mau ma se fe’au a se savali, O le a tonu la le uiga o lenei upu ole “Lauga”?
Ua ‘ ou manatua su’esu’ega sa ‘ou avea i le Kolisi o Kalifonia Univesete (California State University, Hayward) i le San Francisco Bay Area i lenei mataupu o le Lauga ma auiliiliga o le uiga o lenei mata’upu. E mafuli uma le to’atele o le ‘au popoto i lenei mataupu i le fa’auigaganaina e fa’apea:
O se tu’ufofogaina po’o se fofogaina tau momoli o se manatu po’o se talitonuga e fa’atosina mai ai ni tagata ia latou taliaina nei manatu po’o se talitonuga. Ole fauga la o le fa’aupuga o nei manatu po’o se talitonuga i ni upu e fa’apupula atili ai le mau e maua ai le lauga. O fa’aupuga ia e fa’amatala ai se ata o le matupu e fau ai le Mau e manino lelei ai le lauga. Ole auivi la o lenei fa’apupula i le uiga o le upu “lauga” e aofia ai mea ia:
a.) Ole fauga o se manatu e fa’avae mai talitonuga
e.) Ole fa’aupuga o manatu lea ua maua ai le Mau. O fa’aupuga e tua I le gagana.
i.) Fa’atulaga le auivi o le tu’umomolina o le Mau.
o.) O ai e fa’atu i ai le Mau? Tagata, Saofa’iga, Nu’u, Aiga, Itumalo, Atunu’u.
u. ) Filifili le auala e momoli ai le Mau. E momoli e se tagata fofoga fetalai lelei, po’o se tusitusiga, po’o se televise, leitio, upega feso’ota’i tafaa’ila po’o nisi auala tauave feau.
f.) Momoli loa le lauga po’o le Mau.
g.) Fua pe na talia le Mau pe leai.
l.) Toe fa’atulaga ma toe momoli le Mau.
O nei vaega ta’itasi e i ai fo’i o latou lava auivi aua e tofu lava ma le loloto o auiliiliga o lea lava mataupu.
Oute manatua i le tausaga 1965-66 Ole tele o Kolisi i Amerika sa i ai i lalo o le Mata’upu lautele o le Gagana Peretania (English Literature) le mata’upu o le Lauga male Fe’etu’una’iga (Debate). Ae taunu’u i le 1970-74 ua ave ifo i lalo o le Mataupu lautele ole Iumanati (Humanity), a’o lenei taimi ole toatele o Iunivesete ua ave ai le mata’upu ole Lauga i lalo o Aotele ole mataupu o le Fa’asilasila Atu, pe fa’aaliatu (Information & Communication, Telephony, Technology Sciences) lea ua aofia ai ma su’esu’ega masigi (Computer Science) e fa’aaoga i le fa’asilasilaga ma le fa’asalalau ole Mau pei o kompiuta male upega fesoota’i (Internet) i tafatafa’ilagi. Ole autu o nei fetosoaiga ona o le felefele o mataupu fa’alea’oga fa’alemafaufau e aia i lenei mataupu taua ole Lauga.
E iai le fa’aupuga a le au failauga e fa’apea: “E tusa pe mata’utia le manaia ma le loloto o ou manatu ma ou talitonuga ae a le tu’umomoli mai i se tusitusiga po’o sau lauga tu’ufofoga mai, e te oti ifo lava ma ou manatu, ailoga e iloaina e nisi.” A fa’apea la o ou mafaufauga e maua mai ai ni manatu, a iloilo atili manatu, e tupuga mai ai talitonuga ma le tofamanino. O talitonuga e fa’atulaga ai le Mau po’o le feau. A maua loa le Mau, ona a’apa loa lea i le gagana e fa’aupu ai le Mau. A uma loa le fa’aupuga ona tapega loa lea o le savali e momoli ai le feau. A uma ona momoli pe tu’ufofogaina le Mau o na fa’atali lea pe ua talia le mau. A le talia le mau o na toe tapega lea o le Mau ma le fa’aupuga fa’apea fo’i le momoliga ona toe fotua’i ai lea ole savali. Afai ua talia le mau ona fa’atulaga lea o le galuega. A uma ona fa’ataunu’u galuega, ona fua lea ile fuatautau o umaga o galuega. O i na la e fa’amasino ai le tonu ma le moni o le Mau. O inei fo’i e iloa ai pe ola pe oti le Mau a’o lea fo’i le umi o le taimi e iloa ai nei tulaga. O i e taunu’u ai le fa’aupuga lea e “Mana pe vovo le Lauga”.
E Lauiloa Samoa I Lana Lauga.
O le tutuna maualuga o lauga a Obama sa ou tulitulimatagau ai lea ma ou manatua ai le matafaioi o tagata Samoa ile fauga male tu’u fofogaina o latou lauga. A su’e ifo e se tasi le igoa Samoa i le tusi lea e ta’u ole Enesaikolopilia a Peretenika (Encyclopaedia Britannica), e le tele ni fuaiupu e fa’matala ai le atunu’u o Samoa ‘ae ta’u mai loa o se atunu’u e lauiloa i lo latou atamamai i le fauga o latou lauga.
“Ole laufanua o le ‘aufailauga” (Land of Orators). O le mafuaga na tusia ai e tagata popoto o Europa lenei fa’aupuga ona o tusitusiga na faia e misionare mai Europa na latou galue’ia fa’atasi ma Samoa le amataina o le tusiga male fa’aliliuiga o le Tusi Paia ile gagana fa’aSamoa lea na faia i Avao i Savaii, e pei ona tusia mai ele Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia Fereti Tupua i lana tusi lea o le Suaga A le Va’atele, 1996. Ia, na o se fa’amanatu atu i le au faitau. Na muamua fa’atulaga le gagana Samoa tusitusi (le tulaga o le “p” faitau/fa’aleo, ma le “p”tautau o ata o mea, lea na gaosia ai mataitusi ma o latou fa’aleoga) ona fa’atoa amata ai loa le fauga o upu ma fuaiupu ma o latou fa’auigaga ae mulimuliai le fa’aliliuga o le Tusi Paia ile gagana tusitusi fa’aSamoa. E le’i se galuega faigofie ole galuega na fitaituga i ai tua’a o lo’o tofafa mai i atutia, Tulou.
Ina ua malamalama loa le ‘au misionare Europa ma nisi na saili malo mai i Samoa ile matafaifetalai o tagata Samoa ae fa’asiliaupito ai matai o le Atunu’u lea na maofo ai i le taleni oloa a Samoa. O iinei na latou iloaina ai le loloto male o’o o’o ole fauga o lauga a Samoa ae maise le lalagafa’atasia o le lauga ma le gagana ma le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u fa’a Samoa. E pei o le nofoa vae fa lea ile fa’asinomaga ma le si’osi’omaga o Samoa atoa. E momoli ma pale puipui e le lauga lea na fau mai le gagana fa’agaoioiga o le Aga’ifanua ma le Aganu’u Fa’aSamoa. Ae le gata i lea, a’o o le tu’umomoliina o le galuega a Le Atua i Samoa ma isi motu o le Pasifika. E pei ona silafia e Le Atua le matafaiupu o Samoa sa teu fa’ausiusi ma fa’ama’ai mai le vavau ma fa’atalitali mo le taumomoliina o le galuega a Le Atua i le Pasifika ma Samoa.
O eseesega o lauga a Samoa mai isi Atunu’u ma latou lauga e’i le fa’atulagaga o ‘auivi. O le ‘auivi o lauga a Samoa e tu’utaula i vaega ia e fitu (7): Ole tuvaoga, ole ava, vi’iga o Le Atua, o Paia, O taeao o Samoa, ole autu ole aso, fa’amatafi lagi. (Silasila ile tusi, “Lauga” a Fa’amatuainu mo le fa’apupula atili o nei vaega ta’itasi). A’o le ‘auivi o lauga a isi atunu’u fa’apei o Europa e tusa e tolu (3) vaega: Fa’atalofa, po’o se tuvaoga, ‘Autu ole aso male fa’atofa. O lauga ale ‘au Europa e mateletele i le ‘auivi o le ‘autu ole aso.
Aua ole a’ano lea ole Mau. E fa’apea fo’i i lauga a Samoa e tutusa lelei i le fa’asoaina mai o le Mau lea e iai vaega ia: Ole matua o le Mau; ole uiga ole Mau; o ni molimau e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau; ni fa’amaumauina po’o ni fa’ailoga vaai e fa’amaonia ai le Mau, o ni lelei po’o ni manuia e maua mai le Mau; ni vaivaiga pe a le talia le Mau, fa’atulagina o le galuega e fa’atino ai le Mau; tofiga o e faia le galuega; fa’atulaga mai le taimi e tatau o na fa’atula’i ma fa’ama’ea ai le galuega; taaofa’ia maia le i’u ole tu’umomoli o le mau; ona o’o loa lea i le fa’amatafi o lagi.
O isi eseesega o lauga a Samoa mai isi Atunu’u e fa’apea: ole ‘auivi o lauga a Samoa e iai tapui o vaega o le ‘auivi. E i ai vaega e tatau ona muamua mai ae e iai isi e mafai ona fesuia’i le taimi e tu’umomoli ai. Ole mea e mamao ai le vaeseese o lauga isi atunu’u ma lauga fa’amatai Samoa e pei ona outou silafia o fa’aupuga e fa’apitoa i le autu o le aso aua o i e filifa’atasia ai le gagana ma le agaifanua ma le aganu’u fa’aSamoa. E pei la o upu ma fa’aupuga patino i maliu po’o tu’umalo o tamali’i. E fa’apea fo’i i fa’aipoipoga, fa’afotuulu, ma fa’afotuali’i, umusaga o maota ma malumalusa, etc.
O le fa’ala’eiina lenei o le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u o Samoa e fuatasi ai i matai lauga a Samoa lo lauga o nisi tagata o le lalolagi atoa. Ia e pei ona outou silafia le eseesega o le fa’aaogaina ole gagana e matai ma tagata e fofoga ai o latou manatu i isi matai (ali’i ma tulafale) ma tagata ua fa’auluulu iai matagaluega (o auauna Le Atua, Faiaoga, Peresetene o Kamupani, etc.). O lea e fai mai ai Misi Parate (Rev. George Pratt) i lana tusi lomifefiloi (dictionary) o le gagana Samoa ma le fa’aliliuga fa’aPeretania lea na lolomi i le 1862. E fa’apea o le gagana Samoa e iai le “gagana a matai” ae ese mai le “gagana a tagata lautele” e fa’aoga I aso uma. O le fa’agao’i’oiga lea o le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u a le gagana e ala i le lauga, lea e maofo ai le tele o tagata mai fafo i le tomai o tagata Samoa i le fa’aaogaina o latou gagana i o latou fa’asinomaga.
Ole auivi ma tapui ma isi eseesega e pei ona taua i luga o lauga a Samoa na malamalama ai loa misionare ma tagata Europa, o ina na talitonu ai nei ali’i ile maualuga ole tomai o tagata Samoa i lenei taleni a’o se fa’amanuiaga mai Le Atua ia Samoa. O le mea na maofo ai nei Ali’i ona ole mamao ole tauaveina maia o lenei matafaioi tu’u musumusu mai anamua. O i lea e fai ai le tala tausua a le autalavou e fa’apea, “Ole toeaina e le’i alu i se iunivesete ae a lauga mai o le polofesa ma le foma’i ole mafaufau”. A tonu ua outou talitonu ilenei taleni ma lenei mealofa mai Le Atua ia Samoa e pei o lo’u “savinivini fa’apunuamanu” ile taeao.
E Iloa Oe I Lau Lauga.
E tele lauga a tulatoa Samoa o lo’o tusitusia mai ile ‘au tusitala Samoa e molimau i le mata’utia ma le matagofie o latou lauga. Ae oute manatua le lauga lea na taua’aoina mai ele Gafatasi le Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia i le Suaga O le Va’atele i le Ati Pouniu a Lauati Namulauulu lea na lo’o fono pau i Falepunaoa i le tago’au a Malietoa Laupepa i le taua lea ole “Faitasiga o le Tuamasaga” po’o le “Sinasina-a-Matuu” lea na fai i le fa’ai’uga o le 1869 ae ma fa’alelei i a 5 Aperila, 1870. (E fai nei taua ae fa’atua i’u le taua o le fa’asaolotoga o tagata pologa i Amerika a’o Peresetene Apeleamo Linikone lea fai ma tua iai lauga a Obama)
Ole lauga lea a Lauaki Namulaulu na a’apa ai i le tala ia Tapututagitele le afafine o Muliaga Vailolo o Amoa ina ua fasiotia si ana tama o Fa’atuliaupolu e tagata o le nu’u o Sili ma Vaiafai ole Fale Safune. Ole tago’au tagi mai ala a le tam’ita’i o Taputu i ona aiga i le Salemuli’aga lea na amata mai Sala’ilua ae fa’ai’u i Lealatele. O i nei na maua ai le fa’aumiga o le igoa o si tama’ita’i ia Tapututagitele.
