SALA E. SAMIU / 1941-2003
American Samoan senator
gifted as eloquent speaker
American Samoa Territorial Sen. Sala E. Samiu, of Fagasa village, described as a skilled orator and a friend to Hawaii's Samoan community, died Monday in Honolulu. He was 62.
Gus Hannemann described Sala as an "affable lad who was very friendly and caring."
Sala never missed a wedding, funeral or an important event in the Samoan community, even making numerous trip to Hawaii throughout the year, he said.
"For me, he epitomized what Samoans are known for," said Hannemann, who is the liaison for state and federal affairs for the American Samoa Legislature.
"He always had an extended hand."
Born in 1941, Sala was elect-ed to the American Samoa Territorial House from the Ituau district in 1996 and was re-elected in 1998. In 2001 he was elected to the Senate by the traditional council of chiefs. He was working with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, to appropriate funds to build a sea wall to protect villages.
Hannemann remembers Sala's "phenomenal" oratory ability, which he said is essential in traditional Samoan culture.
"Even when visiting a village for the first time, he could call out the formal name of all the local chiefs he had never met," said Hannemann.
Villagers also were in awe of Sala's oratory skills and traditional protocol, Hannemann said.
Sala died at Kuakini Medical Center where he had been undergoing treatment for an aneurysm.
He is survived by wife Trudi Iuli Sala, brother the Rev. Ulisese Sala, two sisters, four children and nine grandchildren.
Sala's body will be escorted to Samoa by High Chief Alo Paul Stevenson, from Fagasa village, for services in American Samoa. Private services for those unable to travel to American Samoa will be held at Hosoi Garden Mortuary from 2 to 4 p.m. today.