Amata's Pacific Notebook: MIXING AND MINGLING WITH VIPs

Amata's Pacific Notebook: MIXING AND MINGLING WITH VIPs
September 04, 2007

Amata's Pacific Notebook
Mixing and Mingling with VIPS

Reprinted from Samoa News

Because my Dad served as a head of government for so long both as Governor of American Samoa for four terms and in Micronesia for many years, I have been blessed with more opportunities than I can count from childhood to adulthood to attend international meetings and conferences. All have been enjoyable and many have been memorable but the most recent international gathering I attended was particularly important to me because it involved the most important people in these islands.

Although I was not a registered delegate, I was privileged to be given VIP status and was welcomed right into the delegation as if I truly belonged. These delegates were among the most dedicated I have seen and were fiercely proud to be representing American Samoa.

Who were these important people? Why, the YOUTH of American Samoa. And what was the gathering? The XIII South Pacific Games, which are still underway in Apia as this is being written. It was my first time ever to attend this quadrennial sports spectacular and it was well worth every moment of my time.

Although I did not have a confirmed seat on a plane last Saturday, I took a chance and fronted up at the airport with a bag small enough to hand carry so that my luggage wouldn't go without me. I especially did not want to lose the team warm up and ceremonial outfits I had just received and that are now among my most prized possessions.

By coincidence, I was on the plane taking Governor Togiola and the First Lady, American Samoa National Olympic Committee (ASNOC) President Peni "Ben" Solaita and other ASG dignitaries over for the opening ceremonies. The flight didn't take very long and ASNOC Secretary General Ken Tupua was at Faleolo Airport to greet the governor and his party. ASNOC also runs American Samoa's South Pacific games program.

As part of their responsibilities, Ben and Ken and ASNOC had to fund the team and were able to raise $400,000 from the private sector and individual contributors for the team. The fact that they were able to raise that much money without government assistance says something about the contributors. Moreover, they obviously look at their donations as an investment in American Samoa's future. It was money well spent.

Of course, Ken and Ben did not raise all the funds and make all the logistical arrangements on their own. They have a great team with Maria Walker as ASNOC's Treasurer. So as not to leave anyone out, I will just mention Chief of Mission Moli Paau and Deputy Chief of Mission Salaia Gabbard, both of whom I saw when we got to the American Samoa team headquarters. Events like these take a lot of careful preparation and teamwork. This is where American Samoa is at its best: becoming a strongly bonded unit of athletes, parents and supporters, and the staff who are the glue that holds everything together. My compliments to all of them for the great job they are doing.

I decided I wanted to mix and mingle the VIPs our athletes--for the three days I was going to be there, so I embedded myself with the team for the opening ceremony, complete with the uniform of the day.

The athletes and delegations were housed in different schools and churches in the villages. Team American Samoa stayed at Vaimauga College. While not exactly in the five-star category, the facilities nevertheless were adequate and since the very nature of islanders is our flexibility that allows us to adapt to just about any kind of living conditions, we can survive anywhere.

All athletes met in the gymnasium for a welcoming ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday and waited there until it was time to depart for the Apia Park for the official opening ceremonies for SPG. A kava ceremony was held. Also in the true Pacific islander tradition, each country got up and did singing and dancing and of course it quickly became a competition in which the next country try to outperform the country before it.

The Samoans are no slouches when it comes to entertaining with humor and grace and the Team American Samoa athletes were in rare form. It was awesome to be part of this bonding process not only within our own groups but the bonding of one country with another. I met American Samoans who are part of the Samoa delegation and I met Samoans who are in the American Samoa delegation. All in all we are one culture, one people, brothers and sisters and neighbors and that came through that day. Papua New Guinea had two Highlanders dressed to the hilt in their cultural dress who impressed everyone with their dancing. The spirit of fellowship across cultures was overwhelming.

The preparations and the state of the art facilities that were built for the SPG were very impressive and the opening ceremony that evening at Apia Park was spectacular. The facilities that were built included a large screen monitor that carried everything live. The beat of the music was lively and infectious and many of the athletes danced their way around the stadium. It was truly a sight to behold. There is a special spiritual quality in Pacific islanders similar to that of Native Americans. I can't put my finger on it but it's there and everyone knows it. Pacific islanders are very special people.

Nothing made me more proud to be an American Samoan than to march in the parade of athletes that marked one of the highlights of the official opening ceremony. Team American Samoa was the second group to enter the stadium, march past the review stand, where Governor and Mrs. Togiola, President of the Senate Lolo Moliga, Commissioner of Public Safety Sotoa, Rep. Laolagi, Muagututi'a Leapei, Ricky Salanoa as well as other American Samoans were seated along with other Pacific island leaders and took our place on the field for the ceremonies. The athletes were very appreciative that almost every major political leader in American Samoa took time to come over to Apia to be part of this event.

With the official opening ceremony ending well after 10 PM, it was a very long day. But the cafeteria was open for all, so we didn't drag ourselves off to bed until well after midnight.

Sunday morning we attended an Apia church service that was packed with athletes from all over the Pacific. Each athlete wore his country's colors so it was quite a picturesque scene inside the church. The priest spoke in Samoan, French and English throughout the service. I saw some long time friends from Apia, including Terry To'omata, who I got to know when he was first secretary at the Samoa Mission to the United Nations. He is serving in a key organizing role for the Games.

Following the church service, we had a scrumptious to'anai at the home of the family of Eddie Imo's wife Meafou. It was absolutely delicious and we overate just as everyone does each Sunday. I can't thank them enough for their very generous hospitality.

Since I wasn't participating in the games and was not there in any formal capacity with the team, I asked if there were any way I could help and was quickly assigned to man the camp store. In our camp, ASNOC set up a little store, which is open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily, so that essential personal items as well as a never ending supply of food, snacks and drinks would always be available to the athletes. I never cease to be amazed by the amount of food our young people can put away. Athletes would wake up, come over to buy food, head to the cafeteria for a huge breakfast, then would come back to our little store to buy more food and drinks. My compliments to ASNOC for having the foresight to pick all these items up in American Samoa and ship them over to Samoa. All items were reasonably priced to allow the athletes to purchase them on site rather than having to travel to town to hunt for a toothbrush or whatever.

Because I could be on the ground with our team, this experience was much more meaningful to me than if I had sat up in the stands either as a dignitary or ordinary spectator. It is hard to explain but it was much more rewarding spiritually to actually be embedded with Team American Samoa and to get to know the athletes and many, many other people on a personal level than I could have done in the stands. I could really see and appreciate all the hard work went into making this a life's experience for our youth. It is the only way to see all the organizational aspects in full play. The athletes are well prepared to compete and it takes mental commitment to be able to go all the way to victory and a medal.

Did I make a difference? Well, I relieved someone else of the chore of manning the store for the little while I was there. No, we didn't help to rid the world of nuclear weapons or anything like that but perhaps we created some better intercultural and international understanding that will even carry over next year when our team heads to Beijing for the international Olympics. And perhaps someday when I am old, gray and barely able to walk anymore (at which time I would hope to have the good sense to be retired), if someone comes up to me and says my presence with the team at the Apia games somehow inspired his or her life, then I will know I made a difference. Because the youth I saw in Apia last weekend are the foundation of our future as a society and someday will be our leaders.

Go Team American Samoa, my VIPs. No matter how many medals you bring home, you all are winners in my book.

As always, I would enjoy your comments. Contact me at aumuaamata@mail.com or 258-8376.