The Story

A few months ago I attended a tourism development meeting, it was almost a fleeting comment that the presenter made that I’m sure along with those in attendance thought insignificant, but was a gut shot to me. I was left wondering and doubting if what I just heard was true. My name is David Tuinei and I was born and raised in American Samoa. When I was a young boy I could remember as I passed through many villages seeing an abundance of evidence of traditional arts and crafts being created. Memories of being grumpy because of the early hour that my dad woke me and made me hike up a steep hillside covered with fresh dew, so that we could help a group of men and boys haul a Ifilele (Samoan Hardwood) tree trunk to have it eventually carved into a canoe are still fresh in my mind. The feeling of satisfaction that came months after that grumpy morning from taking that canoe to Lion’s Park for its inaugural launch yet resonates with me as if it just happened.

The smoke-filled hut signified that young men at an early hour were about their duty to the family as we began the first steps of the umu (Samoan oven). The hut that sheltered our glowing fire which heated our rocks that would eventually be used to cook our food sat as our backdrop to busy boys scraping taro, ulu and preparing palusami (coconut milk in young taro leaves). I remember on these early mornings, squeezing fresh pepe’e (coconut milk) from grated coconut meat into a carved wooden bowl.

The traditional arts and crafts that are a staple of our way of life in Samoa in my memory seemed to be in abundance, in turn, would suggest that those who possess the skills to create these items were equally in abundance.

The comment that was so shocking to me was “I searched all over and could not find a wood carver”. Mind you that this presenter is from Australia and was hired to come to our island to consult us as to how we can grow our tourism industry. I searched all over and could not find a wood carver? I thought to myself, how is that possible? This person must have had a terrible guide. Thinking that all you would need to do is drive into just about any village and ask the first person you see if they knew where the wood carving family lived. As I left the meeting that night I resolved to do just that, find a wood carver, which of course was not going to take me very long.

To my disbelief, not only did I not find wood carvers, but as I drove in and out of villages, as if my eyes suddenly were open to the situation for the first time, the evidence that was so abundant as a child of ie toga’s (fine mat), siapo’s (bark cloth) or wood carving being made was also sadly no where to be found. It has been 18 years from the last time I was a resident of American Samoa. And after driving around Tutuila island for nearly two years and coming to this realization all at once was nearly overwhelming. Could it be? The skills to create our cultural arts and crafts that we have developed over thousands of years, are they gone? Skills that bring so much beauty into the world, that symbolize so many things that are right about humanity, honor, family, duty, no longer? How is it possible over one generation that we have lost what we have amassed over many?

After some diligent search, I, fortunately, found a few of our people that still possess these skills. Unfortunately, I found them all members of our local senior citizen community. Of course, they being senior citizens are not at all the issues as they are the wisest and most valued in our culture. It is their sad report that they have not been able to pass on these skills to a younger generation, at least not in any number that would give hope to the survival of these skills, that is so unfortunate. As I enjoy the company of these wise folks under the far-reaching shade of a banyan tree, they speak to me of their tales of years gone by, and how village life was when they were children. I can’t help the tragic thoughts that go through my mind of so many cultures that have lost so much of their identity through forced trauma and the momentous struggles they are having generations later to somehow regain a semblance of what was lost. It brings me to tears as I know through life experience that it is so much easier to keep what you have then try to regain what was lost. To make matters more difficult to accept is that we are not losing what we have through trauma, no one is forcing us to give up these skills. So the obvious question is, why? Why are we so willing to give up what we have? What we have worked so hard to perfect, what has served our culture for so many years, why?

Interestingly, the answer to that question started to come into focus under that old banyan tree. I discover some insight to the traditional Samoan economic systems and the value that that system placed on those skills to create these what we now call arts and crafts but then were items of function to better the quality of life. Some items are symbolic of the hard work, loyalty and devotion one had to their family and are offered to this day as a tribute of respect at various functions. What was clear to me is that the currency of that time was what people created through the skills that were passed down to them for generations.

As I thought on this question, why? It occurred that the near loss of our skills was not due to malice or some dark plan hatched at some corporate or government headquarters to destroy the Samoan culture. But from an effect of unintended consequences. No one meant for this to happen, least of all our Samoan people.

In 1900 the Eastern Samoan High Chiefs signed a deed of session with the United States of America making us American Samoa, a US territory. Having access to the American educational system, market and federal support on the local level for infrastructure, education, medical and much more is invaluable to us. Given our location and natural resources, the treaty which is quite unique to American Samoa, in my opinion, is a net positive. However, we do see many challenges to our people and our indigenous culture that has come from this experiment.

Traditionally we are a seafaring people. Long before Captain Cook took to the wide ocean we sailed from island to island, journeys that took us thousands of miles from home. So it comes as no surprise that when a new opportunity presents itself that we jump in with both feet and start rowing as fast as we can. When you sail the sea its 100% commitment or you don’t go. The new economy, education, way of life was the sea and our people committed 100%. In a practical sense, we needed to now pay for the new found comforts of life such as electricity, indoor plumbing, imported food, building materials, all things that we previously did not need to budget for and to further complicate the matter we couldn’t barter our fine mat with the utility company. So we had to get a job that was able to pay on a frequent basis in a currency that was widely acceptable to most merchants. We left our arts and craft at home, slowly but surely relegating our skill to hobby status eventually finding ourselves faced with the real possibility of these skills going extinct in American Samoa.

