List of people from American Samoa

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. This is a list of notable people from American Samoa.

Arts and crafts

  • Mary Jewett Pritchard was a master Siapo (tapa cloth) maker and teacher.[1] Pritchard is historically recognized for reviving the nearly lost art. In 1927 Pritchard began successfully exporting Siapo, her business exposed thousands of people around the world to Siapo and provided a significant interest for artists to continue creating and teaching the craft. Pritchard continued to create and teach Siapo until her death in 1992. Pritchard's family and students continues the tradition today.
  • Sven Ortquist was a master wood carver.[2] Ortquist was diagnosed at age 9 with Hansen's disease and was sent to a remote leper colony on Fiji. It was there that nuns gave him tools and wood and Ortquist taught himself to carve. Ortquist's sculptures adorn churches and public buildings, and many of his most treasured works are preserved at the local Jean P. Haydon museum. Ortquist died of cancer in 2013.

Reggie Meredith is an artist.[3] Her work is displayed on public buildings and was featured in several documentaries. Meredith is a professor in the Fine Arts Department at American Samoa Community College.

Beauty pageants

Multi-beauty pageant winner Marion Malena (Miss UTOPIA USA)
  • Darlene Schweneke is the first and only contestant to represent American Samoa at the Miss Universe pageant in 1975.
  • Noanoa Hill was Miss Samoa World and represented Samoa at Miss World 1988.
  • Juliette Spencer is the inaugural winner of the first Miss South Pacific Pageant in 1987.[4] Other Miss American Samoa's who have won the prestigious title are 1993 Leilua Stevenson, 1995 Rochelle Tuitele, 2000 Helen Afatasi Burke and 2002 Lupe Aumavae.

Film and stage

Fire knife dancing pioneer and Hollywood act Freddie Letuli
  • Freddie Letuli was the legendary pioneer of the world famous Polynesian fire knife dance. He became a popular demand and toured his shows across the United States and Europe appearing in TV shows and movies. Letuli died in 2003. The annual World Fire Knife competition is held each year in his honor.
  • Jerry Groves worked as a movie extra and character actor in 1940s and 1950s Hollywood.
  • Jerado Decordovier was a film and television character actor.
  • Hollywood actor Eric Stoltz lived with his family in American Samoa, his father was a principal for Leone High School in the late 1960s.[6]
  • Tina Marie (Christina Laolagi) is a former pornographic actress. Laolagi has long retired from the adult industry but renewed interest have kept her films in recent circulation.[7]
  • Tia Carrere at the peak of her Hollywood career in the 1990s often visited American Samoa. She lived with her father who married a local Samoan woman.
  • Tasi Alabastro born to Filipino parents in American Samoa is an independent filmmaker and actor.
  • Clare Cahill is a movie assistant manager, producer and production manager. Cahill lived in American Samoa with her family for several years.
  • Arianne Martin is an American film actress who lived in American Samoa with her family for some time.

Literature

  • Award winning writer Sia Figiel was an educator for Fa'asao-Marist and Samoana High School. Figiel was a special liaison for the congressman's office for several years.
  • Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia founded American Samoa's first newspaper in the 1960s and was later elected congressman. Sunia published a series writings among them The story of the legislature of American Samoa: 1948 -1998 and Puputoa: A Host of Heroes (Biographies of the History Makers of American Samoa 1900-2000).
  • Tialuga Seloti is an educator, writer and poet.
  • Vena Sele is a retired educator and author. Sele published her autobiography "Memoirs of a Samoan, Catholic and Fa'afafine" in 2007 documenting experiences including founding the Miss Island Queen Pageant and becoming the first fa'afafine to hold a deputy position in American Samoa.[8]

