Purcell Family Reunion -- Samoa 2019

The Purcell Family Reunion craze of recent years continued this past month in Samoa in the village of Malaela of the Aleipata district.  Malaela is home to the Aiga Purcell.  It is their faasinomaga (allotment) and tupu’aga (inheritance).  The reunion started on August 1st until the 4th.

Afioga Lesāmatāuānu'u

The reunion was also preceded and heralded by the faafotutupu or saofa’i (chiefly title bestowment) for the Sa’o (principal chief) of the Purcell family with the title Lesāmatāuānu’u.  The heir and successor was Sa’ili Alapati Ropati Purcell, a grandson of the first and original holder of the Lesāmatāuānu’u title.

... some members of the Samoa group

This reunion was special because it was IN Samoa - the Motherland!  It could therefore fittingly be referred to as the “mother” of all reunions for that very reason aaand for several other reasons as well.  Though not as big, festive and rollicking as the previous ones in the US, this one generated its own style, identity and flair.  And though the attendees were fewer in numbers, the camaraderie, rapport, harmony and love of family and village were deeply felt and shared.  (If Trump were to describe it he would say that the reunion was “incredible, amazing, bigly, fabulous, unbelievable and it was the likes of which [Samoa] has ever seen.  Believe me!... Covfefe (Kafefe!)🤣)

...we had not one but two drones
providing "heavenly" perspective

Some of the best experiences of the reunion were had by those family members, especially children and others who had “come home” to Samoa for the very first time.  Their memories have been treasured and shared through comments, posts, videos and pictures especially on social media.  They now speak with fondness, admiration and great love for the place they had only heard about through stories and memories of their parents and grandparents. Now, they had finally “come home.”  E le galo atu lava!

...drone operator

For us the returnees, it was a time of recollection and nostalgia.  There were a lot of places that held indelible memories growing up such as schools, churches, stores but mostly the aiga ma le nu’u (family and village).  And of course, for some, the memories of what the lyrics of a local favorite describe as “[where] I met my first love....” are always the best ever!

...reunion t-shirt

For me also, the drive from Aleipata to town (Apia) was filled with memories of those long ago (seemingly at least) early morning drives of two hours or more.  One day, during this visit, I timed the same drive from town back to the village and I made it in 45 minutes!!  Mind you, there was a 15 minute stop at Sulā for some kekepua’a.  Driving on the wrong left side of the road slowed me down a bit, as well as ... well you may have guessed it ... the potholes. They’re still there like an old village curmudgeon that refuses to expire die.  But the potholes seem worse now with the paved roads; they’re deeper and more dramatic (for the lack of a better word).  All in all, however, Samoa still grants me my so-called “sense of place.”  O le tagata ma lona faasinomaga!

😂

...that perfect place/spot for the gathering

The five-day gathering was filled with fun, celebration, joviality and spirituality.
The countries involved were divided into regions with each region being asked to provide and/or present a repertoire of songs, dances, etc.  There was a total of five regions.

The first day was taken up by the feiloa’iga (meeting and greeting) and introduction of those who had already arrived from as far away as England, US, Australia, New Zealand and as close by as American Samoa.  American Samoa is literally only a few miles away, considering the location of Malaela on the eastern-most tip of Upolu (Samoa’s second largest and main island).  In fact on a clear day, the outline of American Samoa can be seen over the horizon from Malaela; it’s that close.  The leaders of the contingent from American Samoa were also assigned to be responsible for the reunion planning and logistics.  The reunion t-shirts were also distributed to those who had not received them on this first day.  By then, two large party tents had already been set up on a reclaimed area (40x30 yards) just off the shoreline of the Sa’o’s residence.  This location, together with the tents, could not have been more suitable and strategic for the purposes and  proceedings of the reunion.

...mr DJ ..gotta have musikaaaa!!

This perfect spot had not only a clear view of the Namu’a island which served as a beautiful backdrop (for pictures and scenery), but it was also right up against the incoming tide and low rippling waves as they lap and crash gently against the rocks. The sounds of the ocean were refreshing and relaxing and the blue waters made for an ideal background enhancing the perfect island setting for the reunion.  The gentle breeze, blowing continuously both day and night, served as a natural air condition.  For those of us from overseas who had been warned and made to feel threatened by the heat and humidity in Samoa, the breeze and the gentle light winds calmed and soothed our bodies - and our fears of the heat.  Interestingly, this coastal stretch of the Aleipata district is known as the Matāmatagi (literally “eye of the winds”) so it actually lived up to its name, at least during the entire duration of the reunion.  The breeze had energizing and lulling effects and both - at certain timely moments -were needed throughout the busy and exciting gathering.  Seki a le savili!