O le tutulu tu’utu’ulaau a Tapututagitele afe a’e i Sala’ilua fesili a’e ua fasia lava si a’u tama o Fa’atuliaupolu a’o fea o iai Tuituato ma TuiTolova’a? Sa fa’apea fo’i i Tufu Gataivai na siligia ai po’o fea na i ai Ti’ati’a, Togiai ma le Fa’ala’a? Sa ole atu fo’i ia Fuga ma Mauga i Vaisaulu, Iva, fa’apea fo’i Le Pule Leu’u ma Seali’imalietoa i Amoa, Sa’asa’ai ma Puapua, se’i o’o atu lava i Lealatele na tagi fesili ai fo’i Taputu pe ofea na iai Tevaga ma Vaifale a’o fasia lava lana tama o Fa’atuliaupolu. Na fa’alia mai e le GafaTasi, sa matua o’otia loto ma agaga o Falealili ma Si’umu ma sa talia loa le mau ole Savali ma ua taunu’u manuia le Mau ina ua fai le leleiga ma lona uso o Talavou.
E anoanoa’i mea taua o lenei lauga e pei ona outou silafia a’o mea ia e lua oute fa’amamafaina: 1.) ole folauga i faia; 2.) ole a’apa ma si’i mai o se tala mai anamua e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau. Sa le lilo i atuamanatu o tagata na talia le tagi a Taputu e i’u lava i na ua to’ilalo le Fale Safune ia Salemuli’aga. Ua taunu’u le moemoe o le Mau ma le Savali. Ole tomai ma le loloto ale tofa ma le mamao ole moe alualu o failauga o Samoa lea na fa’amaumau e misionare ma tagata Europa i o latou tusitusiga ma a latou fa’aupuga “O Samoa ole laufanua o ‘aufai lauga” (Land of Orators).
Oute talitonu fo’i i le Mana a le lauga “Lua Ao Lua Po” a le Matua ile Tofa Iuli o Falefa, FaleAtua, lea na lavea’i ai Malietoa ‘Ainu’u i le aga Seuao. E mata’utia le malie o tala musumusu mai i le lauga a le Fetaliaga le Tumua ia Alipia, i Leulumoega, lea na maua ai le fa’apu’upu’uga o fa’alupega o Samoa e i ai “Tumua ma Pule” i le fa’ae’ega o Papa o le TuiAana ia Salamasina ae mulimuli ane le fa’aopoopoga o “Aiga i le Tai” ma le “Va’a o Fonoti” ma “Itu’au ma Alataua” ina ua fa’alelei le taua a le ’au tupufia a TuiAana Faumuina.
Sa ou maua fo’i Saunoaga ma lauga matagofie o lo’o fa’amaumau i le tala fa’asolopito ole Malo Tutoatasi o Samoa. E iai le tuleiga a le afioga Mataafa Fiame Faumuina ina ua uma le palota mo le Malo tuto’atasi e fa’apea fo’i lafolafoga a susuga Luafatasaga sa fofoga fetalia i tausaga popofou o le Malo Tuto’atasi a Samoa.
Sa ou maua fo’i le kopi a le lauga a le Palemia Tupuola Efi lea na tumomoli i le Iunisetete o Nu’u Tuto’atasi Aufa’atasi o le Lalolagi (United Nations) i Niu Ioka (New York) i le amataga o 1970-75 lea na fa’atusa ai le “taga’i po’o le va’ai mamao o se malo tuto’atasi laititi ma le fa’atauva’a (e pei o Samoa) i fitauli o lo’o feagai ma Nu’u uma o le lalolagi e fa’apei ole va’ai a le manulele e tu mai le lau niu o le niu” e lautele ma e mamao ma le manino. O lo’u malamalama i le Mau a Tupuola e fa’apea o le tele o fa’afitauli faigata e le fa’apitoa i Malo tetele le fa’atogafitia pe tausea pe foalo, ae aoga fo’i le va’ai a se malo laititi ma le fa’atauva’a e manino ai le lavelave o se mataupu ma o i e fa’afaigofie ai le fofo.
O le isi lauga a le Afioga TuiAtua Tupua oute fa’asiliaupitoina o lana tuleiga molimau i le usugafono a le tofa ia Pao Avau lea e tusia mai i le Talanoaga Na Loma Ma Ga’opo’a. Ole mea oute fiafia iai ona ole manino o le fa’asoaina mai o le Mau—le mafuaaga ma le aia o Tupua e fai ai ia ma molimau, ole uiga ole “matuamoepo”, ole lautele ole mataupu o le “Matua Moepo” i isi galuega ma tiute fa’amatai, molimau i le tausiga a Pao le “MatuaMoepo” ia te ia (Tupua Taisi Tufuga) fa’apea Ekalesia, Aiga, Nu’u, Itumalo, Atunu’u, ma otootoga mai o fua ma umaga o galuega a Pao le “MatuaMoepo”. Ou te talitonu pe ete faitau pe ete fa’alogo i ai i lenei lauga ‘ae le’i o’o i le fa’aiuga ua e silafia ma malamalama lelei i le Mau o le loloto ma le fa’ataunu’uga o le tautua tuavae a le “MatuaMoepo”. Ole isi mea taua ia te au ole tusa ma le 98pasene (98%) ole lauga na avea e fa’atula’i mai ai le Mau ae 2pasene (2%) na ave isi vaega e fitu. Ole tasi nei o fa’ailogava’ai a le saunoaga a Tupuola e “aua le mateletele i teuteuga muafale ae galo ai le Mau”.
E to’atele tagata Samoa lauga lelei ae ua ou si’i mai le Mau a TuiAtua Tupuola ona lea e tusia i lana tusi pei ona ta’ua i luga. Ole tele o lauga a tagata e le o tusia ma e faigata ona maua fa’amaumauga.
O a’u nei fa’amaumauga i le tele o lauga a matai i maliu ma umusaga o malumalu ma fa’aipoipoga ma isi fa’alavalave fa’aSamoa, e mateletele i paia ma taulagi ma faia ona fola loa lea o le fesoasoani na lavasi’i mai ai ae ititi upu e molimau ai le olaga ma galuega a le ua lafoa’i. Ona ou manatua ai lea upu o le Vi’igase o Lealamatagi i Iva (Ogatotonu ole tausaga 1800), “Ua fa’alupe fua le malae, anei e o’o i vi’iga”. O le lauga e patino i le tagata lava ia. Ole mea lea e iloa ai oe i lau lauga. Ole isi nei fa’auigaga. Ia tatou fa’aitete i o tatou mafaufau ma manatu, aua e tupuga mai upu. O upu e fa’atulaga ai galuega. O fua o galuega e fua ai oe. O le tu’ualao a le Avaga Nofoa le tofa ia Puni Raea—“E te tula’i loa i luga ete alu i le ‘Fa’atau Paia’ a le Atunu’u, o i e fai ai lou fa’amasinoga”.
E Mana Le Lauga Amiotonu
Ole lauga e i ai le ola. E manavanava ma fegaoioia’i. E tupu talaulau ma ufisasa isi taimi ae tau pe isi taimi. Ole ola e tua ile tausiga ma le teuteu lelei. ‘Ae a le tausia lelei ma le fa’amaoni e i’u lava ina ua pe ma sola atu.
O le lauga e iai le tofa ma le moe ma le mauli ma o le fatu ma le agaga lea o le amataga o le Mau ma le lauga. O le oloa fa’atili o fa’aupuga ole Mau ma le lauga. E tonusia le lalago pau pe a ofaga le Mau i le tofa fa’aLeAtua ma le utaga fa’akerisiano. O le lauga e iai le sulu e fa’amalamalama ai ala i le pouliuli. E iai le fa’alogo ma le lagona i tino. O le mana la ole lauga i lo’u nei vaivaiga e fa’apea—O le feagiga po’o le so’otaga ole feusuaiga a mafaufau ma manatu ma le gagana e fa’atula’i ai galuega mo le fa’asinomaga mo ni tagata. O le faia po’o le so’otaga lea e atoatino i ai le Mau aua e ola le lauga.
A Mana le lauga Amiotonu:
*E mafuli ai mauga
*E tosina ma mulita’i iai tagata
*E sui ma fa’avae ai ni talitonuga
*E noopa ai malo o Aiga, Nu’u ma Atunu’u
*E fa’atulaga ai galuega
*E fa’avae ai tulafono ma tapui
*E tupuga mai ai aga’ifanua ma aganu’u.
Ia atonu e talia nei manatu ae tatou manatua e fifiloi lelei ma leaga. A le amiotonu le Mau, ele amiotonu fo’i le lauga. E le fua amiotonu fo’i galuega. ‘Ae a amiotonu le Mau ma le lauga e le taliatualimaina le lauga ma le Mau. E pei o le Mau o le Talalelei a Le Atua e fa’avavau.
Ia, o le a tatalo ia uluulumataafolau le Mana a lauga a le Susuga Obama aua le fa’ataunu’uga o ana galuega. E le mailoa ni fa’ataunu’uga o le Mau ma le fe’au a Obama. Ae tatou talosia o se mau fa’amaoni ma le amiotonu ma e fa’avae i Le Atua aua o le mafuaaga lea o fua lelei ma umaga anoanoa’i o galuega. Ia maua se manuia mo Amerika fa’apea atunu’u uma ole lalolagi.
Ou te fia liliu ane e “puni fa” le to’oto’o ma le fue a Samoa aua o le lauga ma le tao e ta’iala ai lo tatou atunu’u. O le to’oto’o ma le fue e taumomoli ai fa’agaoioiga ole gagana ma le agaifanua ma lo tatou aganu’u o Samoa mai le vavau e o’o i le fa’avavau. Ia, Samoa e, si’i le va’a, tulei le va’a, alei le va’a tau matagi e iloa oe o le Samoa i lau lauga.
Ia, fo’i atu la outou moe alualu ‘aumai ni o’u sese atonu e maua ai se aoga ae fa’amagalo mai au.
Ia, fa’amanuia atu Le Atua i si o tatou Malo ma ia tupu ma’a. Ia, ‘aua ne’i apoia Le Palemene ma le Kapineta i ni apulupulusia po’o ni mala. ‘Aua nei lelea ni laumea i le Susuga Le Palemia. ‘Aua ne’i gasolo ao pe ta’ape papa i le Ao ole Malo Le Afioga Le TuiAtua Tupua. Mamao ni lagi talusa i susuga i fa’afeagaiga a Le Atua ma le ‘Aufaigaluega o lo’o tu’ufofogaina se fa’autugatagi mo ni manu mo Samoa na lua. Maua se lauga a faleupolu o lo’o tausi va’atele ia Samoa. Ia mamao le moe ia Tumua ma Pule ma faleupolu o tofiga. Ni manu mo le Malo o Amerika Samoa. Mama le lagi i le susuga le Kovana Sili ma le malo atoa.
Ia sopo loa ni ao taulia i Afioga i Maopu fa’apea Afioga i Fa’atui. Ni to’oto’o gausia i le ‘auva’a o To’oTo’o ma se utaga i le lo’ofono pau i Tama Matua o le tapua’iga.
E toatele le ‘autusitusi i mata’upu ese ese ia Samoa ma mea uma fa’aSamoa na tua iai a’u su’esu’ega ma fa’avae mai ai ni o’u nei manatu oute fia fa’ailoa atu e fa’apea:
• O La Ta Gagana, male Ole Fa’asinomaga, e Afioga Aiono Fanaafiofa’amalamaoletapuaigasapapali’i.
• Tala Fa’asolopito o Samoa, e Ali’i Felela Fred Henry. Fa’aliliuina e Faifeau T.K.Faletoese.
• O le Mavaega i le Tai, a Susuga Lafai Sauoaiga F.S. Apenamoemanatunatu.
• Palefuiono, a Susuga S.P.Mailo.
• Ole Suaga A Le Va’atele, a Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia Fereti Tupua.
• Lauga, a Susuga Fa’amatuainu Talalelei Mailei.
• Ofa Se Fa’alepo po o se Fa’alani, a Afioga Le Tagaloa Pita.
• E Iloa Oe I lau Gagana, a le Fetalaiga Namulauulu Filipo Reupena.
• Lend Me Your Ears-Great Speeches in History, a Susuga William Safire.
• CNN Network at CNN.com, For ALL Barack Obama Speeches and Interviews and Debates.
• Talanoaga Na Loma ma Ga’opo’a, a Afioga Le TuiAtua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Tufuga Tupuola Efi.
• Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, a Susuga le Fa’afeagaiga George Pratt.
