FAPAC  ava ceremony demonstration

FAPAC ava ceremony demonstration

Some photos I snapped at a little gathering for the first American Samoa chapter of Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC).

There was an ava ceremony demonstration, a taualuga by the cutest taupou, and of course, no event is without food in American Samoa!

Thanks to Dora for the invite!

Scenes from the 2019 AS Flag Day parade | Part 1

Scenes from the 2019 AS Flag Day parade | Part 1

Photo journal of scenes from the American Samoa Flag Day parade on April 17, 2019 at the Tafuna Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

Photos by me and/or Ian from the grandstand using a cheap old telephoto lens I’ve had for over 8 years. I actually forgot it’s kind of broken (reads as error and shuts my camera off when fully extended to 300mm and autofocus doesn’t work anymore), but luckily it worked out and we got this softer old school look.

I’ll post more photos from Leone, Tafuna, and Samoana’s performances in Part 2 later.

Pacific Roots Open Mic #12

Pacific Roots Open Mic #12

It’s been a year and some months since the last Pacific Roots Open Mic (a.k.a. “PROM”). A lot of the “usuals” have left the island and if you were worried that there would be less performances, you’d be wrong. Fresh new talents got up and spilled their struggles, their criticisms, their voices out on a borrowed stage.

Between spoken word, original poetry, reenactments, singing, rapping, instrument playing, and excerpts read aloud – that Tuesday night was not short of encouragement from an audience of young adults all different walks of life.

Shout out once again to Tamiano Gurr, owner of Pacific Roots and fellow poet, for inspiring us all and providing a real life/offline social platform.

Miss American Samoa 2016

Miss American Samoa 2016

The Miss American Samoa pageant has been an annual spectacle for as long as I can remember.

In its heyday, the Miss American Samoa pageant was something that everyone looked forward to seeing–who was in it, what was she wearing, how would she answer the interview, what was her talent, etc… And while people do still look forward to the event, the mismanagement of recent pageants–and maybe the rise of feminism–has devolved the usual enthusiasm for the pageant into a hyped up fashion and entertainment show. This is of course just my opinion. I also do think that the platform that the crowned Miss takes up is an important one, and that her duties and responsibilities have only become more important with time. She becomes a representative of youth and women issues in American Samoa and is able to propel these issues in the local community and share it with the world.

Antonina Keka Lilomaiava

“She becomes a representative of youth and women issues in American Samoa”

This year, the Miss American Samoa Inc. wanted to bring back the basics in an attempt to restore the old glory of the pageant. The theme of this year’s pageant was “Samoa, Muamua Le Atua”, meaning “Samoa, put God first”. It is the official motto of American Samoa and is prominently featured on the seal and coin of American Samoa.  With that in mind, majority of the contestants focused on the historical and religious aspects of the Samoan culture in their talents and traditional wear, and made the audience laugh and hoot with their different interpretations of dance and history. Overall, the pageant was well executed–short, sweet and simple–in comparison to previous years.

Antonina Keka Lilomaiava
Age: 19
Village: Aua & Fagatogo
Sponsored by: SSAB Pago Inc.

Janet Peleiupu Fa’afo’i
Age: 25
Village: Aoloau
Sponsored by: SM Sewing Shop, CCCAS Aoloau Youth, 5 Star Inc, Family & Friends.

Fellen Kelemete
Age: 24
Village: Mesepa
Sponsored by: Pacific Independent Distributors Inc.

Luava’asi’itia Aprilynn Esera
Age: 19
Village: Vailoatai
Sponsored by: Sliding Rock Inc.

Taisamasama Toatelegese
Age: 21
Village: Nu’uuli, Aua, Malaeloa & Fitiuta
Sponsored by: Tess Sewing Shop.

Antonina Keka Lilomaiava
Janet Peleiupu Fa’afo’i
Fellen Kelemete
Luava’asi’itia Aprilynn Esera
Taisamasama Toatelegese

Breakdown of awards:

  • Miss Personality: Taisamasama Toatelegese
  • Miss MASI: Antonina Lilomaiava
  • Miss Photogenic: Janet Fa’afo’i
  • Miss Bluesky Internet: Antonina Lilomaiava
  • Best Sarong: Antonina Lilomaiava
  • Best Talent: Fellen Kelemete
  • Best Traditional Wear: Antonina Lilomaiava
  • Best Siva Samoa: Taisamasama Toatelegese
  • Best Interview: Antonina Lilomaiava
  • Best Pre-Pageant Interview: Fellen Kelemete

And the final standings:

  • 4th Runner Up: Janet Fa’afo’i
  • 3rd Runner Up: Taisamasama Toatelegese
  • 2nd Runner Up: Aprilynn Esera
  • 1st Runner Up: Fellen Kelemete
  • Crowned Miss American Samoa 2016-2017: Antonina Lilomaiava