Recent comments

Wow, i want a FONO and DBAS job. In the fono, i can be a ghost employee collecting money and no real work. I want a vacation with per diem like DBAS employees. I'm voting for Lolo. If he wins, maybe all of ASG can go on an all expense paid vacation in Apia.

Beautiful, I love this country!

no, but no thanks!

You started to understand more about everything there, Hawkeye....According to your journal come out clearly and sound so familiar, it is the samoan way of life you're talking about.

Little by little Hawkeye, you will definitely become more understood all and all of what I've said to some of your articles in the past, and present. And the Black people said; can you digged it? right on....Be-wared of whom you mingle with vs associates with that sort of speaking. But when it comes to plate lunch, you are absolutely right, that will be the secret code to all the runners I can assured you that.......

As you may notice how it is, food is the most important piece of mind there without a doubt.....The crooks knows how to pull such game, by feeding them until they're transporting to LBJ and die immediately. Sad but its true to the bone, Hawkeye.......You probably experience that from ADams and Eve, because there is a such thing there, Aright, and Amiss......But they all graduated from the word "AMISS" as you may experience how everything turned out to be. And 'ARIGHT" very seldom exist, or a count of 1 thru 10 I'll say 2+

Solofa, who is a native of Samoa, an independent country with no extradition treaties with the United States. (See yesterday’s edition for more details on Solofa’s conviction)

Stop the nepotism, Favoritism, and Cronyism...Seek integrity employees, and not one like this Solofa jerk. NO degree is better than Integrity degree of service.

This guy absolutely deserved to be locked up in Washington DC Federal Detention. And also whomever sponsored this guy to come to American Samoa, and gotten hired to work for the government (ASG should also considered brought to prosecution). My question is; why the government of American Samoa continued to hire people from Upolu W/S? This is one of the main reasons why the government of American Samoa went down the drain....Because of people like Solofa and several others. They don't give a grab about ASG because they always thinking about running back to Upolu W/S after they found themselves guilty of committing a crime.

The government should be able to run a background check on all hiring individuals to reassured safe and prompt safety in all area of conduct and practice. Use those with christianity spirit to say NO to stealing and all kinds of evil deceptions.

O saunoaga a Senatoa Tulifua e foliga mai e aga'i tonu i taumafaiga a le Tofa ia Lolo mo le tofi Kovana, 'ae fa'aopoopo atu ai ma le tu'ua'ia o le afioga ia Muagututi'a Fa'aola Leapai. Talofa e ia Senatoa Tulifua, o lea fo'i e manino atu i'inei o 'oe o le uo mamae a leisi fo'i sui tauva - le afioga i le Tama-Fa'alagia ia Faoa Sunia, lea fo'i e tausinio i le tofi Kovana, ma sa oulua galulue vavalalata i le lua fa'amasinoga na faia i Uosigitone. Se'i alofa ia Senatoa Tulifua, o polokiki le manuia uma na saunoaga e te taumafai iai. Sa'o lelei le Peresitene ia Gaoteote, o le a le mea e te le alu sa'o ai i le Tofa i le To'oto'o ia Lolo e maua ai lau tali, 'ae o lea nini fua le taumafaiga i luma o le Fono. Fai fuafua o lea e faitau atu le atunuu i na aga o lo'o fa'aliali mai.

This Samoan Prime Minister is obviously trying to incite a violent rebellion in Fiji. And he has his reasons. He is wishing to drive the tourists away from Fiji and into Samoa, relocate all the major international organizations from Suva to Apia.

See, he doesn't know what to do with all the white elephants (be it the sports complex in Tuanaimato or the high rises in Apia ) that China gifted to him. The fact of the matter is Fiji will never relent that title as the hub of the Oceania trading. It has the infrastructure, the resources and the economy to sustain its role as the leading Pacific Island Nation.

I am a driver here in the downtown Los Angeles area for the past 20 years. The route I am on consist of companys and business's from all over the world that come here to further themselves and there familys sadly to say my route also covers the homeless shelters and I get to witness the lows of these familys. I grew up on that beautiful island of Tutuila many feaus Papa sending us to the maumagas and then going out to sea to test his carved out canoes at night we fish the open waters, this was a daily routine sunday morning was the umuu rest of the day was the lords. To the honorable P.M. thank you I miss that generation!!!

Almost forgot. Oh contraire Timusa, lets get our facts in order here. The Samoan community frowns on public servants who misrepresent the seat of office that their constituents sent them there in the first place.