So I ask myself, are we content as a people to let these skills pass into history? Leaving the coming generation a legacy of lament, longing for the identity of their past? I look into the eyes of my children and wonder how I would answer that question, dad you were there, you had a chance to do something about it, why didn’t you? I wonder if I was faced with the same question but pertaining to a species of animal on the verge of extinction. Could I justify non-action on the account of all the challenges that are inevitable in the attempt to save that species? I think not!

So what is the answer? How do we turn back the tide? I believe that the answers are in the principles that govern our free market economic system. With your help, I have no doubt we can and will turn back the tide.

The plan is to create an economically sustainable ecosystem that will allow our skills to thrive and the beauty of what is created to be shared with the world. To accomplish this, we plan to create a traditional Samoan village with some modern amenities.

The name of our project is: Le Faleo’o. Le faleo’o translates as “the first house”. The o’o is the young coconut shoot, which is an important symbol in the Samoan culture. The coconut provides much of what we need to live and survive in Samoa. The word “o’o” often implies “the first” or the source that gives life to everything that follows. As a family moves into a new area to cultivate, they clear the land of trees and shrubs and the first thing they plant is the o’o, to sustain the life of the family. The first thing they build is the faleo’o. As the family grows there becomes a need for additional houses to serve their needs. The fale tele (main house), fale talimalo (guest house) and fale o le Alii (Chiefs house). This faleo’o also gives birth to all of our cultural arts and crafts that sustain family life.

We plan to build 8 faleo’o (Samoan house). At the center of this three acre property is a malae (grass opening) surrounded by large trees of various variety. The faleo’os will surround one half of the open field while nestled under the shade of these trees. Adjacent to the faleo’os and also facing the open field is a 3500 square foot vacant home that will be remodeled for guest restrooms, gift shop and a kitchen. To complete the circle of structures surrounding the open field is an existing fale samoa that will be used for various purposes pertaining to the village project.

The faleo’os will be used as a workshop for different skill sets, i.e. wood carving, fine mat, siapo, fishing hooks, fofo (traditional medicine) and tatau (traditional tattoo) to name a few. The artists and their associates will be paid a weekly wage. In essence, this will be their full time job. We have identified eight cashflow opportunities that will work synergistically with this environment and authentic village setting.

What I also learned in the tourism meeting that started this whole thing, was how there is a “stunning lack of tourism product in American Samoa” and that most of the travelers “want an authentic Samoan experience”. If this is not a two coconuts for the price of one situation then I don’t know what is. Annually some twenty cruise ships come to port along with individual travelers making several thousand potential guests. We feel confident given the demand and what is not available on the market, that our village in short order will become a popular attraction. Tourism is one of seven cashflow opportunities which gives us great hope and confidence once built and staffed that the ongoing cash flow needs will be adequately

Le Faleo’o village and what is created by our artist is the product we offer to the world. More specifically:

1. Tourism packages designed for cruise ship travelers. Which includes: having an intimate learning experience with our artist, participating in the earth oven (umu), and ava ceremony, learning the Samoan siva (traditional dance) and legends and myths, enjoy a traditional meal and dance show.
2. Packages designed for multi-day travelers. In addition to the cruise ship package, travelers will have the opportunity to create their own craft, go on guided hikes to secluded beaches, abandoned villages, mountain tops, rain forests, or tide pools. These guests will also have the opportunity to participate in traditional fishing tours using what the village artists have created; carved canoes, fish hooks and lures. 
3. Arts and crafts created will be available for purchase. Fine mat, bark cloth, the ava bowl, staff & whisk, fish hook, traps, rope, nets, baskets, bags, hats, and many, many more. 
4. Venue rental: host weddings, parties, corporate retreats, conventions, conferences, family reunions and much more. We can provide cultural education, food and entertainment for your event. 
5. Youth educational camps: two weeks of learning arts, crafts, culture, and dance. Preparing their art exhibit and dance show for their parents to culminate the camp. 
6. Agricultural products: Papaya, passion fruit, chili pepper, coconut, taro, breadfruit, green & ripe bananas, coconut butter, coconut oil, papaya jam, passion fruit jam.

Like any cause, funding is required to get is off the ground. Unfortunately, due to many factors, traditional funding is not readily available here in American Samoa. Crowdfunding seems to be quite timely for a cause of this nature and location and perhaps the only way to fund this cause.

We hope to fund this cause, not by donations but by pre-purchase. You have worked hard for your money and we want to give you the full value of that effort. We are asking you to pre-purchase future products. Your pre-purchase will give us the financial means to get the cause off the ground. You will receive a credit in the value of your contribution and as our products come available, you’ll be able to cash in your credit at any time for any product.

We here have and will continue to contribute all we can to the cause. Much of the building materials, the labor, land and the existing structures will be donated for the use of the cause.

Your contributions will go far beyond the value of the product you purchase. Your pre-purchase will help to ensure the revival of American Samoa’s cultural skills. It will provide dignity that comes from employment. It will provide pride to a people who will know that their traditional skills do have a place in this modern world.

Please stay in tune with the cause. We will post updates, pictures, stories, video and blog links here: https://www.facebook.com/Le-Faleoo-419012465567609/

Please visit our GoFundMe page to make your pre-purchase: https://www.gofundme.com/le-faleo039o

Thank you is hard to express in words. So it is our hope to send you something really cool or even better, have you come and stay with us for a while. This cause will not be successful without you. Sometimes the best words are the most simple - Fa’afetai, fa’afetai, fa’afetai tele lava - Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.