• The Samoa Islands Volume I & II, a le Susuga Dr. Kramer. Fa’aliliuga i le Fa’aperetania e Le Susuga Dr. Theodore Verha’aren-1979.
• Lupe O le Foaga, a le To’oto’o ia Fofo I. F. Sunia.
• Gagana Samoa, a Afioga Galumalemana Afeleti L. Hunkin.
• Samoa Ne’i Galo, a Susuga Liumaunu Vaelua Fa’atonu ma le Fa’aliliuga Fa’aPeretania a le Susuga Su’a Julia Wallwork.
• Samoan Proverbial Expressions Alaga’upu Fa’a Samoa, a le Susuga Dr. E. Schultz ma le F’aliliuga fa’aPeretania ele Susuga Brother Herman
Fa’afetai tele mo la outou Tofa loloto ma le fa’autaga o’o ia outou tusitusiga ma fa’amaumauuga. Fa’afetai ina ua tatala a outou ‘au’afa mau ma oloa saunoa ma aui o malo aua Samoa.
By Joseph Stowers, on 04-01-2009 15:14
Tusia: Fata Letunu Ariu Levi
Barack Obama
E muamua lava ona ou fa’atulou atu Paia ma mamalu o Samoa aua e le i mavae le iliai’a i ou taulagi mai le vavau e e o’o lava i le fa’avavau. Ia, fa’ata’alolo ia mulito’a lililo e le fati, ae fa’ataoto upu fa’avae a le Atunu’u. Tulou, tulou, tulouna lava.
Ae se’i si’i lou va’a e ala i le mafua lea ua Ta’aalii i tua galu. Ma oute tatalo ia fegaoioia’i le Agaga Paia i ulu ma i’u o galu aua se i’a o lo tatou faiva. Ia alo maia le fa’afofogaaga ae se’i o’u taumafai atu mo se vaivaiga fa’atauva’a i lo’u talitonuga i le Mana o Lauga a le Susuga Le-Peresetene manumalo i Palota a le Iunisetete o Amerika o Obama.
Ole taimi muamua lava na ou fa’alogo ai i lafolafoga a Obama ile Fonoaufa’atasi a le pati Temokarasi o Amerika i le 2004 lea na fai ai le Palota lea na manumalo ai Siaosi Bush, Jr lea e nofo mai nei, o ina na’ou i’ite ai le mamao ma le maualuga le tapula’a lea e fa’atu iai le sa a Obama. O le tamaoaiga la lenei o le failauga a Obama ou te manatua ai le matafaioi a Samoa o le failauga. Ae le’i ou vailiilia atua vaega e tutusa ai laugaga a Obama ma lauga Samoa, e muamua ona ou auiliili atu nai lauga a le susuga Obama e fa’atulaga ai la’u mau—ia toe elieli mai la tatou matafaioi e toe fa’ama’ai ma toe u’u i le fanu’upopo e se’e ai le ‘anavataua aua poipoina o le i’a o le mau.
Ia, ne’i ou si’ifa’amalimali lape upu o le atunu’u ia fa’amagalo mai, Tulou. Ae aumaia la outou fa’autaga mamao sau se taimi ona toe momoli atu lea ae alo maia tatou “popo fesagani” e pei o le fetalaiga i le tamaita’i o Ulalemamae. O le manumalo o le Susuga Obama i lenei Ofisa Sili o le Peresetene o Amerika o se mea mata’utia ona o ia o se tagata lanu uliuli ma le fa’atauva’a o lona tupuaga ua muamua o’o i lenei tofi maualuga. Ma o se palota na talitali ma mata’aina uma e le to’atele o le lalolagi. E le natia le maoa’e o le poto ma le atamai o le susuga Obama i le tapenaga ma le fa’atulagana o le galuega o le tausinioga mai le amataga se’i o’o lava i na ua tau le sini.
O le loloto o le tofa ma le moe alualu i ana filifiliga ma le fauina o lana mau po’o le feau lea ua i’u manuia. E molimau le ‘au atamamai a Amerika i le tausinioga palota o le tapula’a fou lea ua si’i e Obama ma lana ‘au taupulega ma le ‘aufaigaluega. Ae pei o le alaga upu lea na maua i Faleata—“O le faiva ese a lo Pepe”. Ia fa’ataoto ia le tele o mafua’aga o le fa’amanuiaga o le fa’amoemoe a le Susuga Obama, ae se’i ou taumafai atu i le itu lea o ana lauga ma lo na fofoga malie i ana lafolafoga ma Saunoaga.
E le fuga le logo malie o le tanoasaunoa a le Susuga Obama o taunu’uga lelei e le taofia. O le paepaeulufanuaina mai o le mau ma le fe’au o le savali e maoa’e le tomai ma le agava’a.
O le lauga lea na si’i ai lona Sa e alu i le palota mo le Peresetene o le Iunisetete o Amerika lea na fai i Sikako (Chicago) i a Fepuari 2007, o ina na lauiloa ai e tagata Amerika e le o sefa’ata’ita’iga fa’alagamaea le sa a Obama. O le mea mao’i. O le folasaga maia ole mau ole savali ma le auivi ole galuega. Sa manino lelei ma le malie o le fofoga. O le mau – “O le luiga mo se Suiga”. Ole feau ma le lu’iga-“Po’o le a lou lanu, pe mauoloa pe mativa, pe matua pe lai’ititi, pe tane pe tama’ita’i, pe i’u mai aoga maualuga pe maualalo, pe faigaluega i se ofisa pe se fa’atoaga, oute fia fai a’u ma Peresetene mo outou uma”.
Ma e le’i i ai se taimi na saunoa ai Obama o lo na tagata o se tagata lanu uliuli. Sa mamao i ona manatu ma a na upu le lanu o lo na tino. O le lagaga o le tafa o taua fa’apalota na fa’atulaga mai o se lu’iga ma le tulivalaauia a Obama mo tagata uma o Amerika. O la na fa’aupuga-“E le na o Amerika, a’o le ‘aufa’atasi o Iunisetete o Amerika”. O le isi fa’aupuga o le Mau e fa’apea ua o’o i le taimi e toe si’i ai le matalalaga o le fa’atinoga lea o se suiga.
Sa ou pu’eina mai i lauga a Obama si’u leo o fa’aupuga lauga a isi Peresetene ma ta’ita’i a isi atunu’u ua tuana’i, fa’apei o le au Keneti (Jack, Robert, Ted Kenedy), Pili Kelinitone (Bill Clinton) ma Matini Lutelu Kini (Martin Luther King) ma isi. Sa ou maua ni fa’amaumauga e fa’amaonia ai le si’i mai a o le fa’aupuga a Matini Lutelu Kini, “O la na miti, e sau se aso e fa’amasino ai lana fanau lea e toafa e laiti i o latou amio ae le o le lanu o latou tino”.
O le lauga lea na fai i le nu’u lea o Filatofia, le Setete of Peniselevenia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) o le ma’atulimanu lea i le tausinioga palota a le Susuga Obama ona o le itu lea. Talu ai ni fa’afitauli ua ‘a’asa mai e mafua mai i lana faifeau o latou ekalesia lea e lauga fetu’u ma fa’atu’umana i tagata papa’e o Amerika. O le lauga la lea a Obama na ta’u “Ole lauga ile Vanonofo fa’atasi o tagata uma e le fa’ailoga lanu, pe mauoloa pe mativa, pe tane pe tama’ita’i, ma isi eseesega”. Ole saunoaga lea na a’apu ai Obama i le fa’avaepopo ole Iunisetete o Amerika e toe fa’amanatu ma toe fa’amaumau atili i le mau o le aia tatau ma le saolotoga o le tagata.
O le vaevaega mai a Obama o le tala fa’asolopito o Amerika ma le savali a tagata matitiva ma e o lo’o mafatia i le sailiga o se tamaoaiga mo se atina’eina o le soifuamaloloina mo aiga ma le malo o Amerika. Aemaise e na tautua i taua lea na momoiloto ai tagata i ana fa’aupuga. O le tomai o Obama e alu ese mamao mai se fa’aupuga fa’apitoa mo tagata uli o Amerika ae aga’i e tauaofa’i tagata uma o lo’o puapuagatia i le sailiga o se tamaoaiga mo alo ma fanau ma le aiga atoa ma le Atunu’u. O i na na osofa’ia ai tagata i le lagona o Obama e le fa’ailoga tagata ae fa’amaoni i lana savali – “O ia mo tagata uma”.
O le tele o lauga a Obama e pei o na ou fa’ailoa atu muamua e fau i tala fa’atusa ma e si’i mai fa’ataoto mai isi lauga pei o le mau a le Peresetene o Pili Kelinitone i la na tausinioga palota lea na manumalo ai ia Siaosi Bush, Sr. le tama o Siaosi lea e nofo mai nei. O la na mau na si’i mai i le Tusi Paia ile tusi o Isaia 58:12. Na valoia ai e Isaia ia Isaraelu, “e tupuga mai ia te oe (Isaraelu) le autupulaga o le a latou toe fauga fa’avae fou ma o latou e fa’amamaina mea na fa’atafuna mai anamua…”.
Ele gata i lea ae tele fa’aupuga ma fa’avasegana o manatu ma upu na maua mai ia Peresetene Apeleamo Linitone (Abraham Lincon), “O lo’o i outou lima le pule e tau pe le tau ai le taua”, ma le lauga fa’atoese a Sokorate (Socrate) i lona fa’amasinoga lea na fai e Atenai (Athens). E fa’apea fo’i le lauga a Iesu i le mauga lea na maua mai ai le fa’aupuga a Keniti lea na toe sui laititi e Obama e fa’pea-“’aua e te ole mai (ile Malo) i mea na fua mai ia outou galuega, ae ia outou fesili (ile Malo) pe fa’apefea ona latou pulea ma fa’aaogaina, ma teu ma afifi le oloa mo nei ma taeao.” O le Tusi Paia Samoa e fa’aogaina le upu “ole mai” ae ua fa’aaoga e Siati Keneti le fa’aupuga “ae fesili mai”.
E tasi le manatu fa’avae na maua mai ile Lauga ile Mauga a Iesu ae eseese fa’aaogana e fa’aupu ai le mau a Keneti ma Obama. O nisi nei fa’aupuga na fa’aaoga e Obama i ana lauga oute talitonu e pogai mai nisi lauga:
• “O lou taimi lenei e tula’i ai e tau’ave le galuega;”
• “O lou tiute lea, o lou faia, o lou aia;”
• “O lo’o iou lima le pule mo se suiga;”
• “ E leai se mea tatou te le mafaia pe a tatou tutu fa’atasi, ae leai se mea mafaia pe a tatou tutu eseese i lenei palota;”
• “ Ia tatou fesili i tua’a mo se tofa ma se fa’autaga;”
• “E le o A’u, a’o Tatou!”
• “E Le o A’u, a’o le Lalovaoa ma autupulaga faimai e fa’asino iai le ‘autu olenei palota.”
O ni manatu taua e maua mai i’i ole lava o le su’esu’ega a le failauga i le tapenaga o lana Mau ma le tu’umomoli’ina o le mau ia se’e malie i finagalo ma loto o tagata o lo’o fa’atu i ai le Mau ma le fe’au.
E pei ole talitonuga Samoa, ole lauga e moemanatunatu ma moetausi’i iai le aufailauga. O le isi oloa e maua mai i’i ole fa’aaogaina o talafa’asolopito ma fa’avae popo o se atunu’u e fai ma molimau e fa’amalosia ai le Mau ma le fe’au. E fa’apea fo’i le tofa ma le fa’autaga a nisi o ta’ita’i po’o tulatoa mai anamua e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau ma le fe’au. O le tasi nei mea taua o lauga a Obama ole maumau atili i ana fa’aupuga e le suia e pei ona ta’ua i luga e momoli ai lana Mau. E le’i fealualu’ai ma fesese’ai ana fa’aupuga.
O i e tulei ma alei mautu ai ma talia le feau. O nei manatu ma fa’amaumauga e fai ma fa’atusa po’o ni fa’ata’oto e molimau ai le uga’ina o le Mau ma le feau. A’o ni oloa e tua i ai le aufai lauga po’o le au fueloloa a Samoa. Aua o le Lauga ole mea totino lava lea a le tagata lava ia. O aso nei i ofisa maualuluga pei o Peresetene ma Palemia ma Kovana Sili ma isi o lo’o ua iai latou e tusia a latou lauga. E ui lea e tatau lava o na o gatasi le fauga o le lauga male e tu’ufofogaina le Mau ma le fe’au. Aua e tusa lava pe lelei le fauga o le Mau ma le Savali ae le logo malie le tu’ufofogaina o le lauga e tuga le taliaina o le Mau.
