ManuaTele - 100 Years Under US Flag (2004)

Manu'a 100-year Celebration remarks_

The Manu'a Day was a disaster according to many observers including Manu'ans
Pen Fiatoa

The Manu'a Day celebrating 100 years of Manu'a as part of the United States territory of American Samoa was a disaster according to many Manu'ans that contacted me about what they observed that day. The reports I received, included news reported by Samoanews, don't speak very kindly of what occurred that day. The whether was terrible and the controversial "Manua'a" flag that was downright disappointed.

What happend? Most people blamed the three banished titled individuals who they believed masterminded the whole program and bamboozled officials of the American Samoa Government, including Governor Togiola. Some said the flag with a picture of a chicken was also their idea, as well as doing most of the celebratory activities on Tutuila. The slight of the Tau council and the last remaining granddaughter of the last recognized king of Manu'a were blamed on those three and their allies.

On a related topic, someone asked me about what the name Samoa means. Here's how I replied to him.

As to the name Samoa - it's a topic in itself. Sa in Samoan is sacred. Sa also connects a person to a particular family. For example, for refer to the Marsh family, I would say - the Samarsh family. The last letter in the name is emphasised. I belong to the Safiatoa family. Therefore Samoa could identify a person to belong to the Moa family. The last a in the word Samoa is always emphasised, and you can tell that people know their Samoan by the way they pronounce Samoa.

Then again, the word center (and heart) in Samoan is moa. The word for chicken is also moa in Samoan. So, using these meanings of moa, Samoa could either mean 'a person belonging to the Moa family', 'sacred chicken', or 'sacred center'. I've seen these meanings used.

Which meaning is correct? I think it's the first definition - belonging to the Moa family. It's an endearing term. The Moa family was a prominent family in ancient Manu'a and still today. How that name was acquired by that family might have something to do with the headdress the leaders of ancient Samoans wore made from bird feathers, including the chicken.

Here's where it gets a bit personal - I truly believe that the origin of our people in Samoa came from Eastern Polynesia. I believe that a prominent family - the Moa family - migrated into the central Pacific. Their rulers wore prominent headdresses similar to those wore by rulers in eastern Polynesia that were decorated with bird feathers. When Polynesians ventured westward, they named things based on what they are familiar with - places and people. For example, the Samoans refers to the many varieties of taros and bananas by the places they originated from (e.g. talo samoa, talo toga.). Is it reasonable to assume that the Samoan word for chicken (moa) could be a reference to a bird (manu) found in the region ruled by the Moa family? "Manu Moa"? The chicken is not an appropriate symbol of Manu'a. The naming of the chicken as 'moa' reveals to us the geographical extent of what was ruled by Manu'a anciently and not a symbol for the Manu'a ruling families. The designer of the unoffical flag that was raised during the 100th year celebration had it wrong. Making the chicken as a symbol for Manu'a is a disgrace and a disappointment.

I am glad the controversial Manu'a flag that was raised during Manu'a's 100th year celebration is not an official flag. It's not official until the people say it is, right! During the growing years of the newly found nation, the United States of America had several flags. Many of them were never made official, but were created spontaneously during some very disquieted periods. The United States flag that we're all familiar with was meticulously needled by Betsy Ross, and was displayed in public. Her flag was made official some time later when Congress voted on it. The law that pertains to the current flag of the United States comes under US Code Title 4, Chapter 1 - The Flag. There's a discussion in Congress about protecting the US flag from debasement. The flag that they are addressing is the flag that was voted on as the official US flag. The only flag that I know of in American Samoa deemed official by legislative (the people) consensus, is the flag with an eagle holding two important items of Samoan traditions - the war club and the fue, with a background of red, white and blue. The flag with an image of a chicken that was raised on the Manu'a day is not official. They may hoist it up anytime and anywhere they want. But, the fact remains that until a consensus by the Manu'ans about a flag is reached - no one is obligated to show respect to that or any other piece of painted cloth someone displays. I believe that's how many people feel about this flag.

For me, I'm glad Manu'a is under the protection of the United States. Yes, the Tuimanua hesitated to join the American family. But, in the end, conversations with navy commanders and his experience while attending school in Malua provided him with insight that eventually lead to the annexation of his islands to be part of the American family. We don't know what the future will be like, but one thing is for sure - as the last Tuimanu'a decreed that the title will end with him, the future of Manu'a will not be based on decisions by kings or a privileged few - THE FUTURE OF MANU'A WILL BE BASED ON COMMON PEOPLE.

What lessons that the people of Manua learned from it?
Foua T.

Now that we've all learned about the sad state of affairs for the so called Manu'a flag day. What lessons that the people of Manua learned from it? First, not to trust the governor of the ASG and its delegate to the U.S. congress. That all the villages in Manu'a get together and decide the fate of those banished matais (losers) and banished them for good. Stripped the titles from them and let them exiled in Atuu and not set foot in Manu'a. Unless they voluntarily gave up the title to the Ta'u Council. I truly hope that the people of Manu'a should learn a very important lesson in this flagday mess. Nothing like this would happened if the leadership within the Manu'a Tele is solid. The right hand do not know what the left hand is doing as the saying goes. Those banished matais in Atuu are benefited from the titles of the Manu'a Tele that were bestowed upon them so they can lead Manu'a in the right direction. Instead, they are so corrupted and they are in for personal gains.

People have lost their trust on those corrupted leaders. It is a very sad situation, but I pray and hope that someday Manu'a will rise again with leaders who are not afraid to speak up and do the right thing. I know that day will come. People in Manu'a will respect that. Regarding the Manu'a and the American Samoa flag, i dont see why people who claimed they are from Manu'a are so upset to see a Manu'a flag side by side with the Stars Spangle Banner and the ASG flag. I guess if you understand the history of the Cessation of the Manu'a Tele to the United States, then you have no problem accepting Manu'a should have its own flag. No ifs and buts about it. What is really upsetting is the design of the flag. It should be designed in a way that truly represents all of Manu'a its people and the land, our home we love so dear. Let Tutuila and Aunu'u be the ASG, and maybe the other Samoa will join them in the future. Since this govenor and his predessor spent so much time and money in taking care of their personal and official business with the other Samoa, and Manu'a is never on their agenda until election year.

How can a governor of AS take a matai title from the other Samoa? What's wrong with the Manu'a title that he had. That is disrespect to the Manu'a and AS in general. He should have given back the Manu'a title that he did not deserved at the first place. He had never done anything for Manu'a during his administration. He never truly served the people of Manu'a. He used Manu'a for his own personal gains. This governor and the coordination of the Manu'a flag day by appointing people not from Manu'a. The 710K should have given to all the villages in Manu'a so they can use for schools and some medical supplies. He should have done something about the schools in Manu'a, but he did not voice any concerned about the school in Manu'a until now, because of the election year. How sad and is that? With all that being said, Manu'a shouldn't be turning back, there is a bright future for the Manu'a tele. I know that with God and a little magical push from our ancestors will help us get there.

Thanks, Foua.