Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Congresswoman Aumua Amata have both expressed sadness and sorrow over the passing of Sen. Galea’i Moaali’itele Tu’ufuli, 81, who passed away Wednesday morning at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, California.

Lolo describes Galea’i as “American Samoa’s true statesman and an influential cultural, professional, and political leader.”

News of Galea’i passing was “sorrowfully and heartbreakingly received,” said Lolo in a statement yesterday.

“This is certainly a great loss” not only for the Galea’i family but also the territory, as Paramount Chief Galea’i “represented the last of the generation who was responsible in fashioning the cultural, social, economic and political pathway, which brought us to our current status, from which we are enjoying enhanced standard of living and continuing improvement in our quality of lives,” the governor said.

According to Lolo, Galea’i “played a very dominant role in framing our social, economic and political policies. We all remember him as one of our premier law enforcement officers, before he went on to become the first Samoan commissioner of Public Safety.”

Lolo pointed out that Galeai’s career in the senate, which spans decades, “allowed him to make his indelible mark” in the development and passage of key legislation affecting every facet of life in the territory.

Additionally, Galea’i’s wisdom and wealth of experience became the source from which the Senate drew from, on issues of significant impact to American Samoa.

“I credit Paramount Chief Galea’i for my success as a leader,” said Lolo, “because I emulated his values which guided [my] journey, which include being a common sense thinker, an independent decision maker, open mindedness and willingness to listen to counsel and varying perspectives, courage to make tough decisions, sensitive to the needs of everyone, great compassion and great love for our culture.”

“We, the people of American Samoa owe a debt of gratitude to this champion of our Territory whose every action was dedicated to improving the quality of our lives and built the foundation for future generations,” Lolo declared.

“Appropriately eulogizing Paramount Chief Galea’i to account for the endless list of things he has done and accomplished for American Samoa is an impossible task,” he said.

However, as governor and on behalf of Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, Lolo extends condolences to the children, the Galea’i family, as well as the Senate President, senators, Speaker of the House on "the great loss of one of your colleagues.”

In a statement yesterday morning, the Congresswoman said Galea’i served the people of American Samoa for many years in the Fono and other roles.

“I've known him since I was a little girl in the islands. He was a mentor whose advice I truly respected,” she said. “The Fono will seem very different without his enduring presence as the senior senator.

She said Galea’i “was an effective decision-maker and a confident leader in our Territory.”

“At times like these, genuine respect goes far beyond party lines. I extend my condolences to his family and friends, to all who served with him in the Fono or worked with him in the American Samoa Government, and to the people who elected him. May God bless each of you in this time, and preserve his memory in your hearts,” she added.

Galea’i’s funeral service program is pending.