Tatou te le mailoa tulaga o ni fua o le Mau a le Susuga Obama aua e le’i amata lana galuega. E le po se lilo i la outou silafia le mata’utia o umaga (ola talaulau) o se Mau po’o se fe’au pe a talia e tagata o lo’o fa’atula’i i ai le savali. E pei o le tu’umomoliina o le talalelei i itu e fa ole lalolagi. Ole fa’ailogavaai lea o le moni o le Mau o le Tusi Paia ona ua te’a le 2,000 tausaga o lo’o ola ufi sasa le Mau o Kerisiano i le lalolagi atoa. A’e tatou manatua fo’i le Mau a Hitila o Siamani ma Sitalini o Rusia lea e faitau miliona tagata na fasiotia ina ua talia e tagata o la ia Atunu’u la ia Mau.
E moni na talia lana mau ae na i’u lava ina uape fa’aumatia le mau. E ofaga le au popoto i le talafa’asolopito o le lalolagi i le talitonuga o le malie ma le sanisani o le tu’ufofogaina o lauga a Hitila ma Sitalini lea na logoitino ai loto ma agaga o tagata ma ua talia ai le mau. O i la e ta’u mai ai le vovo (malosi) o le lauga po’o le tu’umomolina o se mau ma se feau. Pe moni pe sese, pe se fa’atuatuaga i le Atua pe o se isi atua, ae a logo malie le susua o le tu’ufofogaina mai o le mau e i’u lava na talia se mau. O i la tatou te fa’aitete i ai ma tatou mataala i ai aua e fifiloi Mau lelei ma Mau leaga.
Tatou te silasila fo’i ma manatua le vovo o le Mau a Mahatma Gandhi o Initia ma le Mau a Mao Sitono (Zedong) o le Malo tele o Saina e faitau piliona o latou tagata o lo’o ola ile saolotoga o latou talitonuga fa’alemalo. A’o Mau olo’o ola ufisasa i le lalolagi atoa o Mau o tapuaiga i Le Atua silisili po’o nisi Atua fa’apei o le Au Kerisiano a Iesu, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism ale ‘au Siu o Isaraelu, ma Hinduism o Patisitani ma Initia i sisifo ma nisi tapua’iga.
Ia, tatou talosia e moni le Mau ma ia fa’avae i Le Atua le fe’au ma galuega ale Susuga ia Obama ia to mai ai ni manuia. Ole fa’aupuga fa’aSamoa e fa’apea, “E tautala fua o au galuega.” Pe lelei, pe leaga, pe ititi, pe tele, e fa’amasino lava ‘oe i au galuega.
Ole Uiga ole upu “Lauga”
A fai la o le vovo o le lauga e mafuli ai mauga i finagalo o tagata ua taliaina ma sapaia se mau ma se fe’au a se savali, O le a tonu la le uiga o lenei upu ole “Lauga”?
Ua ‘ ou manatua su’esu’ega sa ‘ou avea i le Kolisi o Kalifonia Univesete (California State University, Hayward) i le San Francisco Bay Area i lenei mataupu o le Lauga ma auiliiliga o le uiga o lenei mata’upu. E mafuli uma le to’atele o le ‘au popoto i lenei mataupu i le fa’auigaganaina e fa’apea:
O se tu’ufofogaina po’o se fofogaina tau momoli o se manatu po’o se talitonuga e fa’atosina mai ai ni tagata ia latou taliaina nei manatu po’o se talitonuga. Ole fauga la o le fa’aupuga o nei manatu po’o se talitonuga i ni upu e fa’apupula atili ai le mau e maua ai le lauga. O fa’aupuga ia e fa’amatala ai se ata o le matupu e fau ai le Mau e manino lelei ai le lauga. Ole auivi la o lenei fa’apupula i le uiga o le upu “lauga” e aofia ai mea ia:
a.) Ole fauga o se manatu e fa’avae mai talitonuga
e.) Ole fa’aupuga o manatu lea ua maua ai le Mau. O fa’aupuga e tua I le gagana.
i.) Fa’atulaga le auivi o le tu’umomolina o le Mau.
o.) O ai e fa’atu i ai le Mau? Tagata, Saofa’iga, Nu’u, Aiga, Itumalo, Atunu’u.
u. ) Filifili le auala e momoli ai le Mau. E momoli e se tagata fofoga fetalai lelei, po’o se tusitusiga, po’o se televise, leitio, upega feso’ota’i tafaa’ila po’o nisi auala tauave feau.
f.) Momoli loa le lauga po’o le Mau.
g.) Fua pe na talia le Mau pe leai.
l.) Toe fa’atulaga ma toe momoli le Mau.
O nei vaega ta’itasi e i ai fo’i o latou lava auivi aua e tofu lava ma le loloto o auiliiliga o lea lava mataupu.
Oute manatua i le tausaga 1965-66 Ole tele o Kolisi i Amerika sa i ai i lalo o le Mata’upu lautele o le Gagana Peretania (English Literature) le mata’upu o le Lauga male Fe’etu’una’iga (Debate). Ae taunu’u i le 1970-74 ua ave ifo i lalo o le Mataupu lautele ole Iumanati (Humanity), a’o lenei taimi ole toatele o Iunivesete ua ave ai le mata’upu ole Lauga i lalo o Aotele ole mataupu o le Fa’asilasila Atu, pe fa’aaliatu (Information & Communication, Telephony, Technology Sciences) lea ua aofia ai ma su’esu’ega masigi (Computer Science) e fa’aaoga i le fa’asilasilaga ma le fa’asalalau ole Mau pei o kompiuta male upega fesoota’i (Internet) i tafatafa’ilagi. Ole autu o nei fetosoaiga ona o le felefele o mataupu fa’alea’oga fa’alemafaufau e aia i lenei mataupu taua ole Lauga.
E iai le fa’aupuga a le au failauga e fa’apea: “E tusa pe mata’utia le manaia ma le loloto o ou manatu ma ou talitonuga ae a le tu’umomoli mai i se tusitusiga po’o sau lauga tu’ufofoga mai, e te oti ifo lava ma ou manatu, ailoga e iloaina e nisi.” A fa’apea la o ou mafaufauga e maua mai ai ni manatu, a iloilo atili manatu, e tupuga mai ai talitonuga ma le tofamanino. O talitonuga e fa’atulaga ai le Mau po’o le feau. A maua loa le Mau, ona a’apa loa lea i le gagana e fa’aupu ai le Mau. A uma loa le fa’aupuga ona tapega loa lea o le savali e momoli ai le feau. A uma ona momoli pe tu’ufofogaina le Mau o na fa’atali lea pe ua talia le mau. A le talia le mau o na toe tapega lea o le Mau ma le fa’aupuga fa’apea fo’i le momoliga ona toe fotua’i ai lea ole savali. Afai ua talia le mau ona fa’atulaga lea o le galuega. A uma ona fa’ataunu’u galuega, ona fua lea ile fuatautau o umaga o galuega. O i na la e fa’amasino ai le tonu ma le moni o le Mau. O inei fo’i e iloa ai pe ola pe oti le Mau a’o lea fo’i le umi o le taimi e iloa ai nei tulaga. O i e taunu’u ai le fa’aupuga lea e “Mana pe vovo le Lauga”.
E Lauiloa Samoa I Lana Lauga.
O le tutuna maualuga o lauga a Obama sa ou tulitulimatagau ai lea ma ou manatua ai le matafaioi o tagata Samoa ile fauga male tu’u fofogaina o latou lauga. A su’e ifo e se tasi le igoa Samoa i le tusi lea e ta’u ole Enesaikolopilia a Peretenika (Encyclopaedia Britannica), e le tele ni fuaiupu e fa’matala ai le atunu’u o Samoa ‘ae ta’u mai loa o se atunu’u e lauiloa i lo latou atamamai i le fauga o latou lauga.
“Ole laufanua o le ‘aufailauga” (Land of Orators). O le mafuaga na tusia ai e tagata popoto o Europa lenei fa’aupuga ona o tusitusiga na faia e misionare mai Europa na latou galue’ia fa’atasi ma Samoa le amataina o le tusiga male fa’aliliuiga o le Tusi Paia ile gagana fa’aSamoa lea na faia i Avao i Savaii, e pei ona tusia mai ele Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia Fereti Tupua i lana tusi lea o le Suaga A le Va’atele, 1996. Ia, na o se fa’amanatu atu i le au faitau. Na muamua fa’atulaga le gagana Samoa tusitusi (le tulaga o le “p” faitau/fa’aleo, ma le “p”tautau o ata o mea, lea na gaosia ai mataitusi ma o latou fa’aleoga) ona fa’atoa amata ai loa le fauga o upu ma fuaiupu ma o latou fa’auigaga ae mulimuliai le fa’aliliuga o le Tusi Paia ile gagana tusitusi fa’aSamoa. E le’i se galuega faigofie ole galuega na fitaituga i ai tua’a o lo’o tofafa mai i atutia, Tulou.
Ina ua malamalama loa le ‘au misionare Europa ma nisi na saili malo mai i Samoa ile matafaifetalai o tagata Samoa ae fa’asiliaupito ai matai o le Atunu’u lea na maofo ai i le taleni oloa a Samoa. O iinei na latou iloaina ai le loloto male o’o o’o ole fauga o lauga a Samoa ae maise le lalagafa’atasia o le lauga ma le gagana ma le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u fa’a Samoa. E pei o le nofoa vae fa lea ile fa’asinomaga ma le si’osi’omaga o Samoa atoa. E momoli ma pale puipui e le lauga lea na fau mai le gagana fa’agaoioiga o le Aga’ifanua ma le Aganu’u Fa’aSamoa. Ae le gata i lea, a’o o le tu’umomoliina o le galuega a Le Atua i Samoa ma isi motu o le Pasifika. E pei ona silafia e Le Atua le matafaiupu o Samoa sa teu fa’ausiusi ma fa’ama’ai mai le vavau ma fa’atalitali mo le taumomoliina o le galuega a Le Atua i le Pasifika ma Samoa.
O eseesega o lauga a Samoa mai isi Atunu’u ma latou lauga e’i le fa’atulagaga o ‘auivi. O le ‘auivi o lauga a Samoa e tu’utaula i vaega ia e fitu (7): Ole tuvaoga, ole ava, vi’iga o Le Atua, o Paia, O taeao o Samoa, ole autu ole aso, fa’amatafi lagi. (Silasila ile tusi, “Lauga” a Fa’amatuainu mo le fa’apupula atili o nei vaega ta’itasi). A’o le ‘auivi o lauga a isi atunu’u fa’apei o Europa e tusa e tolu (3) vaega: Fa’atalofa, po’o se tuvaoga, ‘Autu ole aso male fa’atofa. O lauga ale ‘au Europa e mateletele i le ‘auivi o le ‘autu ole aso.
Aua ole a’ano lea ole Mau. E fa’apea fo’i i lauga a Samoa e tutusa lelei i le fa’asoaina mai o le Mau lea e iai vaega ia: Ole matua o le Mau; ole uiga ole Mau; o ni molimau e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau; ni fa’amaumauina po’o ni fa’ailoga vaai e fa’amaonia ai le Mau, o ni lelei po’o ni manuia e maua mai le Mau; ni vaivaiga pe a le talia le Mau, fa’atulagina o le galuega e fa’atino ai le Mau; tofiga o e faia le galuega; fa’atulaga mai le taimi e tatau o na fa’atula’i ma fa’ama’ea ai le galuega; taaofa’ia maia le i’u ole tu’umomoli o le mau; ona o’o loa lea i le fa’amatafi o lagi.
O isi eseesega o lauga a Samoa mai isi Atunu’u e fa’apea: ole ‘auivi o lauga a Samoa e iai tapui o vaega o le ‘auivi. E i ai vaega e tatau ona muamua mai ae e iai isi e mafai ona fesuia’i le taimi e tu’umomoli ai. Ole mea e mamao ai le vaeseese o lauga isi atunu’u ma lauga fa’amatai Samoa e pei ona outou silafia o fa’aupuga e fa’apitoa i le autu o le aso aua o i e filifa’atasia ai le gagana ma le agaifanua ma le aganu’u fa’aSamoa. E pei la o upu ma fa’aupuga patino i maliu po’o tu’umalo o tamali’i. E fa’apea fo’i i fa’aipoipoga, fa’afotuulu, ma fa’afotuali’i, umusaga o maota ma malumalusa, etc.
