Tala Samoa, Samoan News, Salt Lake City
Samoan Ava Ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah
celebrating Jacob Fitisemanu Jr.'s appointment to President Obama's Advisory Commission on Asians and Pacific Islanders
Photos by Lavinia C Taumoepeau, Lita Sagato
Salt Lake City, Utah
There was a Samoan Ava Ceremony held in the Utah State Offices in the Zions Bank Building Samoan in downtown Salt Lake City yesterday, August 13, 2015 celebrating the appointment of Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr. to the President's Advisory Commission on Asians and Pacific Islanders. The ceremony was conducted with the proper Samoan cultural protocols by High Talking Chief Namulauulu Dr. Tavana (BYU) under the supervision of the Mayor of Salt Lake City Ben McAdams who was in attendance, OCA and NTAS.
The Ceremony culminated a meeting held in honor of Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr's recent appointment and in attendance were many of the political leaders of Utah as well as leaders of the Asian and Pacific Island community. In attendance were Senators Gene Davis and Jani Iwamoto, Representatives Brian King and Sandra Hollins, Judges Raymond Uno and Michael Kwan and Shilpi Chakravarty Culmer (president of UACC) Ivoni M Nash and Supi Mailei, NTAS board members, Leslie Nuon, Zions bank and Claudia Nakano. Also attending and participating were Loi Sagato and others from the Mana Academy Charter School as well as the Utah State office of Multicultural Affairs. The Lion Dragon dance team representing Jacob's Chinese heritage were also in attendance
Congratulations on your appointment to the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. We are very proud of you Commissioner Jacob Fitisemanu Jr. Below are more pictures from the Ava Ceremony.
Salt Lake City, Utah
There was a Samoan Ava Ceremony held in the Utah State Offices in the Zions Bank Building Samoan in downtown Salt Lake City yesterday, August 13, 2015 celebrating the appointment of Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr. to the President's Advisory Commission on Asians and Pacific Islanders. The ceremony was conducted with the proper Samoan cultural protocols by High Talking Chief Namulauulu Dr. Tavana (BYU) under the supervision of the Mayor of Salt Lake City Ben McAdams who was in attendance, OCA and NTAS.
The Ceremony culminated a meeting held in honor of Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr's recent appointment and in attendance were many of the political leaders of Utah as well as leaders of the Asian and Pacific Island community. In attendance were Senators Gene Davis and Jani Iwamoto, Representatives Brian King and Sandra Hollins, Judges Raymond Uno and Michael Kwan and Shilpi Chakravarty Culmer (president of UACC) Ivoni M Nash and Supi Mailei, NTAS board members, Leslie Nuon, Zions bank and Claudia Nakano. Also attending and participating were Loi Sagato and others from the Mana Academy Charter School as well as the Utah State office of Multicultural Affairs. The Lion Dragon dance team representing Jacob's Chinese heritage were also in attendance
Congratulations on your appointment to the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. We are very proud of you Commissioner Jacob Fitisemanu Jr. Below are more pictures from the Ava Ceremony.
Ava Ceremony for Jacob Fitisemanu Jr..
Posted by Lita Sagato on Thursday, August 13, 2015
Samoan Reporter is promoted to Anchor the 4 oclock TV News in Salt Lake CityIn Salt Lake City, Fox 13 News were excited to announce Tamara Vaifanua had signed on to co-anchor Fox 13 News Live at 4 with Max Roth.