I hope you're grasping this simple concept in human behavior. Nothing complicated about it my friend. If a public servant misuses his or her position of power to benefit their friends, families and their businesses, instead of the benefit of the country, is that not wrong, by any definition of the word, Timusa?

Are you saying that this type of corrupt behavior by any public official is acceptable behavior in civil society? Do you endorse this on behalf of the Samoan community? If so, I'm afraid you're alone in your thoughts on this one.

The Samoan community wants our leaders to be an example for all to emulate. They want their lot in life to be a little better for themselves and their family then what their parents were, don't you agree Timusa? Or do you endorse the 'me and myself alone' syndrome of selfishness? I'm just curious as to what you hold most sacred? The blind loyalty to a relative who misuses their office or the betterment of society? Unlike you Timusa, I do not let personal family relationships interfere with my judgment of corruption. I call it as I see it(I was never good at diplomacy, can't stand kissing butt) If my own brother was doing this type of shenanigans against the people's government, you bet your bottom dollar I'll be the first to lobby his butt out of office(of course, nothing personal, still love him as a brother).

Can you say the same Timusa? It's not as easy as you think a ea? This is called years of character, ethical and moral build-up from a life of old fashion experience. I think I've earned my right to a government that treats it's citizens with dignity, equality and transparency(thank my fear of God, parents & the U.S. Navy)....LOL.

Speaking of God, why is it that individuals like yourself use the good Lords name to justify your position? If the Senator was absolutely innocent without a doubt, then why the lone dissenting vote? Timusa, thank the family attorney for a job well done in earning their fee's. God had nothing to do with it. Every case that has been argued in any court around the world, depends on one very important point....how good is your attorney in arguing a case? It dosen't matter if a client is guilty as hell, it's how good their attorney will argue their case to freedom.

That's the same situation with the Senator and LT. Governor Faoa. Nothing extreme about it. The federal prosecutors just dropped the ball on their corner, it happens to the very best of us. God is only mentioned when the verdict is guilty...LOL.

I'll make a bet with you Timusa, since you're so adament about the innocence of your relative. Approach 10 complete strangers on the street and ask them this question, "do you think Senator Tulifua Lam Yuen and Lt. Governor Faoa Sunia were innocent or guilty in the federal case held a few years ago in D.C.?" Be honest with your polling Timusa, no family. I am so confident of the response, that the very answer you seek from the Samoan community will enlighten your thinking process in a huge way.

Remember Timusa, public PERCEPTION of an individual by the people, can make or break them....does Richard Nixon ring a bell? Please, don't let this experiment change your attitude and relationship with the Senator. He is still a good family man and decent human being. Despite what he may think of me, I love him as my uncle. The same with Senator Lualemaga Faoa(that's a story for another day...LOL).

Thanks for the comment. I enjoyed our little exchanges of views.

As to calling you on your cell phone, I'm afraid that this type of behavior on your part is exactly what I've been preaching against all along. If the good Senator wishes not to engage the public(of which I am)in defense of his position, then I don't see the relevency of Timusa acting as his defense counsel(are you an attorney?). I hope you can understand my position. If this case was about Timusa, then surely I would love the debate and argument with you on your position. But unfortunately it is not(consider yourself lucky).

If the good Senator wishes to change his position to engage the public, why I'd be more then ecstatic to debate the points of issue(don't worry, my debate team at Saint Louis H.S. was mediocre at best...college was worst...LOL). I'm not trying to make light of this issue Timusa, just sharing some past history. My apologies if you thought otherwise. Good day.

JR Faaola

Ia faamanuia tele Le Atua ia te oe le tina peleina. Faafetai tele mo mea uma sa e faia mo i matou le fanau. Ia maua pea e oe le tina le malosi ole tino ae faasilisili ile agaga e auauna ai mo Ia. Ia foa'i fo'i mafaufauga lelei e fautuaina ai pea i matou le fanau. Alofa tele mo oe le tina peleina.

A HUGE mistake! I've seen her work product.