O le fa’ala’eiina lenei o le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u o Samoa e fuatasi ai i matai lauga a Samoa lo lauga o nisi tagata o le lalolagi atoa. Ia e pei ona outou silafia le eseesega o le fa’aaogaina ole gagana e matai ma tagata e fofoga ai o latou manatu i isi matai (ali’i ma tulafale) ma tagata ua fa’auluulu iai matagaluega (o auauna Le Atua, Faiaoga, Peresetene o Kamupani, etc.). O lea e fai mai ai Misi Parate (Rev. George Pratt) i lana tusi lomifefiloi (dictionary) o le gagana Samoa ma le fa’aliliuga fa’aPeretania lea na lolomi i le 1862. E fa’apea o le gagana Samoa e iai le “gagana a matai” ae ese mai le “gagana a tagata lautele” e fa’aoga I aso uma. O le fa’agao’i’oiga lea o le aga’ifanua ma le aganu’u a le gagana e ala i le lauga, lea e maofo ai le tele o tagata mai fafo i le tomai o tagata Samoa i le fa’aaogaina o latou gagana i o latou fa’asinomaga.
Ole auivi ma tapui ma isi eseesega e pei ona taua i luga o lauga a Samoa na malamalama ai loa misionare ma tagata Europa, o ina na talitonu ai nei ali’i ile maualuga ole tomai o tagata Samoa i lenei taleni a’o se fa’amanuiaga mai Le Atua ia Samoa. O le mea na maofo ai nei Ali’i ona ole mamao ole tauaveina maia o lenei matafaioi tu’u musumusu mai anamua. O i lea e fai ai le tala tausua a le autalavou e fa’apea, “Ole toeaina e le’i alu i se iunivesete ae a lauga mai o le polofesa ma le foma’i ole mafaufau”. A tonu ua outou talitonu ilenei taleni ma lenei mealofa mai Le Atua ia Samoa e pei o lo’u “savinivini fa’apunuamanu” ile taeao.
E Iloa Oe I Lau Lauga.
E tele lauga a tulatoa Samoa o lo’o tusitusia mai ile ‘au tusitala Samoa e molimau i le mata’utia ma le matagofie o latou lauga. Ae oute manatua le lauga lea na taua’aoina mai ele Gafatasi le Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia i le Suaga O le Va’atele i le Ati Pouniu a Lauati Namulauulu lea na lo’o fono pau i Falepunaoa i le tago’au a Malietoa Laupepa i le taua lea ole “Faitasiga o le Tuamasaga” po’o le “Sinasina-a-Matuu” lea na fai i le fa’ai’uga o le 1869 ae ma fa’alelei i a 5 Aperila, 1870. (E fai nei taua ae fa’atua i’u le taua o le fa’asaolotoga o tagata pologa i Amerika a’o Peresetene Apeleamo Linikone lea fai ma tua iai lauga a Obama)
Ole lauga lea a Lauaki Namulaulu na a’apa ai i le tala ia Tapututagitele le afafine o Muliaga Vailolo o Amoa ina ua fasiotia si ana tama o Fa’atuliaupolu e tagata o le nu’u o Sili ma Vaiafai ole Fale Safune. Ole tago’au tagi mai ala a le tam’ita’i o Taputu i ona aiga i le Salemuli’aga lea na amata mai Sala’ilua ae fa’ai’u i Lealatele. O i nei na maua ai le fa’aumiga o le igoa o si tama’ita’i ia Tapututagitele.
O le tutulu tu’utu’ulaau a Tapututagitele afe a’e i Sala’ilua fesili a’e ua fasia lava si a’u tama o Fa’atuliaupolu a’o fea o iai Tuituato ma TuiTolova’a? Sa fa’apea fo’i i Tufu Gataivai na siligia ai po’o fea na i ai Ti’ati’a, Togiai ma le Fa’ala’a? Sa ole atu fo’i ia Fuga ma Mauga i Vaisaulu, Iva, fa’apea fo’i Le Pule Leu’u ma Seali’imalietoa i Amoa, Sa’asa’ai ma Puapua, se’i o’o atu lava i Lealatele na tagi fesili ai fo’i Taputu pe ofea na iai Tevaga ma Vaifale a’o fasia lava lana tama o Fa’atuliaupolu. Na fa’alia mai e le GafaTasi, sa matua o’otia loto ma agaga o Falealili ma Si’umu ma sa talia loa le mau ole Savali ma ua taunu’u manuia le Mau ina ua fai le leleiga ma lona uso o Talavou.
E anoanoa’i mea taua o lenei lauga e pei ona outou silafia a’o mea ia e lua oute fa’amamafaina: 1.) ole folauga i faia; 2.) ole a’apa ma si’i mai o se tala mai anamua e fa’apupula atili ai le Mau. Sa le lilo i atuamanatu o tagata na talia le tagi a Taputu e i’u lava i na ua to’ilalo le Fale Safune ia Salemuli’aga. Ua taunu’u le moemoe o le Mau ma le Savali. Ole tomai ma le loloto ale tofa ma le mamao ole moe alualu o failauga o Samoa lea na fa’amaumau e misionare ma tagata Europa i o latou tusitusiga ma a latou fa’aupuga “O Samoa ole laufanua o ‘aufai lauga” (Land of Orators).
Oute talitonu fo’i i le Mana a le lauga “Lua Ao Lua Po” a le Matua ile Tofa Iuli o Falefa, FaleAtua, lea na lavea’i ai Malietoa ‘Ainu’u i le aga Seuao. E mata’utia le malie o tala musumusu mai i le lauga a le Fetaliaga le Tumua ia Alipia, i Leulumoega, lea na maua ai le fa’apu’upu’uga o fa’alupega o Samoa e i ai “Tumua ma Pule” i le fa’ae’ega o Papa o le TuiAana ia Salamasina ae mulimuli ane le fa’aopoopoga o “Aiga i le Tai” ma le “Va’a o Fonoti” ma “Itu’au ma Alataua” ina ua fa’alelei le taua a le ’au tupufia a TuiAana Faumuina.
Sa ou maua fo’i Saunoaga ma lauga matagofie o lo’o fa’amaumau i le tala fa’asolopito ole Malo Tutoatasi o Samoa. E iai le tuleiga a le afioga Mataafa Fiame Faumuina ina ua uma le palota mo le Malo tuto’atasi e fa’apea fo’i lafolafoga a susuga Luafatasaga sa fofoga fetalia i tausaga popofou o le Malo Tuto’atasi a Samoa.
Sa ou maua fo’i le kopi a le lauga a le Palemia Tupuola Efi lea na tumomoli i le Iunisetete o Nu’u Tuto’atasi Aufa’atasi o le Lalolagi (United Nations) i Niu Ioka (New York) i le amataga o 1970-75 lea na fa’atusa ai le “taga’i po’o le va’ai mamao o se malo tuto’atasi laititi ma le fa’atauva’a (e pei o Samoa) i fitauli o lo’o feagai ma Nu’u uma o le lalolagi e fa’apei ole va’ai a le manulele e tu mai le lau niu o le niu” e lautele ma e mamao ma le manino. O lo’u malamalama i le Mau a Tupuola e fa’apea o le tele o fa’afitauli faigata e le fa’apitoa i Malo tetele le fa’atogafitia pe tausea pe foalo, ae aoga fo’i le va’ai a se malo laititi ma le fa’atauva’a e manino ai le lavelave o se mataupu ma o i e fa’afaigofie ai le fofo.
O le isi lauga a le Afioga TuiAtua Tupua oute fa’asiliaupitoina o lana tuleiga molimau i le usugafono a le tofa ia Pao Avau lea e tusia mai i le Talanoaga Na Loma Ma Ga’opo’a. Ole mea oute fiafia iai ona ole manino o le fa’asoaina mai o le Mau—le mafuaaga ma le aia o Tupua e fai ai ia ma molimau, ole uiga ole “matuamoepo”, ole lautele ole mataupu o le “Matua Moepo” i isi galuega ma tiute fa’amatai, molimau i le tausiga a Pao le “MatuaMoepo” ia te ia (Tupua Taisi Tufuga) fa’apea Ekalesia, Aiga, Nu’u, Itumalo, Atunu’u, ma otootoga mai o fua ma umaga o galuega a Pao le “MatuaMoepo”. Ou te talitonu pe ete faitau pe ete fa’alogo i ai i lenei lauga ‘ae le’i o’o i le fa’aiuga ua e silafia ma malamalama lelei i le Mau o le loloto ma le fa’ataunu’uga o le tautua tuavae a le “MatuaMoepo”. Ole isi mea taua ia te au ole tusa ma le 98pasene (98%) ole lauga na avea e fa’atula’i mai ai le Mau ae 2pasene (2%) na ave isi vaega e fitu. Ole tasi nei o fa’ailogava’ai a le saunoaga a Tupuola e “aua le mateletele i teuteuga muafale ae galo ai le Mau”.
E to’atele tagata Samoa lauga lelei ae ua ou si’i mai le Mau a TuiAtua Tupuola ona lea e tusia i lana tusi pei ona ta’ua i luga. Ole tele o lauga a tagata e le o tusia ma e faigata ona maua fa’amaumauga.
O a’u nei fa’amaumauga i le tele o lauga a matai i maliu ma umusaga o malumalu ma fa’aipoipoga ma isi fa’alavalave fa’aSamoa, e mateletele i paia ma taulagi ma faia ona fola loa lea o le fesoasoani na lavasi’i mai ai ae ititi upu e molimau ai le olaga ma galuega a le ua lafoa’i. Ona ou manatua ai lea upu o le Vi’igase o Lealamatagi i Iva (Ogatotonu ole tausaga 1800), “Ua fa’alupe fua le malae, anei e o’o i vi’iga”. O le lauga e patino i le tagata lava ia. Ole mea lea e iloa ai oe i lau lauga. Ole isi nei fa’auigaga. Ia tatou fa’aitete i o tatou mafaufau ma manatu, aua e tupuga mai upu. O upu e fa’atulaga ai galuega. O fua o galuega e fua ai oe. O le tu’ualao a le Avaga Nofoa le tofa ia Puni Raea—“E te tula’i loa i luga ete alu i le ‘Fa’atau Paia’ a le Atunu’u, o i e fai ai lou fa’amasinoga”.
E Mana Le Lauga Amiotonu
Ole lauga e i ai le ola. E manavanava ma fegaoioia’i. E tupu talaulau ma ufisasa isi taimi ae tau pe isi taimi. Ole ola e tua ile tausiga ma le teuteu lelei. ‘Ae a le tausia lelei ma le fa’amaoni e i’u lava ina ua pe ma sola atu.
O le lauga e iai le tofa ma le moe ma le mauli ma o le fatu ma le agaga lea o le amataga o le Mau ma le lauga. O le oloa fa’atili o fa’aupuga ole Mau ma le lauga. E tonusia le lalago pau pe a ofaga le Mau i le tofa fa’aLeAtua ma le utaga fa’akerisiano. O le lauga e iai le sulu e fa’amalamalama ai ala i le pouliuli. E iai le fa’alogo ma le lagona i tino. O le mana la ole lauga i lo’u nei vaivaiga e fa’apea—O le feagiga po’o le so’otaga ole feusuaiga a mafaufau ma manatu ma le gagana e fa’atula’i ai galuega mo le fa’asinomaga mo ni tagata. O le faia po’o le so’otaga lea e atoatino i ai le Mau aua e ola le lauga.
A Mana le lauga Amiotonu:
*E mafuli ai mauga
*E tosina ma mulita’i iai tagata
*E sui ma fa’avae ai ni talitonuga
*E noopa ai malo o Aiga, Nu’u ma Atunu’u
*E fa’atulaga ai galuega
*E fa’avae ai tulafono ma tapui
*E tupuga mai ai aga’ifanua ma aganu’u.
Ia atonu e talia nei manatu ae tatou manatua e fifiloi lelei ma leaga. A le amiotonu le Mau, ele amiotonu fo’i le lauga. E le fua amiotonu fo’i galuega. ‘Ae a amiotonu le Mau ma le lauga e le taliatualimaina le lauga ma le Mau. E pei o le Mau o le Talalelei a Le Atua e fa’avavau.
Ia, o le a tatalo ia uluulumataafolau le Mana a lauga a le Susuga Obama aua le fa’ataunu’uga o ana galuega. E le mailoa ni fa’ataunu’uga o le Mau ma le fe’au a Obama. Ae tatou talosia o se mau fa’amaoni ma le amiotonu ma e fa’avae i Le Atua aua o le mafuaaga lea o fua lelei ma umaga anoanoa’i o galuega. Ia maua se manuia mo Amerika fa’apea atunu’u uma ole lalolagi.
Ou te fia liliu ane e “puni fa” le to’oto’o ma le fue a Samoa aua o le lauga ma le tao e ta’iala ai lo tatou atunu’u. O le to’oto’o ma le fue e taumomoli ai fa’agaoioiga ole gagana ma le agaifanua ma lo tatou aganu’u o Samoa mai le vavau e o’o i le fa’avavau. Ia, Samoa e, si’i le va’a, tulei le va’a, alei le va’a tau matagi e iloa oe o le Samoa i lau lauga.
