ROKSA's Visit with Samoa's New Head of State
O le Alofa ma le Faaaloalo e Tatala ai le Mau-O le Ma Feiloaiga Ma Tupua Tamasese
O le Republic of Korea Samoa Association (ROKSA) o la matou matu’upalapala lea e momoli atu ai le feau o le “alofa ma le faaaloalo;” i alo o Samoa o tiute ma aumau i Korea i Saute ina ia mafai ona o mai faatasi e fetufaa’i i lau aganu’u; aua ua naumati vai e utuvai ai au tama fanau i fafo atu o Samoa.
O le auga lea ma le autu sa malaga atu ai sui o le ROKSA i Amerika Samoa e momoli faamaisega ma alofaaga i le maliu o le tina o TSgt Tiumalu Quincy ia Ianuari 2007, ma faatino le alofa e faaaloalo atu ai i le faaipoipoga a Aja Tuiasosopo ma Iosefa Saofa’i Nansen ia Fepuari 2007. Ina ia faalaua’itele le iloa ma le saili malo i lau aganuu, o le agaga lea na ou tu’u tu’u laau atu ai ma saili fa’alumaga ai loa ia Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Tufuga Efi, o le na tusia le tusi “Talanoaga na loma ma Ga’opo’a.” O lenei tusi o lo’o momoli mai ai le feau “o le alofa ma le fa’aaloalo e tatala ai le Mau” ma faasoa atu ai i tupulaga lalovaoa a
E lua ni fuaitau mai lenei tusi ua mafua ai ona a’e se manatu e to’omaga ia Tupua Tamasese. Muamua o se li’utau sa ia tu’uina atu i se tasi o alo o Samoa sa saili faalumaga atu ia te ia, “Aisea e te le to’omaga i a tatou mea totino...e su’e faalumaga i tala o le vavau ma tala faasolopito.” (p. 56) Lua, “Fea le mea a matou su’e faalumaga iai pe afai e solomua ia te outou ona taofi le mau?...o faamaumauga a papalagi…Na ala ai ona ou tu’uaulafo.” (p. 37) O le lagona lea o le Tama a Aiga na ala ai ona
E ui ona sa lagona le faatauva’a ma le agaga suatulia i le ma ua feiloaiga, ae sa le pine le sagisagi mai o Tupua Tamasese e tusa ai o le savali. Sa lilo i manatu mai lea feiloaiga ia Fepuari o le a avea o ia ma Ao o le Malo o
O le mafuaaga lena ua taumafai ai Tupua Tamasese ia faasoa atu le Mau i e o lo’o fia utuvai i tala o le vavau ma tala faasolopito a Samoa e ala i ana tusitusiga ma a na lauga e faia i Samoa ma atunu’u i fafo. Saunoa mai le Tama a Aiga, o a tausaga o totoe o lona soifua, o le a ia faaoga e tatala atu ai la na Mau, o la na taulaga alofa lea mo
Na lagona lava le malie atoatoa o le loto ma le mafaufau i le faatupu ma le faatamali’i a Tupua Tamasese ua mafai ai ona ia faasoa mai la na Mau i se tasi na sulu atu e totoma ma su’e faalumaga atu i lona maota. O lenei feiloaiga ua ou mautinoa ai, o lo’o i ai tama o le Atunu’u o lo’o saafi e tatala le Mau ona ole “alofa ma le fa’aaloalo” i tupulaga lalovaoa a Samoa, e
Love and Respect: The Key to Transferring Samoan Traditional Knowledge-My Meeting with Tupua Tamasese
The Republic of Korea Samoa Association (ROKSA) is our contribution of love and respect for sons and daughters of Samoa serving the military in
It is this spirit of love and respect for its members that inspired ROKSA representatives to travel to American Samoa to pay respect to TSgt Tiumalu, Quincy’s mother in January 2007 and attend 1LT Aja Tuiasosopo and Joseph Saofa’i Nansen’s wedding in February 2007.
To gain and instill a greater appreciation of the “love and respect” for the Samoan culture, I sought out one of Samoa’s renown author on Samoan culture and oral history, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Tufuga Efi. He is the author of the book, “Talanoaga na Loma ma Ga’opo’a.” In this book, he encouraged the readers that “love and respect” for Samoa and its future generations should be the reason why we must lift the taboo of transferring traditional knowledge from the confines of the family and pass it to all those that are interested in this cause.
I was motivated and inspired by two thought processes and ideas from this book to seek out Tupua Tamasese. First, was a suggestion he posed to a very talented Samoan who asked the Tama Aiga for new ideas and resources to demonstrate her artistic skills. The answer was simple, “Why don’t you look at our own culture as a resource to promote your talent?” (p. 56) Secondly, if traditional leaders are not willing to lift the taboo to transfer traditional knowledge from the confines of the family, then who can we go to for resource? Documentation provided by the missionaries and others? This is the concern that changed Tupua Tamasese’s outlook toward the subject. (p. 37) It is Tupua Tamasese’s passion for the Samoan culture displayed in this book as well as his other writings and speaking engagements in Samoa and around the world that led my quest to Tuaefu,
The experience of meeting with this highly respected Samoan was overwhelming. Never did I know that four months from this visit, Tupua Tamasese will become the Head of State of Samoa. I felt small and insignificant during our encounter at his residence; however, Tupua Tamasese was very receptive and interested in my mission. Whoever possesses the Mau (traditional knowledge), should pass it on to those that are seeking it. According to Tupua Tamsese, if the taboo on passing Samoan traditional knowledge is not lifted from the confines of the family, then where can we find resources other than those that were written by papalagi? If these writings are erroneous and bias, future generations will be misled and could very well be the reason they will lose their cultural birthright.
Tama a Aiga’s passion for the Samoan culture and language enabled him to speak out on passing Samoan traditional knowledge to the younger generations. Furthermore, he pledges that he will devote the rest of his life to passing on his Mau to those who seek it because if he doesn’t the full meaning of certain knowledge may be lost forever. Tama a Aiga wishes ROKSA the best in its noble effort of perpetuating the “faasamoa” for all Samoans serving in
I was extremely grateful and pleased with the Tupua Tamasese’s interest and sincerity during my quest in hearing his Mau about the “faasamoa”. This gave me hope knowing that Samoa has elder statesman that are willing to lift the taboo on transferring traditional knowledge to the future generations of Samoa who are seeking to learn about their cultural birthrights, especially a stranger who seek out his help.
Soifua,
Tauapai Laupola
President, ROKSA
2005-2007