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Update: Family and friends pay tribute to former Congressman

[l-r] Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega and his wife Lagi; Mrs. Gail Kruse and Chief Justice J. Michael Kruse; and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, who is also the acting governor, at last Thursday evening’s prayer service for the late former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium.  [photo: FS]Family members of the late Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin doing a Samoan siva, to one of Faleomavaega’s songs about his beloved village of Vailoatai. The song was performed by the CCCAS Vailoatai Choir, led by its Rev. Faletoi Uso. [photo: FS]
A fond farewell bid by the territory to our beloved “Eni”
fili@samoanews.com

Testimonies during the prayer service celebrating the life of the late former Congressman Faleomavaega Fa’auaa Eni Hunkin, who passed away Feb. 22 in Provo, Utah, was filled with sadness, laughter, as well as singing and even a brief Samoan dance to one of Faleomavaega’s songs about his beloved village of Vailoatai.

The many testimonies paid tribute to the man who loved playing the ukulele and guitar, loved Samoan songs, and loved singing his favorite songs, which included one from Samoan artist Malaesaili Saga. The song was sung by his sister, Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau at the start of her testimony on the life of a man, a brother, described by friends and colleagues as a statesman, and a leader, who touched the lives of so many people around the world.

Among those in the audience for the service were Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, who is also the acting governor; Chief Justice J. Michael Kruse and his wife Gail; and Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega and his wife Lagi.

Vaitinasa was among the six main speakers of the service at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium, sharing how her late brother came to be named “Eni”.

She explained that in the Samoan culture, it’s the practice that the grandparents adopt the oldest grandchild and “Eni was adopted by his paternal grandmother and her sister — both from Taputimu. He was their golden child. Eni is named after his father — Eni Sr. It was these two sisters, his grandmother and sister of the grandmother that called Eni Sr. and Eni Jr. — Eni — because they couldn’t pronounce ‘Henry’ - which was their real name, “Henry”. But it turned out ‘Eni’.” This revelation brought laughter from the crowd.

“Eni is the oldest of seven children. His position as the oldest and the oldest boy automatically bestowed family expectations on him to be the champion, the example, the leader and the caretaker of the younger siblings,” said Vaitinasa, who added she is the middle child.

She said Faleomavaega’s early years were filled with challenges “but his determination to meet familiar expectations did not deter his performance.” From holding jobs to help his mom and dad: a newspaper boy, he was 11, selling newspapers when the family lived in the Naval housing at Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i, to picking strawberries in the summer, he was 12 or 13, when the family later moved to Oxnard, California.

“His values of hard work, commitment and focus on service have been priorities in our family, like many of your families,” she told the audience. “Eni lived his life in fulfilling these expectations — excel in school, and in the service of family, village, church and community.”

Vaitinasa went on to read a tribute, which included Faleomavaega’s record and the work he accomplished in his 26 years in Congress, where he became the first Asian Pacific American in history to serve as the chairman “on the influential” US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia, Pacific and the Global Environment.

The tribute also noted that Faleomavaega drafted federal legislation, during his tenure as legal counsel to the late US Congressman Philip Burton that provided American Samoa with an opportunity elect its governor and Delegate at Large.

“He spent his life for the service of the people of American Samoa and in extension, he gave his life of service to God,” Vaitinasa said. “Faleomavaega was a statesman, like no other. His influence on American Samoa is without equal. Faleomavaega was a trail blazer, a pioneer.”

She said, he built American Samoa on a foundation of solid rock, so that those who would follow will succeed; and spoke of his role as a world leader —  adding that upon his passing messages of condolences in appreciation of Faleomavaega’s “exemplary service” poured in from Asia — from countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and India, and the Pacific, from countries such as New Zealand and Tonga.

Faleomavaega “was a hero to many,” including those known as Comfort Women from South Korea. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969 “as a young soldier in the US Army, where he too was expose to Agent Orange - complications which eventually claimed his life” and beyond Vietnam, he was “a hero to Native Americans” as well as other people around the world where the late former Congressman championed their causes in Congress.