Ia, fo’i atu la outou moe alualu ‘aumai ni o’u sese atonu e maua ai se aoga ae fa’amagalo mai au.
Ia, fa’amanuia atu Le Atua i si o tatou Malo ma ia tupu ma’a. Ia, ‘aua ne’i apoia Le Palemene ma le Kapineta i ni apulupulusia po’o ni mala. ‘Aua nei lelea ni laumea i le Susuga Le Palemia. ‘Aua ne’i gasolo ao pe ta’ape papa i le Ao ole Malo Le Afioga Le TuiAtua Tupua. Mamao ni lagi talusa i susuga i fa’afeagaiga a Le Atua ma le ‘Aufaigaluega o lo’o tu’ufofogaina se fa’autugatagi mo ni manu mo Samoa na lua. Maua se lauga a faleupolu o lo’o tausi va’atele ia Samoa. Ia mamao le moe ia Tumua ma Pule ma faleupolu o tofiga. Ni manu mo le Malo o Amerika Samoa. Mama le lagi i le susuga le Kovana Sili ma le malo atoa.
Ia sopo loa ni ao taulia i Afioga i Maopu fa’apea Afioga i Fa’atui. Ni to’oto’o gausia i le ‘auva’a o To’oTo’o ma se utaga i le lo’ofono pau i Tama Matua o le tapua’iga.
E toatele le ‘autusitusi i mata’upu ese ese ia Samoa ma mea uma fa’aSamoa na tua iai a’u su’esu’ega ma fa’avae mai ai ni o’u nei manatu oute fia fa’ailoa atu e fa’apea:
• O La Ta Gagana, male Ole Fa’asinomaga, e Afioga Aiono Fanaafiofa’amalamaoletapuaigasapapali’i.
• Tala Fa’asolopito o Samoa, e Ali’i Felela Fred Henry. Fa’aliliuina e Faifeau T.K.Faletoese.
• O le Mavaega i le Tai, a Susuga Lafai Sauoaiga F.S. Apenamoemanatunatu.
• Palefuiono, a Susuga S.P.Mailo.
• Ole Suaga A Le Va’atele, a Afioga Fuimaono Na’oia Fereti Tupua.
• Lauga, a Susuga Fa’amatuainu Talalelei Mailei.
• Ofa Se Fa’alepo po o se Fa’alani, a Afioga Le Tagaloa Pita.
• E Iloa Oe I lau Gagana, a le Fetalaiga Namulauulu Filipo Reupena.
• Lend Me Your Ears-Great Speeches in History, a Susuga William Safire.
• CNN Network at CNN.com, For ALL Barack Obama Speeches and Interviews and Debates.
• Talanoaga Na Loma ma Ga’opo’a, a Afioga Le TuiAtua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Tufuga Tupuola Efi.
• Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, a Susuga le Fa’afeagaiga George Pratt.
• The Samoa Islands Volume I & II, a le Susuga Dr. Kramer. Fa’aliliuga i le Fa’aperetania e Le Susuga Dr. Theodore Verha’aren-1979.
• Lupe O le Foaga, a le To’oto’o ia Fofo I. F. Sunia.
• Gagana Samoa, a Afioga Galumalemana Afeleti L. Hunkin.
• Samoa Ne’i Galo, a Susuga Liumaunu Vaelua Fa’atonu ma le Fa’aliliuga Fa’aPeretania a le Susuga Su’a Julia Wallwork.
• Samoan Proverbial Expressions Alaga’upu Fa’a Samoa, a le Susuga Dr. E. Schultz ma le F’aliliuga fa’aPeretania ele Susuga Brother Herman
Fa’afetai tele mo la outou Tofa loloto ma le fa’autaga o’o ia outou tusitusiga ma fa’amaumauuga. Fa’afetai ina ua tatala a outou ‘au’afa mau ma oloa saunoa ma aui o malo aua Samoa.
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, June 2009
LAUGA O LE SISIGAFU’A 2008
Afioga, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese
Ao o le Malo o Samoa
2 June 2008
Tiafau, Mulinuu
E muai fia faia se faafetai faapitoa i le auai mai o le afioga a le Lutena Kovana o Amerika
Samoa ma le faletua, le Sui o le pulega a Tokelau ma le faletua, le Peresetene o le Senate
ma le Fofoga Fetalai o Amerika Samoa ma o la faletua, le alii Faipule o le Malo Tele o
Amerika, lau susuga Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.
O le matua o la’u tautalaga: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma faamanatuga ia te a’u”.
O le matua o la’u tautalaga: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma faamanatuga ia te a’u”.
O le Sisigafu’a, o le faamanatuga.
O le faamanatuga o le alofa lē mavae o le Atua – o lea sa sula e le Ta’ita’i o le sauniga, le
susuga ia Tavita Roma.
O le faamanatuga o le soifua tausaafia o le susuga ia Malietoa Tanumafili le 2, Ao o le
Malo.
O le faamanatuga o le ola faitaulaga o mātua i le sa’iliga o malo. O le agaga faitaulaga e
faavae mai le mau a Samoa, a e mana’o i le pe’a talia tīgā, toe faamalosia e le mau a
Keriso, a e mana’o i le manumalo, talia le Satauro.
O le faamanatuga, po o ā tofotofoga sa feagai ma mātua, ae na taunuu manuia le sa’iliga
malo, ina ua ‘au’autasi tagata Samoa, i le agaga, i le mafaufau ma le sini o le
faamoemoe.
O le faamanatuga o le galuega tapua’i ma le galuega tatalo a Ekalesia mo le faiva o Malo
ma le lotoifale o aiga.
O le faamanatuga o le tele o galuega lelei a le Malo, Aufaigaluega a le Malo, ma
faipisinisi - o se tasi o foliga vaaia o le faafoeina o Taaloga Faa-va-o-malo i le Pasefika i
le tausaga na se’i mavae atu nei.
O le faamanatuga o le sao tāua a le Ofisa o Faamasinoga i le puipuiga o le Tulafono ma le
tausiga o le filemu.
O le faamanatuga o le lagolago ma le tautua Malo a tagatanuu o Samoa.
1
O le faamanatuga o ē agalelei mai iā i tatou, e lē gata i Malo ae faapea ai i
faalapotopotoga. Ia o tatou manatua e lē gata i la tatou faafetai i le upu ae faapea ai i le
faitatalo.
O se faamanatuga iā te a’u, ua leva ona faa’aaogagase outou aemaise le fanau a’oga; ma e
ao ona faapuupuu le lauga.
I le o lea, o le a taualuga le lauga. E lē sili atu le lauga o upu i lo le lauga o le amio. E lē
sili atu le lauga a a’u lea e fai atu, i lo le lauga lea ua faataunuu e outou, aemaise le fanau
i le taeao lenei. Le lauga o le faitaulaga, le ala i le vaveao, i le sauni mai i le Savali, i le
savali mai le Eleele Fou i Mulinuu, i le feagai ma le mugalā ae tainane uaga; aua i la tou
faitaulaga, ua outou soosoo tau’au ai ma le faitaulaga a mātua e māfua ai le aso lenei. Ma
o la tou faitaulaga, e ganea ai le tima’i a Keriso: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma
faamanatuga iā te a’u”.
Talosia o le a avea mea tatou te faia ma tautala i ai i lenei aso, ma la’ei o la tatou
faamanatuga.
Soifua
Afioga, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese
Ao o le Malo o Samoa
2 June 2008
Tiafau, Mulinuu
E muai fia faia se faafetai faapitoa i le auai mai o le afioga a le Lutena Kovana o Amerika
Samoa ma le faletua, le Sui o le pulega a Tokelau ma le faletua, le Peresetene o le Senate
ma le Fofoga Fetalai o Amerika Samoa ma o la faletua, le alii Faipule o le Malo Tele o
Amerika, lau susuga Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.
O le matua o la’u tautalaga: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma faamanatuga ia te a’u”.
O le matua o la’u tautalaga: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma faamanatuga ia te a’u”.
O le Sisigafu’a, o le faamanatuga.
O le faamanatuga o le alofa lē mavae o le Atua – o lea sa sula e le Ta’ita’i o le sauniga, le
susuga ia Tavita Roma.
O le faamanatuga o le soifua tausaafia o le susuga ia Malietoa Tanumafili le 2, Ao o le
Malo.
O le faamanatuga o le ola faitaulaga o mātua i le sa’iliga o malo. O le agaga faitaulaga e
faavae mai le mau a Samoa, a e mana’o i le pe’a talia tīgā, toe faamalosia e le mau a
Keriso, a e mana’o i le manumalo, talia le Satauro.
O le faamanatuga, po o ā tofotofoga sa feagai ma mātua, ae na taunuu manuia le sa’iliga
malo, ina ua ‘au’autasi tagata Samoa, i le agaga, i le mafaufau ma le sini o le
faamoemoe.
O le faamanatuga o le galuega tapua’i ma le galuega tatalo a Ekalesia mo le faiva o Malo
ma le lotoifale o aiga.
O le faamanatuga o le tele o galuega lelei a le Malo, Aufaigaluega a le Malo, ma
faipisinisi - o se tasi o foliga vaaia o le faafoeina o Taaloga Faa-va-o-malo i le Pasefika i
le tausaga na se’i mavae atu nei.
O le faamanatuga o le sao tāua a le Ofisa o Faamasinoga i le puipuiga o le Tulafono ma le
tausiga o le filemu.
O le faamanatuga o le lagolago ma le tautua Malo a tagatanuu o Samoa.
1
O le faamanatuga o ē agalelei mai iā i tatou, e lē gata i Malo ae faapea ai i
faalapotopotoga. Ia o tatou manatua e lē gata i la tatou faafetai i le upu ae faapea ai i le
faitatalo.
O se faamanatuga iā te a’u, ua leva ona faa’aaogagase outou aemaise le fanau a’oga; ma e
ao ona faapuupuu le lauga.
I le o lea, o le a taualuga le lauga. E lē sili atu le lauga o upu i lo le lauga o le amio. E lē
sili atu le lauga a a’u lea e fai atu, i lo le lauga lea ua faataunuu e outou, aemaise le fanau
i le taeao lenei. Le lauga o le faitaulaga, le ala i le vaveao, i le sauni mai i le Savali, i le
savali mai le Eleele Fou i Mulinuu, i le feagai ma le mugalā ae tainane uaga; aua i la tou
faitaulaga, ua outou soosoo tau’au ai ma le faitaulaga a mātua e māfua ai le aso lenei. Ma
o la tou faitaulaga, e ganea ai le tima’i a Keriso: “tou te faia le mea nei, e fai ma
faamanatuga iā te a’u”.
Talosia o le a avea mea tatou te faia ma tautala i ai i lenei aso, ma la’ei o la tatou
faamanatuga.
Soifua
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Education: It takes a village
CEO Ministry Of Education, Tautapilimai Levaopolo Tupae Esera
More power to the Pulenuu
The Compulsory and Inclusive education bill will now give pulenu’u (village mayors) a new role in the education of children from their villages.
If the new bill is passed the children from the ages of 5-14 yrs will be required to attend school as well as the enforcement of rights for special needs children to go to school. Under the proposed bill the pulenu’u will be given the power to enforce children going to school and punish parents of children who do not go to school. According to Ms Doreen Tuala “ If the Bill is passed… then the ministry is dependent on the pulenuu and their authority to help implement the bill in their respective village communities.”
The Ministry had expressed concern over the increase in the number of children who are not going to school but instead selling goods in town as well as villages.
The Minister of Education Sports and Culture hon Toomata expressed in his opening address that the education of children if prioritized by villages will herald many blessings for families and the village community. Ms Tuala stated “ the Pulenuu are some of the key people in this bill that are important in getting these children into School especially in the villages.” She also stated that if the bill becomes law then the punishment for parents who do not send their children from the ages 5-14 yrs will be a monetary fine.
The bill will also allow for pulenuu to work together with School Inspectors in their villages to send their children to school.
The conference also included parents, religious leaders as well as school principals and inspectors to gather their opinions and views on the proposed bill.
