Hawaii gathers storm relief supplies for independent Samoa

Matson Lines will help Hawaii donations for Samoa get on their way by moving containers from Hawai’i to Long Beach, Calif. and shipping company Bali will be transporting the containers free of charge from Calif. to American Samoa.

The goods will then be transferred to Samoa from American Samoa by ASG, says newly appointed director of the ASG office in Hawaii, Afimutasi Gus Hannemann, who is also chair of ‘Help Save Samoa.' He thanks both shipping companies wholeheartedly for transporting the containers free of charge as freight for one container is $8,000 to $9,000. The Samoa government will distribute the relief items to those families and villages in need, said Hannemann.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Molig is chair of the American Red Cross in American Samoa, said Hannemann. He said that Lolo, at his inauguration Jan. 3, 2013, presented Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi with a $15,000 check from the Red Cross.

The delay in announcing Help Save Samoa is due to the passing of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye who held the honorary Samoan chief title of Fofoga O Samoa (Voice of Samoa) and the inauguration in American Samoa, explained Hannemann. The Aloha State’s beloved Sen. Inouye was interred Dec. 23, 2012 in Hawai'i.

Committee Members for ‘Help Save Samoa’ are: Afimutasi, Chairman; Pastor Joe Hunkin, Vice Chairman; Tuiafono Vai Sua, Special Assistant and Hannah Wright, Treasurer and Secretary. According to the Samoa News, it was on Tuesday, Jan. 29 that Hannemann was appointed director of the ASG Office-Hawai'i.