Vaitinasa noted that although Faleomavaega was arrested by French commandos, several years ago, when he sailed on the vessel Rainbow Warrior to protest French nuclear testing in French Polynesia, “he was not deterred.”

“Faleomavaega was a voyager and warrior at heart,” she said and pointed out that in 1987 — when he was lieutenant governor, Faleomavaega served as a crew member on the Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hokule’a, sailing from Tahiti to Hawaii.”

Faleomavaega, who also served proudly as a US Army Reserve captain, “was loved by Democrats and Republicans alike in both the [U.S] House and [U.S] Senate. Eni was noble, kind and good,” she said. “For many of us, Eni was like a vast expanse of sunflower in bloom, we miss him and love him.”

Vaitinasa’s final tribute was delivered in traditional Samoan, bidding farewell to her beloved brother.

Another speaker was Pulu Ae Ae Jr., who heads the local Office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata, whom Pulu says he will join in Provo, Utah on Mar. 10- 11th for Faleomavaega’s final service.

Speaking on her behalf, Pulu extended condolences from the Congresswoman to the grieving family.

Pulu, a US Army retiree, shared his own personal encounter with Faleomavaega, whom he met several years ago, while Pulu and then Army Lt. Peleti S. Mauga (now Lt. Gov. Lemanu) were stationed at Fort Redding, Kansas.

At the military post, Pulu said they had a Samoan organization called “Samoa Mo Samoa,” — he was the president and Lt. Mauga was the vice president; and the group, for its Samoan Day invited Faleomavaega, who accepted the invitation.

Pulu says he was scheduled to go out in field training and Lt. Mauga  - “as my vice president” - was responsible to making sure everything was in place before Faleomavaega’s arrival. However, Pulu recalled getting a call from the post commander, who didn’t know about Faleomavaega’s visit until Congressional officials contacted the post.

According to Pulu’s account, the post commander was not pleased of not being briefed and he was ordered back to base immediately and the following day, they all got together to discuss Faleomavaega’s visit as well as security measures for a visiting Congressional member.

Pulu says it’s very important that military bases are prepared when there is a planned visit by a Congressional member. And it was during this visit, that Pulu says, he met Faleomavaega for the first time.

Following the Samoan Day, Pulu says he along with his group, including Lt. Mauga, accompanied Faleomavaega to Independence, Missouri, for a town hall meeting. Pulu said the post commander gave him orders to protect the Congressman.

And although he has a small body-frame, Pulu says he was prepared to protect the Congressman as the post commander directed him. (That started laughter from audience.)

At the town hall meeting, a man criticized Faleomavaega, according to Pulu, who noted that he was confident of his Samoan military group, with him, to protect Faleomavaega.  But when he looked behind him, “Lt. Mauga was no where in sight”.  That remark prompted another round of laughter.

Pulu’s face remained serious and firm to more laughter from the crowd, when he told the audience, that ever since that first meeting he started voting for Faleomavaega.

And he continued to vote for Faleomavaega even “when Amata ran for the Congressional seat” — and that brought more laughter from the crowd, some even applause — when Pulu said Amata is a relative.  And Pulu said that even all three of them - few years ago -were in the congressional race.

On a more serious note, Pulu said the people of American Samoa are fully aware of the many achievements by Faleomavaega and there is no question about the work the late Congressman has done. And while he has passed, Faleomavaega’s footprints will remain on Tutuila and Manu’a forever.

Pulu got a bit emotional, saying “Eni is like a brother to me.” He recalled the 2014 general election — when Amata unseated Faleomavaega — where he saw Faleomavaega on the side of the road waving to motorists and he stopped to shake hands with Faleomavaega.

Pulu says he knew at the time that Faleomavaega would not be able to regain his seat, as the community saw that Faleomavaega’s health was declining. He then extended condolences to Faleomavaega’s family and wished him the best on his journey home to the Heavenly Father.

In a parting note, Pulu says “one thing” that he and Faleomavaega differ in, is that Faleomavaega had many “girl” friends — which prompted loud laughter from the audience as well as applause — as Pulu pointed out it’s not something bad. Pulu said, the “guy — Eni — just loved to talk to females,” but not the males. More laughter erupted from the audience.