Hawaiian Airlines and Samoans
The controversy about Hawaiian Airlines and the Governor of American Samoa in the years gone by illustrate some sobering facts about American Samoa. Truthfully, Hawaiian Air's monopoly and business practices are perceived by most Samoans as unfair, chauvinistic and prejudicial. According to public statements by Hawaiian Air thru the media, their pricing structure is no different than any other Airlines and therefore-not high. As cliche goes "It doesn't take a rocket scientist" to figure out that the cost to fly between American Samoa and Hawaii maybe the most expensive airfare per mile within the USA and its territories. So in fact the Governor was right on his assertion but his method of solving the problem maybe a bit misguided however patriotic his intentions are. We have a small problem and a bigger problem, and that's where this writer is aiming at. The small and more obvious one is that we are being screwed by Hawaiian Air for so long that some of us are beginning to think it actually feels good. Remember the guy that keeps hitting his head to the wall, and when you ask him why?, he said because it feels so good when you stop. That's where we are at. And before we get to the bigger problem, lets look how we got here. At one time, there were so many Airlines flying to Samoa, that there was a flight almost every day. Remember the 70;s and the 80's. SPIA, Continental, Pan Am, Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Air Nauru, Samoa Air, Polynesian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and others. So as our populations grows and income grows the reverse happened to the number of Airlines servicing Samoa. There are numerous factors, but I'll just mention a few here. If you study the decline of the number of Airlines coming/going to Samoa, the deciding factor was the political involvement of American Samoa leaders in taking sides with Airlines who were too keen on paying crooked politicians to gain advantages in American Samoa. Airlines gave perks and free trips to politicians to gain favors. So others left because while American Samoa did nothing to develop tourism as a global strategy (can be debated also), American Samoan leaders did nothing to improve its business climate. American Samoan leaders gave lip service to development and mortgage American Samoa's future for a few free trips. As many in third world countries know, it doesn't take much to bribe a politician in the South Pacific.
So now when Hawaiian Airlines gave the finger to the Governor and his Executive order to cease operations, that was the precise moment when some of us felt so humiliated. In fact not even a high level person such as a department secretary or a member of Congress intervene, it was just a desk level person of the FAA gave instructions to the Governor and basically said to the Governor to shove his order . It dawn on me that the Governor of American Samoa in the food chain is even lower than the FAA clerk/official. Governor Tulafono is also a lawyer, but it behooves for him to render an executive order in light of his training and background. I have to say, I applaud his courage and actions. It was needed, and I don't know why American Samoan leaders did not act sooner. And while this commotion was in full throttle, other leaders were just having so much fun on the sidelines. This is how "well coordinated" American Samoan leaders are, one stays on the sidelines while the lion is tearing up the other. There is no cohesive visionary strategy with a united front to tackle these critical issues.
In the 90's, Polynesian Airlines applied to the US Department of Transportation to get exemption to fly from Pago Pago, to Hawaii to LA and back to Samoa, (that is a more profitable route) since they can only fly into one US city (Pago was considered a US city) according to Federal regulations. Guess who campaign against that, most of the American Samoa Fono members and American Samoa leaders, with the help of numerous free trips from Hawaiian Air to their Samoan lobbyists at the Fono.. So that died, and left Polynesian to fly in a financially unprofitable route and never recovered from that. Polynesian Airlines could have at least provided a needed help and countered Hawaiian Air's monopoly. So we are here partly because of what American Samoa leaders did and continually to do..
I used to blame countries such as the US and England for many of our prblems, but there is a point in the discussion where we also have to look inward and take the blame for some of the mess that we are in. We all have to share responsibility.
Competition is always good for Samoa. But Airlines needs more than lip service. We should encourage more Airlines. Very simple When demand is high there will be more supply (Airlines). Tourism in Samoa is growing, more hotels and vacation rentals thanks to the government and the private sector. Last month I paid $299 for a roundtrip ticket to LA. LA to Hawaii, is the same distance from Hawaii to American Samoa. and yet the roundtrip airfare to Samoa is over a thousand dollars . There is a Samoan saying "E pule lava Sitafine i le la o lona vaa".
This article is never meant to blame one party, just to bring attention to both sides of the equation. In that way, I hope it has been an equal opportunity exercise.
Soifua
So now when Hawaiian Airlines gave the finger to the Governor and his Executive order to cease operations, that was the precise moment when some of us felt so humiliated. In fact not even a high level person such as a department secretary or a member of Congress intervene, it was just a desk level person of the FAA gave instructions to the Governor and basically said to the Governor to shove his order . It dawn on me that the Governor of American Samoa in the food chain is even lower than the FAA clerk/official. Governor Tulafono is also a lawyer, but it behooves for him to render an executive order in light of his training and background. I have to say, I applaud his courage and actions. It was needed, and I don't know why American Samoan leaders did not act sooner. And while this commotion was in full throttle, other leaders were just having so much fun on the sidelines. This is how "well coordinated" American Samoan leaders are, one stays on the sidelines while the lion is tearing up the other. There is no cohesive visionary strategy with a united front to tackle these critical issues.
In the 90's, Polynesian Airlines applied to the US Department of Transportation to get exemption to fly from Pago Pago, to Hawaii to LA and back to Samoa, (that is a more profitable route) since they can only fly into one US city (Pago was considered a US city) according to Federal regulations. Guess who campaign against that, most of the American Samoa Fono members and American Samoa leaders, with the help of numerous free trips from Hawaiian Air to their Samoan lobbyists at the Fono.. So that died, and left Polynesian to fly in a financially unprofitable route and never recovered from that. Polynesian Airlines could have at least provided a needed help and countered Hawaiian Air's monopoly. So we are here partly because of what American Samoa leaders did and continually to do..
I used to blame countries such as the US and England for many of our prblems, but there is a point in the discussion where we also have to look inward and take the blame for some of the mess that we are in. We all have to share responsibility.
Competition is always good for Samoa. But Airlines needs more than lip service. We should encourage more Airlines. Very simple When demand is high there will be more supply (Airlines). Tourism in Samoa is growing, more hotels and vacation rentals thanks to the government and the private sector. Last month I paid $299 for a roundtrip ticket to LA. LA to Hawaii, is the same distance from Hawaii to American Samoa. and yet the roundtrip airfare to Samoa is over a thousand dollars . There is a Samoan saying "E pule lava Sitafine i le la o lona vaa".
This article is never meant to blame one party, just to bring attention to both sides of the equation. In that way, I hope it has been an equal opportunity exercise.
Soifua
Remittances is supporting Samoa's economy
Is remittances (families & friends sending money to Samoa) sent to Samoa artificially propping up Samoa's economy?
Some families in Samoa rather than farming large unused agricultural land will just wait for money from overseas relatives. Most of these overseas relatives are struggling to survive and all what people in Samoa do is march to the nearest Western Union or MoneyGram to collect. While I applaud kind actions of sending money to relatives in Samoa, should this has promoted laziness and dependency in Samoa. The government and the senders encourage relatives to work (farm etc..) rather than just sitting around and wait for money from overseas? Are we encouraging laziness and creating a generation of dependents in Samoa? The government and the present administration have had their salaries increased and at the same time have not made any major advancement in job creation. Recent statistics shows an alarming increase in unemployment in Samoa. The government is hoping foe families overseas to send more money back home. The government has been instrumental in a job scheme to New Zealand which is best characterise by one Samoan politician in New Zealand as a smart way by the New Zealand government to avoid its fiduciary and colonial obligation to grant Samoans who were born during New Zealand rule of Samoa New Zealand citizenship. An act that would insured many Samoans far better job opportunities in New Zealand, than the current temporary work permit program. What's your opinion?
Some families in Samoa rather than farming large unused agricultural land will just wait for money from overseas relatives. Most of these overseas relatives are struggling to survive and all what people in Samoa do is march to the nearest Western Union or MoneyGram to collect. While I applaud kind actions of sending money to relatives in Samoa, should this has promoted laziness and dependency in Samoa. The government and the senders encourage relatives to work (farm etc..) rather than just sitting around and wait for money from overseas? Are we encouraging laziness and creating a generation of dependents in Samoa? The government and the present administration have had their salaries increased and at the same time have not made any major advancement in job creation. Recent statistics shows an alarming increase in unemployment in Samoa. The government is hoping foe families overseas to send more money back home. The government has been instrumental in a job scheme to New Zealand which is best characterise by one Samoan politician in New Zealand as a smart way by the New Zealand government to avoid its fiduciary and colonial obligation to grant Samoans who were born during New Zealand rule of Samoa New Zealand citizenship. An act that would insured many Samoans far better job opportunities in New Zealand, than the current temporary work permit program. What's your opinion?
Hawaiians migrated from Samoa
Did you notice in the Hawaiian community how the debate of where the Hawaiians came from is still brewing?
It has been both funny and silly. If you really read between the lines most wannabe Hawaiians" don't even want the Hawaiians to come from Samoa. So they are now promoting that Hawaiians come from Tahiti and some say from Marquesas and even some say they are from New Zealand. No offense to our cousins from New Zealand, Tahiti or Marquesas, but this silliness from the Hawaiians has gone too far and too long. This theory is primarily promoted by "barely" Hawaiians who don't like Samoans. And because the young "part" Hawaiians have not had a good relationship with Samoans in Hawaii for a while, they are quietly doing a campaign basically saying "We want to come from anywhere but Samoa" mantra.
If you actually interview the real Hawaiians who knows their geneaology (50% to full blooded Hawaiians) they will quietly agree of their migration from Samoa.
If you study Hawaiian language and Samoan language (1800 -1950), they are basically the same language. Several traditional myths and legends of Samoa and Hawaii are basically the same. When I interviewed elderly Hawaiians of their past (1900-1965), they will tell you when Samoans came to Hawaii in the late 1890's to 1940's, they spoke the same language with full blooded Hawaiians at the time. For any migration, the lasting learned aspect that people keep is their language. Pottery, artifacts can be argued but language is kept close to the original island/country where people migrated from. Modern evolution of Hawaiian language is now due to heavy transmigration back and forth of Polynesians, from Hawaii to Tahiti, the French Polynesian archipelago, and Aotearoa to the south.
A Hawaiian University language professor confided to me that, Hawaiian migrated from Samoa, but it is not a popular belief to advance due to social and personal agendas. Meaning, it is no politically correct to promote within the Hawaiian community that Hawaiians originally migrated from Samoa. You get beaten up (no just kidding)!
Right now, it's like telling someone the earth is not flat (at the era when people believed the world is flat). But for now, lets just keep to ourself that the world is round, so we dont have to argue with our Hawaiian cousins.
But can we stop the silliness of- "I want to come from anywhere but Samoa"
Nothing personal, just the facts!
Alofa and Aloha
It has been both funny and silly. If you really read between the lines most wannabe Hawaiians" don't even want the Hawaiians to come from Samoa. So they are now promoting that Hawaiians come from Tahiti and some say from Marquesas and even some say they are from New Zealand. No offense to our cousins from New Zealand, Tahiti or Marquesas, but this silliness from the Hawaiians has gone too far and too long. This theory is primarily promoted by "barely" Hawaiians who don't like Samoans. And because the young "part" Hawaiians have not had a good relationship with Samoans in Hawaii for a while, they are quietly doing a campaign basically saying "We want to come from anywhere but Samoa" mantra.
If you actually interview the real Hawaiians who knows their geneaology (50% to full blooded Hawaiians) they will quietly agree of their migration from Samoa.
If you study Hawaiian language and Samoan language (1800 -1950), they are basically the same language. Several traditional myths and legends of Samoa and Hawaii are basically the same. When I interviewed elderly Hawaiians of their past (1900-1965), they will tell you when Samoans came to Hawaii in the late 1890's to 1940's, they spoke the same language with full blooded Hawaiians at the time. For any migration, the lasting learned aspect that people keep is their language. Pottery, artifacts can be argued but language is kept close to the original island/country where people migrated from. Modern evolution of Hawaiian language is now due to heavy transmigration back and forth of Polynesians, from Hawaii to Tahiti, the French Polynesian archipelago, and Aotearoa to the south.
A Hawaiian University language professor confided to me that, Hawaiian migrated from Samoa, but it is not a popular belief to advance due to social and personal agendas. Meaning, it is no politically correct to promote within the Hawaiian community that Hawaiians originally migrated from Samoa. You get beaten up (no just kidding)!
Right now, it's like telling someone the earth is not flat (at the era when people believed the world is flat). But for now, lets just keep to ourself that the world is round, so we dont have to argue with our Hawaiian cousins.
But can we stop the silliness of- "I want to come from anywhere but Samoa"
Nothing personal, just the facts!
Alofa and Aloha
Samoan Music on Hawaiian Radio?
One well known Samoan musician (and a great entertainer) said one time to me, Do you notice that Hawaiian radio stations don't play our music and in their concerts they also don't invite Samoan bands. It's interesting because when you go to these Hawaiian/Jawaiian concerts, you will find a big percentage of the audience are Samoans. Many Samoans love Hawaiian music, of course I haven't met a Hawaiian that says the same about Samoan music.
There are Hawaiian music groups that have Samoan musicians in it, that are now making some waves, but as some say "the key is to have a Hawaiian in a group and have a Hawaiian name for the group". Many Samoan groups have tried to have the local Hawaiian radios play their CDs without success. The rise of some Samoan DJs in Hawaiian radio stations have only periodically changed that, but only when DJs are given freedom to choose some of their own music, it is then when you will hear one Samoan song of the year. As you know most of the FM music radio programs are scripted and follow strict lineup of music that are most often pre-approved by the music director. For a long time many music groups including local Hawaii based groups have complained and accused local Hawaii Radio stations of payola (paid for play) which is illegal. Many people in the entertainment business believe that it (payola) happens a lot in Hawaii. Some say you have a better chance of having your CD played in a Hawaiian radio if you are from Jamaica than if you are from the Pacific islands.