Music

Harry Miller of Samoa
Harry Miller of Samoa, a prominent musician in the Pacific
Samoan Music Legends Malia & Alapati Savea of "Penina O Tiafau"
Music Star Aliimau Jr. Scanlan
Recording Artist Ras Mas
  • Harry Miller (21 Apr 1954 – 10 Jul 2013) was a prominent musician throughout the pacific. Born into a musical family he was the son of recording artist and jazz pioneer in Samoa, the late Willie Miller, and elder brother of Latu Miller and Maua Miller. Perhaps most notable as the third member of the Samoan trio Ava Harry's jazz influence can be heard in his guitar works on two of Ava's releases Eleni and Sei Oriana. Harry was also a music educator for Fa'asao Marist High School for many years and was married to radio personality Monica Miller. Harry Miller died of cancer in Auckland, his birth place.[9]
  • Tiama'a Samoa's most famous musical band lived and performed in American Samoa for several years. Some of the band's most popular hits "Sosefina","Taute" and "Seu Lo'u Pologa" were all inspired by women during this tenure.
  • Malia Savea, part of Malia & Alapati, popularly known as the duo Penina o Tiafau. The Savea's wrote and perform some of Samoa's most iconic songs their voices have become synonymous with Samoan culture. Malia Savea lives in Hawaii.
  • Aliimau Jr. Scanlan is one of Samoa's famous local artists with a career spanning decades. Scanlan comes from a family of musicians who have become a local tradition for their TV Christmas specials.
  • Atoa Ripley is a music star known for his covers of classic ballads. His signature song is "(Teine) My Island Lady".
  • The Anivas was a popular music band in the 1990s their lead singer was music educator Miriama Samuelu. The band's memorable love songs remain a popular request at Samoan weddings.
  • Felsie Mikaele a veteran music legend continues to live and perform frequently in American Samoa promoting back to back albums.
  • Emma Laussen is best remembered for her hit song "Nofo To'atasi".
  • The Katinas is a famed contemporary Christian music group composed of brothers.
  • Mauto'atasi lived and performed in local nightclubs before becoming a solo artist. He is known for his distinctive voice and his mega-hit song "Toe fo'i le tama Savai'i".
  • Fuafiva Va'a is a local recording artist. Va'a won the first ever "Samoa Idol" competition and later recorded Christian albums spawning a series of popular songs.
  • Ras-Mas is a local recording artist. He is known for his 2009 hit song "Pretty lil Teine".[10]
  • Tap's Band'is a popular music group known for their hits "Ta fia taoto i lou moega" and "Nofo mai aua te alu".
  • Ice-Cream man is a local recording artist and producer. He is known for his collaboration on Vaniah Toloa's hit song "Samoa e Mapoopo Mai".
  • J-Zee is a locally based hip-hop artist.
  • Elijah Tavai is a local Christian music artist. He is known for his cover version of "Ulufale".
  • Jonitta Fruean is a local R&B recording artist.
  • 'Nina Namazzi is a recording artist. She is known for her song "Siva Mai".
  • Army soldier Paul Ieti while being deployed in Iraq made national news when a video of him crooning a song became viral overnight. Ieti is a social media phenomenon where he continues to post his work.[11]

Newsmakers

[12] David Davis was a wanted fugitive for the murder of his wife Shannon Mohr in Michigan. In 1989 he was arrested by local police and FBI agents in American Samoa. Davis was working as a pilot for Samoa Air and married to a 23-year-old Samoan woman. The FBI was informed by a viewer after Davis was profiled on the popular TV show Unsolved Mysteries. The notorious crime was made into a book and television movie. Davis is serving life in prison.

[13] Atisone "Shalimar" Seiui generated extensive publicity following an incident with Hollywood star Eddie Murphy in 1997. Seiuli died in Los Angeles in 1998.

[14] Mikhail Sebastian a statelessness film actor and producer from Los Angeles sparked national media coverage after being reportedly stuck in American Samoa for a year. Sebastian arrived in Pago Pago for a brief vacation and took a short side trip to Western Samoa, not realizing that it is a separate and independent nation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deemed that self-deportation making him unable to return the United States.

Radio and television

Legendary personality and senator Lutu Tenari Fuimaono
Television Journalist Rosemary Kent
Lupe Lu entertaining guests at an awards gala among them NFL star Jesse Sapolu

[15] Lutu Tenari Fuimaono was a popular local personality and political figure. Fuimaono is often cited as American Samoa's first radio star he was known for his on-air catch phrases "Tama Lelei" (good father) and "Va'aai le Manaia" (very nice). In his political career Fuimaono served 19 years as senator before being elected president in 1996. He also served three terms in the territorial House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate. Fuimaono died in 2004.