Tamara Vaifanua is an anchor and reporter for Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to Fox 13, she ventured into the world of aviation and served as a Corporate Communications Specialist for SkyWest Airlines in St. George, Utah. Vaifanua joined KTNV in 2007, the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was a general assignment reporter. In 2003-2006, she helped start up the first TV News operation in southern Utah. She served as an anchor, reporter, news director, and managing editor. Vaifanua graduated from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, where she was a communications major, DJ for the college radio station, and sports anchor/reporter for the school's TV station. Following graduation, she landed her first TV job as a one-man band, anchor/reporter in Laughlin, Nevada. From there, she worked behind the scenes as an associate producer in San Diego at KUSI. Since joining KSTU Fox 13 TV in January 2010 she anchored a new weekend morning show and reported for live newscasts during the week. She was promoted to weekday morning anchor/reporter in January 2013. Recently she was promoted to co-anchor 4 p.m. newscast which is prime time. She is one of 2 Samoan reporters on Fox 13. The other Samoan is Big Budah. Big Budah is the features reporter for Fox 13's Good Day Utah and Live at Eleven. Prior to joining Fox 13, he worked in local radio and has appeared in a number of feature films.
He describes himself as a "fat guy with a mic and he'll do almost anything to make someone smile. Budah and his wife are the proud parents of five children. He has learned that if his family laughs at his antics, so will anyone else. Off-camera, he is the same guy you see during his live shots on Fox 13. And if you can't tell, he loves life as much as he loves his job. Budah loves food and sports. He spends his spare time coaching his kid's sports teams. Before Budah joined the FOX13 Good Day Utah team, viewers will remember him from his radio career in Salt Lake City. He has been on Clear Channel's KISN 97 as well as Millcreek's Power 107.9 and U92. Prior to his radio career in Salt Lake, Budah was also doing radio in northern California. In the last few years Big Budah has been fighting being overweight and his public quest encouraged many of his viewers to live a healthier lifestyle which has also given him a svelt figure that is quite amazing and impressive on TV because he is using it with his community stature to promote a healthier life style. We wish both these media personalities much success. These are great role models for our youth. Ocean Culture: Our Ocean AbilityPresentation Closing~by Eveni Tafiti
There Will Always Be a Glow Within Us In the fall semester of 1982 while as a student at BYU-Hawaii Campus I got a new roommate at the dorm. He was from Shelly Idaho and he had a friend from Eugene, Oregon and they were both scuba diver instructors. Their third week at BYU-H campus they wanted to go body surf at a beach called “Pounders Beach” that one of their friend in the mainland told them before they came to the island. One Friday evening they ask me if I know of a Pounders Beach and I told them yes, it was not far from the Polynesian Culture Center. They ask me if I could take them there early the next morning so they can go body surf. The next morning I took them to Pounders Beach at 6:00 am. The sun was just coming out of the horizon and its rays were reflecting on the ocean water. As I sat nearby and watched my friends body surf I also watched the waves as they came in and as the giant waves were rolling in and smashing on the rocks along the beach. It was a fascinating sight! As each wave swelled and began to roll, a growing white edge would form along the top. As the tons of green water moved towards the shore, more white water would appear, culminating in a triumphant pounding crash against the protruding rocks that firmly welcomed each wave. As each mountain of water thundered against the rocks, it was divided into millions of splashing parts. It was awesome and beautiful to behold. Presently, the rising sun, amid brilliant red, orange and yellow clouds began to send its rays into the already beautiful scene. As each determined wave reached the rocks, a fine spray of tiny drops of water would emerge from the depths of the sea and shoot out in all directions. Some of the small drops of spray that went upward would catch the light of the sun just right and they would sparkle. I have thought many times that we are like those tine drops of spray. Once in eternity we emerge from the ocean of time and appear on this earth. Now and then a few of us catch the light of the sun, the real significance of life, or the light of opportunity. As we catch it just right, we sparkle. Indeed, this is your time to sparkle! This is your time to arise from the depths of the sea of life and shoot upward, to sparkle and to inspire and delight the souls of others. This is your time to develop a positive self-image. As you completely jump in all the way with courage and persistence, you will indeed sparkle and you will be among those who radiate to the world, the best of their OCEAN ABILITY. Mark Atuaia's tweet generates a media firestorm in SLC.By Albert Ainuu