Does racism play a part in the radio scene? Does money play a part? Program directors in those radio stations will argue that, racism and money does not play a part in their decision. Radio stations are businesses and money is their bloodline. The groups that gets to play a lot on air also ends up reciprocating by playing for concerts that the stations produces annually. Did someone said Kick-back? Its a symbiotic relationship. So the radio stations are the local king-makers and the bands gravitate to people that put them on a throne.
My own narrow observation for the future, the stations that plays all the Polynesian/Pacific music throughout the day is going to monopolize the Island music audience. Just imagine, playing Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan, Rarotongan, Tongan, Fijian, Guamanian, Micronesian, Maori/New Zealand, Tokelau, Niue, Tuvaluan music and so forth all day. For now I have to listen to the same song played 10 times on the radio every day. Forget about writing great music just have enough money to pay someone to play it long enough to have people like it. Is that a good direction for our music?
"Can we all just get along"
There are Hawaiian music groups that have Samoan musicians in it, that are now making some waves, but as some say "the key is to have a Hawaiian in a group and have a Hawaiian name for the group". Many Samoan groups have tried to have the local Hawaiian radios play their CDs without success. The rise of some Samoan DJs in Hawaiian radio stations have only periodically changed that, but only when DJs are given freedom to choose some of their own music, it is then when you will hear one Samoan song of the year. As you know most of the FM music radio programs are scripted and follow strict lineup of music that are most often pre-approved by the music director. For a long time many music groups including local Hawaii based groups have complained and accused local Hawaii Radio stations of payola (paid for play) which is illegal. Many people in the entertainment business believe that it (payola) happens a lot in Hawaii. Some say you have a better chance of having your CD played in a Hawaiian radio if you are from Jamaica than if you are from the Pacific islands.
Does racism play a part in the radio scene? Does money play a part? Program directors in those radio stations will argue that, racism and money does not play a part in their decision. Radio stations are businesses and money is their bloodline. The groups that gets to play a lot on air also ends up reciprocating by playing for concerts that the stations produces annually. Did someone said Kick-back? Its a symbiotic relationship. So the radio stations are the local king-makers and the bands gravitate to people that put them on a throne.
My own narrow observation for the future, the stations that plays all the Polynesian/Pacific music throughout the day is going to monopolize the Island music audience. Just imagine, playing Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan, Rarotongan, Tongan, Fijian, Guamanian, Micronesian, Maori/New Zealand, Tokelau, Niue, Tuvaluan music and so forth all day. For now I have to listen to the same song played 10 times on the radio every day. Forget about writing great music just have enough money to pay someone to play it long enough to have people like it. Is that a good direction for our music?
"Can we all just get along"
Friday, January 23, 2009
Musika Samoa
After a story on Le Samoa Newspaper (newspaper out of Apia, Samoa) a couple of years ago alleging the Teuila Productions company in Carson (owned by Georvani & Flo Mitchell) pirating hundreds of Samoan music/CDs, several stories popped up including several on some polynesian websites. After some investigation into the world of Polynesian music, four major players always surface in different parts of the Polynesian community.
(1) Moronai & Siale Iogi of San Bernardino, California seems to top most peoples list. They are the ones pirating almost all if not all of Tongas music and video. Their illegal supplies have surfaced in many stores as major suppliers of illegal duplicates of Samoan and Hawaiian music also. Its quite easy, if one takes a visit to one of your local Polynesian stores in the US, the chances are you will find one of their illegal products, usually a poorly copied front cover of a CD with no credits. It got to the point where many legal polynesian distributors could not distribute their music because these characters were having a monopoly in selling illegal copies for $5.00. So when legal distributor arrive at a store, usually own by a Korean, or a non-Polynesian, they are turned away immediately by these owners because they don't want to buy (legal) CDs that costs between $8-$12. As shrewd store owners, They always claim they don't know (or play ignorant) the illegal distributors or "We don't know who is legitimate and who isn't". Even after the person/musician (rightful owner) with their picture on the cover of the CD tries to explain to the store owner, that what they have are pirated copies, the owner still ignores the legitimate CD owner. To make matters worse, the legal distributors/owners of the music/CD are always treated with contempt by these owners.
The legal distributors usually are left with very few options. Reporting to the FBI, police or lawsuit are usually time consuming and expensive and not many have adequate resources to see it to the end. Several musicians have had some success in legal actions including having the police confiscating the pirated copies.
Some say, education is the answer. The reason why many store owners buy illegal copies because (1) it is cheaper ($4-$5); (2) Legal copies cost more. (3) customers still pay for them even though you can barely make out the front cover due to substandard copy machines that some of these pirates use. One store (a tip from one musician) in California had their own duplication operation at a back room of the store. We also found out similar store operations in Utah and Washington state.
Others such as Teuila Productions (Carson, California), Polynesian Flava/Wilson Edwards of San Bernardino/Long Beach and Frank Keil (Samoana Store) of Long Beach, have refine the art of piracy, in that they have redone cover graphics.
In some cases they have replaced original artwork by CD owners and replace them with their own artwork and it is often better than the original artwork done in Samoa or New Zealand.. This has made it difficult for the discerning buyer but it has also made it difficult for the rightful owners to track their products. A band in Samoa complained to this writer that he gave a couple of copies to Wilson to sell in the US, and now he found out that his CD with a complete new cover is circulated in American stores and he's not getting anything.
This is not a new problem, the American and European music industry have struggled with this for a long time. Can we learn from them? Yes and No! The global music industry have deep pockets, far reaching connections and political clout. There are laws in the USA, New Zealand and Samoa and elsewhere, but the public has to be educated. The education is simple, support our musicians by buying legal copies. More and more music will be produced by musicians when they benefit from it, and when they don't, music creation/production and quality declines. As one band leader in Samoa said "Why should we make more CDs when those guys just take one copy and make thousands and sell," He added, "When we went to America to distribute our CD, we couldn't sell any, the stores already had hundreds of (pirated copies) our CD, and they refuse to tell us who sold it to them".
Many musicians express frustration but all seem to have one hope, in that the community will eventually help them by not buying pirated copies.
It is quite clear that it is easier to persuade the public to buy legitimate copies than to stop the pirates.
FACTS: The chances of listening to a Samoan music that was illegally copied or downloaded is 1 out of 2, thats 50%.
(1) Moronai & Siale Iogi of San Bernardino, California seems to top most peoples list. They are the ones pirating almost all if not all of Tongas music and video. Their illegal supplies have surfaced in many stores as major suppliers of illegal duplicates of Samoan and Hawaiian music also. Its quite easy, if one takes a visit to one of your local Polynesian stores in the US, the chances are you will find one of their illegal products, usually a poorly copied front cover of a CD with no credits. It got to the point where many legal polynesian distributors could not distribute their music because these characters were having a monopoly in selling illegal copies for $5.00. So when legal distributor arrive at a store, usually own by a Korean, or a non-Polynesian, they are turned away immediately by these owners because they don't want to buy (legal) CDs that costs between $8-$12. As shrewd store owners, They always claim they don't know (or play ignorant) the illegal distributors or "We don't know who is legitimate and who isn't". Even after the person/musician (rightful owner) with their picture on the cover of the CD tries to explain to the store owner, that what they have are pirated copies, the owner still ignores the legitimate CD owner. To make matters worse, the legal distributors/owners of the music/CD are always treated with contempt by these owners.
The legal distributors usually are left with very few options. Reporting to the FBI, police or lawsuit are usually time consuming and expensive and not many have adequate resources to see it to the end. Several musicians have had some success in legal actions including having the police confiscating the pirated copies.
Some say, education is the answer. The reason why many store owners buy illegal copies because (1) it is cheaper ($4-$5); (2) Legal copies cost more. (3) customers still pay for them even though you can barely make out the front cover due to substandard copy machines that some of these pirates use. One store (a tip from one musician) in California had their own duplication operation at a back room of the store. We also found out similar store operations in Utah and Washington state.
Others such as Teuila Productions (Carson, California), Polynesian Flava/Wilson Edwards of San Bernardino/Long Beach and Frank Keil (Samoana Store) of Long Beach, have refine the art of piracy, in that they have redone cover graphics.
In some cases they have replaced original artwork by CD owners and replace them with their own artwork and it is often better than the original artwork done in Samoa or New Zealand.. This has made it difficult for the discerning buyer but it has also made it difficult for the rightful owners to track their products. A band in Samoa complained to this writer that he gave a couple of copies to Wilson to sell in the US, and now he found out that his CD with a complete new cover is circulated in American stores and he's not getting anything.
This is not a new problem, the American and European music industry have struggled with this for a long time. Can we learn from them? Yes and No! The global music industry have deep pockets, far reaching connections and political clout. There are laws in the USA, New Zealand and Samoa and elsewhere, but the public has to be educated. The education is simple, support our musicians by buying legal copies. More and more music will be produced by musicians when they benefit from it, and when they don't, music creation/production and quality declines. As one band leader in Samoa said "Why should we make more CDs when those guys just take one copy and make thousands and sell," He added, "When we went to America to distribute our CD, we couldn't sell any, the stores already had hundreds of (pirated copies) our CD, and they refuse to tell us who sold it to them".
Many musicians express frustration but all seem to have one hope, in that the community will eventually help them by not buying pirated copies.
It is quite clear that it is easier to persuade the public to buy legitimate copies than to stop the pirates.
FACTS: The chances of listening to a Samoan music that was illegally copied or downloaded is 1 out of 2, thats 50%.
Upu Tomua
Mapu ia i le too ae lepa i le foe, e pei o le fetalaiga ia Manono. Ua matie ai nei le tiasa Ua laga foi le galu fuliafa. E ae i le ti ae ifo i le nonu, ia malu vai o lo outou agatonu. Lau o le fiso ma lau o le tolo. E ala e tasi le mauga i Olo. O paia o Samoa, nuunuu faatini o Tausala i Faleupolu o tofiga aua o le latou matafaioi lea. Ae o mamalu feaveai o le atunuu ua nofo fale ia Satuiamaa. I le mamalu i faafeagaiga taulagi o loo latou asuina le vai o le ola i fatafaitaulaga e fia o le atunuu, Tulou. O Tama ma Tina ua loa le soifua, e oo i e pito itiiti, ae maise alo ma fanau a le atunuu o tautuaina le malo, Faatalofa. Ua sanisani faamanuao i le vaveao, ae vivini moa o le taeao aua ua patilima laau o le vao.
E viia pea le Atua i lana pule faasoifua ua aulia mai ai lenei itula o maualuga pea le aoina o le masina. Tulou tulou Lava.
O le uluai tusitusiga lenei atonu o le a tele nisi o tusitusiga ma ni mafaufauga se tele o i luma. O lenei lomiga o le a faatatau i le feofoofoaiga ma fetufaina o mafaufau i mataupu eseese i le aganuu, agaifanua aemaise mataupu o loo tupu mai pea i lea aso ma lea aso.
Afai ae le soo sou titi, pe a'u sou pale. O moomooga alofa lava, ina ia uumau lau aganuu e te laei ai. Finagalo malie ona ua pau o se taumafaiga le auau a le auauna. Alofa le Atua ia faafualoaina lo outou soifua ma ia mamao ni gasegase.
A iai se aleu, poo se peau lagavale, o oe lava o le Matua faitama oute malu ai. E poto lava le Tautai ae se lana atu i ama. .
E faatofa faasoifuaina lau faasausauga.
E viia pea le Atua i lana pule faasoifua ua aulia mai ai lenei itula o maualuga pea le aoina o le masina. Tulou tulou Lava.
O le uluai tusitusiga lenei atonu o le a tele nisi o tusitusiga ma ni mafaufauga se tele o i luma. O lenei lomiga o le a faatatau i le feofoofoaiga ma fetufaina o mafaufau i mataupu eseese i le aganuu, agaifanua aemaise mataupu o loo tupu mai pea i lea aso ma lea aso.
Afai ae le soo sou titi, pe a'u sou pale. O moomooga alofa lava, ina ia uumau lau aganuu e te laei ai. Finagalo malie ona ua pau o se taumafaiga le auau a le auauna. Alofa le Atua ia faafualoaina lo outou soifua ma ia mamao ni gasegase.
A iai se aleu, poo se peau lagavale, o oe lava o le Matua faitama oute malu ai. E poto lava le Tautai ae se lana atu i ama. .
E faatofa faasoifuaina lau faasausauga.
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