Rosemary Chamberlain Kent is one of Samoa's most well known TV personalities. Kent was a news anchor for KVZK-2 for several years and covered CNN news reports from the islands and is often remembered for her feisty persona during coverage of yearly Fautasi races. Kent now lives in Hawaii and currently host and produce a weekly talk show on Public TV on (OLELO TV).

Andrew Thompson was a popular radio host for KSBS-FM. Thompson is well known for his Elvis impersonating voice style .Thompson is currently a newscaster for KVZK-2.

Lupe Lu Lohman is a radio personality for many years. Lohman is remembered for her courageous efforts during the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami. While on air during their "Samoan Sunrise" morning show Lohman and co-host Joey Cummings asked the public to remain calm and move to higher grounds they then proceeded to pray.[16] Lohman and Cummings were honored by International Broadcasters Idea Bank for their efforts.

Siniva Anoai is a veteran TV personality for KVZK-2 . Anoai remains the longest serving news anchor her voice is often heard during the ending of each broadcast day. Anoai is currently the assistant director for the Office of public information.

Vaoita Savali was a TV personality for KVZK-2. Savali's voice can still be heard in several KVZK segments. Savali died in 2005.

Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde is a popular radio and TV host. Langkilde is synonymous with the Miss American Samoa and Miss South Pacific pageants and yearly flag day festivities for which he hosted for many years.[17] Langkilde is currently the director for the Office of public information.

[18] Kalameli Timu was a well-known radio and TV personality. Timu became a catholic deacon's wife and dedicated her life to the ministry. Timu died in 2012.

Monica Miller is a veteran radio and TV personality. Miller is currently the news director for 93KHJ radio. Miller was married to musician Harry Miller.

Fili Sagapolutele is a popular radio host and journalist. Sagapolutele is known for her on-air "Faleo'o Stories". Sagapolutele is the only international correspondent from American Samoa for the Associated Press and currently hosts the morning show for KSBS-FM.

Fatima Langlikde is a former TV personality. Langkilde co-anchored American Samoa's first cable talk show "Talofa Samoa" on K34HI Malama TV. The show was popular among viewers but the network station was short lived canceling all services after 4 years. Lankgkilde is also a former Miss American Samoa in 1969.

Ruth Tuiteleapaga is a former news anchor for KVZK-2 News.

Fa'afetai Lauti is a former news anchor for KVZK-2 News.

Fuatino Matati is a former news anchor for KVZK-2 News.

[19] Mark Gerek was the first local host and manager of 93KHJ radio. In 2001 during a scuba dive Gerek was lost at sea his body was never recovered.

Diehl Langkilde is a radio host and local personality. Langkilde currently hosts the evening show for KSBS-FM.

Daniel Fiu is a radio and TV host. Fiu is currently a news anchor for KVZK-2 news.

Dave Mageo is a TV anchorman. Mageo is currently a news anchor for KVZK-2 news.

Shane Filipo is a radio host and local personality.

Sports

Tony Solaita was Samoa's only major league baseball player (New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, California Angels, Montreal Expos, and Toronto Blue Jays). Solaita was killed during a family dispute in 1990. A popular park and sporting field in Tafuna is named in his honor.

Afa and Sika Anoa'i are legendary professional wrestlers known as The Wild Samoans. They held 21 tag team championships around the world. They are the patriarchs for the legendary Anoa'i family which includes many professional wrestlers, including former WWE Champion Yokozuna, former tag team champions Solofa Fatu, Sam Fatu, and Samula Anoa'i, current WWE superstar Roman Reigns and former WWE Intercontinental Champion Eddie Fatu (Umaga), amongst others.

The High Chief Peter Maivia, a blood brother to the Anoa'i family, was also a legendary professional wrestler, promoting a National Wrestling Alliance territory out of Hawaii and becoming a folk hero amongst the Samoan population of San Francisco. He is the grandfather of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

Jack Thompson "the Throwin' Samoan" is the first Samoan member of a Super Bowl team, in Super Bowl XVI. He did not play that year and was not the first Samoan to play in a Super Bowl that feat belongs to San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Manu Tuiasosopo in 1985.

Cocoa Samoa was a professional wrestler in the 1980s. He held several championship titles.

[20] Jonathan Fanene became the first NFL player to be appointed a cabinet position in the American Samoa Government in 2014.

References

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  15. ↑ http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/22/ln/ln49a.html
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