Mark Atuaia has been thrust into the harsh spotlight of Salt Lake City's media with a tweet that was his way of expressing his true feelings when at the recent LDS General Conference a number of protesters against the LDS Church voiced their displeasure by voting in the general assembly not to sustain the leadership of the church. They also voiced their displeasure with a vocal shout of "Opposed!" The group call Any Opposed are described as loosely organized indivudals who are not happy with the church. The main effect of this objection was to create disruption of the spirit of support and cooperation that was present in the meeting. It had the distinct effect of giving members of the church pause to reflect on their own personal beliefs and their support of the leaders. In that context, Mark Atuaia made the tweet which in many member's minds were what they were thinking but felt Mark had voiced accurately with his tweet. For those who oppose - go see your stake president then find me and oppose those beloved men in front of me and witness how I sin #realtalk— Mark Atuaia (@CoachAtuaia)April 4, 2015 However, the tweet started a firestorm of controversy from both BYU Alumni as well as those who supported the Any Opposed group. The Media predictably made the decision to respond on the side of those against Mark Atuaia's tweet. There were articles written and published in the Salt Lake Tribune and other media outlets. This was quite controversial as it played out in Social media and online forums where the general public weighed in. The predictable response from those not of Polynesian descent was to condemn the tweet. Sadly there were very racial comments made and it was an ugly situation for those who read these comments. Mark Atuaia has been an Assistant Coach for BYU's Football program for a couple of seasons. Mark has a long history in football which began in Kahuku High School, Hawaii where he broke the record of Mosi Tatupu for total running yards of any High School running back in Hawaii. He then attended BYU where he played running back for the Cougars. Mark went on to graduate with a Law Degree and has now returned to work as the Running Back coach for BYU's football team. The problem is that the Samoan community and the Polynesian community in general feel this has been another example of the bias by Utah's white majority against them. The assumption was made by the media based on Mark's ethnicity that he was threatening the Any Opposed protesters with bodily harm. Mark's tweet was not specific as to what he would do. It suggested some kind of response but bodily harm was not specified. So the media made the conclusion and this has become the lightning rod which is now growing from certain individuals to have Mark fired from his position on BYU's football staff. However, there are many who have shown support for Mark and are standing with Mark Atuaia as he faces this controversy. A facebook group created to show support for Mark Atuaia in this difficult time has grown to nearly 2000 members within 2 days, most of who are Laie current and former residents and family members. They are mostly Polynesians. This is definitely a division that is being drawn along cultural and ethnic lines. Polynesians vs. Non-Polynesians although there are many Non-Polynesians who support Mark and his tweet. This probably was not what Mark intended when he made the tweet. This is now the reality which LDS members and Polynesians must face. The church has no official statement on the issue and I doubt they will respond to what Any Opposed did, but there are many in the Mormon community who were offended. It was a slap in the face of those, like Mark, who loved these Church leaders and their religion. It is easy to say we must forgive and forget, but there are those who felt this personally. Mark is one of them as he knows many of these General Authorities as friends. This was an event that generated many thoughts and feelings that were internalized by many members of the Mormon Church who witnessed this over the internet and broadcasts worldwide, but is now out there for all to see. Mark verbalized what many were thinking. In my opinion Mark Atuaia was honest when he tweeted. Unless Mark reveals it, we do not know what his intent was but I would venture to say the tweet has been blown way out of proportion by the media and those on both sides of this debate. The most important thing at this time is to let it go and to lower the tension levels that were generated from Any Opposed's premeditated act in General Conference. They had the right to voice their displeasure in General Conference. I believe Mark Atuaia had the right to tweet his displeasure of Any Opposed disrespecting those he holds dear to his heart. The consequences are still to be determined but we hope the controversy will defuse and eventually become an irrelevant issue, and that Mark Atuaia will be on the sidelines for the BYU Cougars come September, 2015. |
Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr. is named a member of President Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.A Samoan from Salt Lake City, Utah has been named by President Obama to become a key member of his Administration. Jacob J. Fitisemanu, Jr. was selected by the President on May 8, 2015 to be a member the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
