KVZK TV to air “A HISTORY OF AMERICAN SAMOA” Friday October 30, 2009
By Teri Hunkin webmaster@samoanews.com

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Visitors to our islands as well as local residents will be pleased to hear that Part Three of “A History of American Samoa” will be aired on KVZK TV this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Written and directed by Dr. Daniel Aga, currently head of Land Grant/Community and Natural Resources located at ASCC, it is the third segment in a 4-Part series.

Part Three begins with the famous article Samoa: America’s Shame in the Pacific published by the Reader’s Digest in 1961. It then provides a photographic look at the political, educational, economic,   public health, infrastructure and social transformation that took place during the 1960’s and 1970’s.

 Dr. Aga started research on this project more than ten years ago taking him to photo archives from American Samoa’s Museum to the National Archives in Washington, DC. For much of the Part III segment, Dr. Aga stated he “is indebted to the American Samoa Department of Education.”

In the other segments of the series, “Part I: Paradise Divided” re-tells the tragic events leading to the partition of the Samoan islands in 1899. “Part II: the Naval Era” covers 1900-195,  including the Mau Movement and the first large-scale migration of Samoans to the US after the administration of American Samoa changed hands from the Navy to the Department of Interior.

Part III airing on Saturday will include interviews with American Samoa’s ten term Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin as well as American Samoa’s first elected Lt. Governor, Tufele Li’a, and long-time Samoan and Pacific Studies Institute Director and former Fono Senator, Pulefa’asisina Tuiasosopo.

According to Dr. Aga, this work was made possible by the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (HPO), Pacific Islanders in Communications, Shane Segar and Bob Hooper; Peni Failautusi and Sivia Sivia at KVZK and American Samoa Community College presidents Papalii Dr. Failautusi Avegalio, Dr. Adele Satele Galea’i and Dr. Seth Galea’i.  Special thanks go out to Mr. Dave Herdrich, Director of HPO, as well as John Enright, former HPO head.

It is dedicated to his father, Mageo Tamatane Aga 1921-1995.