Fa'amaisega i le tausi po'o le tina foi ia Palepa ma le fanau i le tu'umalo o le afioga i le Senatoa, le tofa ia Seui. Alofa le Atua ia maua sona nofoaga i lona oliolisaga. Upu a le tusi, "Ua maliliu toa, ua maimau ai aupega o le taua". ae o lau tala, Ua maliu le toa, ae ua aoga aupega o le taua. Malo tau, malo le tautua i lou Aiga, le afioaga, le Malo ae maise le Atua ma lana galuega. Fa'amafanafana le Atua I le tina ia Palepa ma le fanau fa'avauvau. IA MANUIA LAU FAIGAMALAGA CHIEF. RIP my friend

TA'AFANO

Thank you for your comment, Timusa. First of all, I like Kool-Aid. I prefer Coca Cola, but, my doctor keeps hammering me on the excess sugar and stuff..LOL. Secondly, please don't think too highly of me. I appreciate the Harvard education part(my parents couldn't afford the tuition), I'm happy with our public education system, I was never into the snobish, book carrying, intellectualism type(although I consider myself a very well read person)....lots and lots of comics...hehehehe. Now the Beverly Hills comment, thats hitting too far below the belt. Although, I onced drove by B.H. with a few Navy buddies to attend the Price Is Right show(no I didn't get called up by Bob Parker...LOL). I like your comment, 'They came like thieves in the night with their agenda and full weight and treasure of the United States Justice Department to prosecute us'. It reminds me of a song I heard in church. I don't think the Fed's will appreciate those comments, but, you are well within your rights. Gotta hand it to that piece of paper called the U.S. Constitution(can you imagine what would happen to folks that criticize the Fed's under a tyrant regime?) I shiver. Isn't it a bit ironic that you should criticize me for my belief in sharing my concerns about political public servants(of which Sen. Tulifua is a member)whom I feel are the very cancer to our beloved country? Your very words 'Fight for what you believe and know is right', are these just empty sentiments from an emotional family member(hey, I can relate). I too am a family member to the esteem Senator. But I do not hold my blood relationship with him over a burning fire, just to be respectful, based on our Samoan traditions. I never said anything about disrespecting or not accepting our cultural and traditional values...on the contrary I am a firm advocate of these very cultural norms that made me who I am today. My friend, you seem to miss the entire point of my argument. Culture and tradition has a very vital and important role in our fa'aSamoa. It's the individuals that are appointed in positions of authority to protect those very cultural and traditional values which we hold in high esteem, that concerns me. Yes, it is true that the Senator escaped his fate by 1 vote, from the jurors of his peers(of course thats another debatable issue for another time). but the "public perception" of his criminal involvement and his reputation, not to mention, his credibility, has been severely tarnished. But what's worst is that the reputation and credibility of this territory has been dragged through the mud by Tulifua and Faoa Sunia. And let us not forget, the Fed's still has the right to refile this case for prosecution(unless they've decided to drop it completely). And if that's the case, then this is truely a time of celebration a ea? Timusa, let me draft out your lesson for the day(sticking to this subject, nothing else). Although, I've never met you in person, during one of our many family functions(perhaps once, I forgot), I am sure that you are very educated and have some familiarity with our political system... based on this assumption(on my part, your welcome), I will assume that you understand a thing called 'public servants'. Because of this fact with Senator Tulifua, he is open to public scrutiny and analysis, as long as, it's not a personal attack on his private person and family(of which I did no such thing). I merely questioned his integrity, character, ethics, morality, public service, values...the list goes on and on Timusa. And based on these questionable frailties, is the very core of my humble perception as a taxpayer, voting citizen and concerned advocate against CORRUPT PUBLIC SERVANTS. As citizens, it's our fundamental duty to question the actions of our leaders. I'm sure you agree. This is a check and balance system between our government and the people. I'd like to think that my service in the U.S. Navy was to help protect these very rights, as documented in our constitution(unless I've been reading the Mein Kampf by accident...LOL). Listen, I'm not trying to burn an effigy of the Senator, I just want him to recognize what he has negatively contributed to our fa'aSamoa system. Yes, I applaud him for his 40 years of outstanding business service to our community. But as the saying goes 'all it takes is one screw-up'. I believe in the immortal words summoned by Jesus 'let he without sin throw the first stone'. But didn't Jesus also said to be truthful and never tell a lie? And as a God-fearing man, I am sure Tulifua understands this very concept of doing good by your fellow man.
As a matter of fact, this case is actually quite hilarious and ironic in it's entirety. The very fa'aSamoa that Tulifua and Faoa has tarnished in public, ended up as their legal loophole to victory. Gotta hand it to those Fed's....never saw this coming...LOL.
Thanks for the comment Timusa. Very stimulating.

JR Faaola

ua maliliu toa o le upega ole taua upu ia faaituau malosi tofa ma niu sae ula ile susuga poo taumafalofio ma alii ole nuu afioaga Nuuuli
ia manuia lou maalaga le susuga ile senetoa lou afioga seui laau ...