Posted on: Sunday, August 22, 2004
Samoans celebrate 20-year milestone
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Important occasions in Samoa are marked by the ava ceremony, a sign of recognition and thanks.
Yesterday there was ample cause for the ritual at Ka Hale O Kameha'ikana Resource Center, where a fixture of the Samoan community here was celebrating its 20th birthday at its Kuhio Park Terrace headquarters.
Since 1984, the Samoan Service Providers Association has helped new immigrants survive the first difficult years here through job training and business classes and assistance to promising scholars.
Mika was joined by Esther Tupuola of the University of Phoenix and Jonnae Tai Taiafi, an incoming freshman at Chaminade University, who also won $1,000 scholarships.
Grants for $500 went to Eleanor Haunga, Kapi'olani Community College; Timothy J. Laulu, Theresa K. Sagapolutele and Ramona Tacadena, Leeward Community College; and Elise Togia Jr., Honolulu Community College.
Association director Bill Emmsley said the birthday celebration and golf tournament are held to promote education in the community and help youths from less-fortunate families. "These are truly community events, celebrating a community milestone," Emmsley said.
One of the association's leading benefactors, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai'i, was instrumental in securing $12 million for the Ka Hale O Kameha'ikana Resource Center, where the celebration took place.
Since 1959, Inouye has had the honorary talking-chief title of Fofoga o Samoa, or "Voice of Samoa," said Tiva Aga, who runs the resource center and was an early board member of the association. The title, conferred by the American Samoan legislature, signified that Inouye was then the Samoans' only advocate in Washington, Aga said.
It is largely to honor him that the ava ceremony is being held, she said. "The ava is basically used prior to meetings or discussions. It is a symbol of peace, in hopes that they reach agreement," she said. "But in this case it's a welcoming. Ava ceremonies are to welcome dignitaries."
The association has had a successful history, she said, praising founders for their work in the early years: Timena Brown, Bob Franco, Leuga Turner, Arthur Ripley and Kehaulani Coleman.
In business, she noted others had benefited from association training and scholarships, such as Pogisa Misitana, proprietor of Rainbow Travel, and Leleaga Baughn of Polynesian Airlines.
New arrivals need help, said Baughn, a 22-year resident of the Islands. "It's hard," she recalled, "but you have to work your way up."
Scholarship recipient Mika is just beginning that journey. He said such support "helps me focus on my goal."
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
"And, boy, do I need it!" exulted an appreciative Junior Mika, who on Sept. 7 will enroll at Hawai'i Pacific University. His $1,000 grant from the association will help him focus on his studies and keep his eye on the prize: the goal of becoming a corporate and small-business lawyer.
Junior Mika