The complete set will be made available to public libraries in the near future, according to the author.
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Comments to this story (16)
Teine Samoa  wrote:
18 Jan 2010 08:22 PM
Talofa Dr Aga, I was born in samoa, came to the mainland as a 10yrs old child, i remember some of the history of samoa from my grandmother. My grandmother was a very good story teller, she would go on for ever and alot of people would come to listens to her stories about the old days in Ofu, Olosega and her beautiful Tau'.,sometimes her stories gives me nightmares!..but i should pay more attention to my grandmother's stories back then! Now that I'm grown up, and lived here in the states I'm trying to find a good, understanding Books and Articles about the Old Samoan Histories,Cultures,and Spirituals Beliefs. I'm looking forward to finding you on the History Channels or maybe online to purchase your book! God bless you in your journey and I'll be looking out for your interview and hopefully your book. Tofa soifua!
Tama Samoa  wrote:
05 Nov 2009 06:03 PM
Malo Lava Im glad the History of Amerika Samoa is being talked about and remembered. Many people look at Tutuila & Manu'a and say ah their US territory but little do they know Amerika Samoa has alot of History. I hope Dr. Aga covers Tui Manu'as influence in the South Pacific and how many Polynesian KINGS came from MANU'A. Manu'a land of Ancient Kings & Tagaloa 1) Tui Manu'a rules Polynesia 2) Pili from Manu'a leaves Manu'a and created TUI titles in Upolu (Tui Aana, Tui Atua.) 3) Tui Manu'a Tagaloa creates TUI title in Tonga. Tui Manu'a Tagaloa had baby with Tongan lady giving birth to Asoaitu or Ahoeitu who grew up to become the 1st Tui Tonga. 4) Tui Manu'a Alia Matua wars & conflicts with younger brother so he leaves Manu'a landing in RaroTonga. Tui Manu'a Alia Matua then conquers RaroTonga creating the Makea/Karika Line of Kings. (Tui Manu'a Alia Matua is known as Karika in the Cook Islands). Like I said alot of History comes from Amerika Samoa especially the Manu'a Islands. I really hope Dr Aga covers how great Tui Manu'a was. Soifua
Manu'atele  wrote:
04 Nov 2009 10:34 AM
My hat off to Dr. Aga for the gift of journalism. But I have one suggestion. History of AS means all islands of American Samoa, Tutuila, Aunu'u, & Manu'a. Please make sure to include all of them. lol--
Anonymous  wrote:
31 Oct 2009 06:49 PM
Congratulations Dr. Aga to your hardwork and endless hours of work as well as to the people who contributed to make this happen. I know your father would be proud of you as well as your family throughout the world. Dr. Aga wouldn't it be nice to have this aired on the History Channel? Just thinking how nice for the world to view your work. God Bless and Good Luck. Fa'afetai le tautua.
Manu'a  wrote:
31 Oct 2009 10:21 AM
The History of American Samoa has been a history of oppression. Its a history in which our traditional leaders for many years have manupilated the system where they will always be in control of our political structure. Look at the senate. They cannot be voted in. They can really do as they please without answering to the people. There is a great unfairness in this situation. Our system is a system of the haves have more and the have nots have less. The great mistake our traditional leaders made was not to make us U.S. citizens. They knew if they did this the people would have complete freedom and they would lose power. Have they throughout the years made living conditions for us better? I don't think so. When I was 5 years old we had only one boat come to Manu'a to bring supplies. Now that I am nearing 60, we still have one unreliable boat that bring supplies. Where is the progress? When we say our leaders made a good choice about us not becoming U.S. citizens, it was all BS. They knew they would have no power base if the people became U.S. citizens. Don't say we would become like the Hawaiians, Indians and other pacific Islanders because it never happened to us. Where-ever we go we will always take our culture and customs with us. Look at our land. We have sold 80% of that to outsiders ourselves. 2 billion dollars wasted, corruption, mismanagement and tiny or no steps in progression where the people still suffer is the real history of American Samoa.
Malaeomavega  wrote:
31 Oct 2009 04:10 AM
A textbook on the history of American Samoa should be part of DOE's curriculum. Malo lava Dr. Aga!
Akenese Iosefo  wrote:
31 Oct 2009 04:10 AM
There is HOPE in Paradise! Thank-you Dr. Aga for allowing the world to see that we are people of stature. We have come a long way and still moving forward to be a part of the global community. Finally a History from a Samoan perspective; and its about time we tell it. Thank you for your dedication and commitment. Malo Tau!
STEVE  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 07:07 PM
DOC,MALO LE FAI O LE FAIVA.IT WAS TONS OF FUN BACK IN THE DAYS LEARNING LOTS OF THINGS FROM YOU AND YOUR PROFESSION.JOURNALISM AND LITERATURE WAS NEVER TAUGHT BETTER.YOURE STILL AWESOME USO...THANK YOU.
Aumua T.I.Pisa Tuigamala  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 05:58 PM
Job well done my desr friend Dr.Aga! I've heard your interview down at one of the local radio station in Chicago and it is nice to hear you openning the door to the world about our tiny little Island of samoa...fa'amalo le onosa'i ma le fa'apalepale ma le finafinau i mea lelei...fa'afetai fo'i i siou faletua o Alesi ma le fanau i le sapasapaia o au galuega i le ao ma le po...fa'amanuia le atua i le aiga! Alofa atu.
Dedication to Mr. Tama Aga  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 05:48 PM
Dr. Aga's father, Mr. Tama Aga was a long time teacher at Samoana High School. After he retired from the navy, he taught music until Samoana could no longer afford instruments. He then taught Samoan language and culture to high school students until his retirement. His course focused on traditional Samoan language and culture. I dont believe there was a text book used, but did his best to utilize personal knowledge and experience as a sa'o matai of his family. I remember Mr. Tama Aga hanging out with fellow teacher Mr. Eric Howland. Tama Aga was a tough teacher and I appreciate what I learned from him as a student. Your father would be proud of you Dr. Aga. Faafetai tele lava ma ia manuia uma au taumafaiga.
Can you write a real text book of AS history?  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 05:39 PM
Hey Doc. Can you write an objective text book of our history? You can focus on the more recent history of our homeland. Your research is very much appreciated.
Your aiga in Hawaii  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 03:56 PM
Dr. Aga is it going to be aired in Hawaii? And when? If not, can I purchase this on a DVD? This will be a very interesting piece. Thanks
WOW THIS IS GOOD STUFF  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 01:58 PM
Please tell how us folks off-island can get a copy of this documentary. From what I've heard from other academians it's the most thorough research of it's kind. Thank you Dr. Aga.
Anonymous  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 01:37 PM
Very much interested to view "A History of AS" here in aloha land. Can that be arranged with AS Office, Olelo or any netword here? A big "faamalo" to brother Dan.
Sam O.  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 01:05 PM
I hope this airs on channel 2 so people with analog TV sets or digital convertor boxes can watch.
IMPRESS!!!(LYAH PENI2C)  wrote:
30 Oct 2009 12:27 PM
CANT WAIT TO READ ABOUT THIS...THANKS SAMOA NEWS FOR A JOB WELL DONE....