He is the Outreach Coordinator in the Office of Health Disparities at the Utah Department of Health, a position he has held since 2011. Jake Fitisemanu has also been a Program Specialist for the Queen Center-Pacific Islander Tobacco Prevention Network. He currently serves on several boards, including the Mana Academy Charter School Board of Directors, Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations, and the Intermountain Healthcare Community Advisory Board. From 2011 to 2014, he served as Chair of the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition Week and Founder and Director of the Samonana Integrated Language Initiative. He served as Co-Director the Pacific Islander Medical Student Association from 2007 to 2014. Mr. Fitisemanu received a B.S. and M.P.H from Westminster College. According to Jacob, "At one point during the Asian American & Pacific Islander Leaders Forum the decibel level reached such an excited peak that a formal complaint was made to the White House operations office. I loved the response of one of the president's commissioners: "Some people come here because they just want to be seen at the White House. Others come here because they really want to be heard at the White House." "When I reflect on the couple of days I was privileged to spend in DC with a group of amazing Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates I remember how many times we were asked about our colorful attire, bright flowers behind ears, men wearing skirts... we were definitely "seen." and how many times we were hugged and high-fived and cheered for our "boisterous spirit" and infectious laughter and boldness in speaking up for feelings of being marginalized within a larger marginalized demographic... we were definitely "heard." He continues, "When Susi Feltch-Malohifo'ou first mentioned "delegation" I felt a little pretentious, but I embraced it when I realized we weren't just visitors, we weren't just tourists, we weren't just attendees... we were delegates, on a mission to be seen AND heard, to represent and characterize and to relay the voices of our community. being sworn into the President's Advisory Commission was a highlight of the week, but what really touched me was seeing my people there with me, and seeing my people on Capitol Hill, and opening dialogues with members of Congress, and opening hearts over roast duck, and shedding tears with student scholars yearning to help their communities, and cramming Poly bodies into little taxis, and spending time with my little brother Sefa... and being humbled and proud of who we are, where we're going, and the worldview of our potential as the vast ocean and not tiny islands." We wish this great public servant great success as he embarks on this amazing journey in a most prestigious position. LANI WENDT YOUNG, Author of the Telesa Trilogy speaks at SLC Community CollegeLani first visited with the Salt Lake City community college organization, SOBC, Pua, under the leadership of Michelle Tago-Tuitupou. On March 14, 2015, Lani spoke to a standing room only crowd in an event the was Hosted by the "Talanoa" organization. Le Malae was invited to this event. It started out with a word of greeting in formal Samoan and also English by group organizer, Jacob Fitisemanu Jr., Lita Sagato of the Talanoa organization then introduced the guest speaker to the audience. Before the main speaker addressed the audience, the popular polynesian dance group, "Feagaiga O Alii" performed a couple of rocking polynesian dance numbers including the "Telesa's dance". The dance group is under the supervision of the talented choreographer, our very own Garnet Moea'i. The immersed audience was genuinely captivated by the beautiful Lani as she spoke of her arduous climb and struggles to succeed. She spoke of set-backs and hindrances she had to endure and persevere against. Of long hours of reading under the mango trees, Of rejections and procrastination. She spoke lovingly of her children and life in general. She spoke fondly, with a twinkle in her eye, of the "Hot man", her husband, who is a pillar of support in her career endeavors. Lani attended universities in the US and NZ. and afterwards she returned home and taught English in schools in Samoa.
In 2009, Lani was commissioned by community leader, Hans Joe Keil, to research and write about the great tsunami disaster that devastated the Islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. This project was financed by the government of Australia and all the proceeds from sales of this book, "Galu Afi", was donated to help families that lost loved ones in the catastrophy. Lani's first book in the Telesa series, "Covenant Keeper", was sold electronically in NZ, UK and Australia. Within the very short span of two months, it hit at the number one spot for the contemporary romance novel category on Amazon.
Lani spoke of how she loves to write about "strong vibrant Pacifica women", why does she write her stories in the Pacfica settings one may ask? I answer in her own words, " because of my love for my people". |