...turtle hitching a boat ride
-this was no ninja turtle 

On the second day (Friday) there was Zumba in the morning followed by a Samoan breakfast, which was a favorite of many from overseas.  This was also the day that was originally planned for a Savai’i excursion but was changed due to an unfavorable weather forecast. So the family opted to go to Namu’a instead.
Two boats (with outboard motors) helped take the family to and from the island.  The Namu’a excursion turned out to be a lot more exciting and a pleasant leisure. The pristine blue waters and the white sandy beach and the fales proved relaxing and refreshing to young and old.  The water was so warm that it was like being wrapped and cuddled with several mink blankets in the middle of winter in Utah ...hahaaa...
As the boats transported the family to and from the island, turtles swam along the sides of the boats as if they were escorting the family.  One of the crew boys managed to lift one from the water and placed it on the boat briefly, and then was released.  Laumei faiaga ....!!

For the better part of the third day (Saturday) the family gathered at the beach in Lalomanu for a picnic, games, barbecue and swimming.  It was yet another perfect day at the beach.  There was something for everyone to do and enjoy. The children, as always, could not resist the shallow warm water and the soft spongy sand that they would prefer for their backyard sandboxes. Inflated floating rings were handed out to them, compliments of the American Samoa group. Faafetai AS!  The young adults from overseas played games on the beach and tried any chance to get a tan the natural way.  'Aua le ova le tan a kakou!  Others, especially the locals, who felt that the beach and the sun, to them, were overrated and overly familiar, stayed in the shade (with their bred contempt 😜) all hooked on their phones as though the gadgets could be confiscated at any moment by the phone police; or they all may have been quite excited to take advantage of a group discount on recharged credits.😑

... locals, hooked on phonics ...oi, phones

Meanwhile the older folks resigned to just sitting in the beach fales chatting and listening to their local favorites played on a Bluetooth speaker.  (Technology has definitely changed lives, yessss, even of those in Samoa.)
When I was growing up, if we (me and friends or siblings) wanted to listen to any songs while doing any work (that's right, work, not at the beach...believe me!) around the house or at the plantation, we had to have been the more fortunate ones to have owned a cassette player with fresh/new D batteries and the cassettes.  That was then.  Now you can take a picture, listen to music, watch a movie, go live during a reunion etc. etc. on a phone.  Wow, am I old or what?   Well at least I’ve spanned these “eras” and I can therefore see the changes and have a sense of appreciation for the past and the present.

... the view, the spot, the tents and Namu'a

At late afternoon the beach picnic ended in order to get ready for the dance in the evening. Dance!  Siva! Siva! Siva! was/is how they advertise a dance in Samoa.  Although the dance was supposed to have been in the chapel (stake center), a last minute change moved it back to our COOL tents.  It turned out that the dance was many times funner than had we had it in the chapel.  It was a lot more casual now even with the boogie woogie woogie and the rock 'n roll.  In the tents, the breeze wafted and kept us (hmm...what’s the word again?) ....Cooool!... or Coolio!..  while dancing the night away.  The sounds of the waves  gently pounding the rocks seemed to have silently added and augmented the beat of the DJ's bombastic bass blasts.  Some passersby joined the dancing and strayed off into kooky territory, drawing attention and laughter but it was good clean controlled fun. It was like everything came together and worked to our benefit and enjoyment.  We definitely got the beat that night.  And we also beat the heat .. uhhh in more ways than one (wink! wink!).  Dancing under the sprawling Samoan night sky with the ocean cheering on, hissing and kissing the rocks ... as we rocked ‘n rolled.  Yep, a few of us actually rolled on the ground...and for the rest, we just rolled (as in “that’s how we roll!”) - simply, had FUN.  You could not dream up a more memorable, enchanting and romantic (for some of us) setting for a dance -- only in a village on an island.  And that village was Malaela, and the island was Samoa.  O le a ou fo'i i Samoa, motu o pesepesega!

...beautiful Sunday

Sunday was the day that most of us from overseas looked forward to for several reasons.  It’s a day that holds a lot of memories of Samoa.  Things like the fa’apusa (early oven cooking), the church bells and everyone dressed in white going to church. So although some of us were not involved with the Sunday cooking, most of us attended church.  It's one of those things that hasn’t changed much - if at all.
The one thing, however, that makes up a lot of Sunday anecdotes for those from outside Samoa, is the to’ana’i/to’ona’i (Sunday brunch).  Although it’s the food that makes the to’ana’i memorable, it also has a lot to do with the sociability that comes with it.  The to’ana’i is also observed outside Samoa, but no matter how much food in all its ambrosial varieties is served in other countries, the genuine to’ana’i still belongs in Samoa.  Everything about the to’ana’i in Samoa (sight, etiquette, smell, taste, etc.,) contributes to its unique role in the Sunday and feasting traditions of the people. This was the case with the family to’ana’i on this Sunday.  Everyone enjoyed the food while chatting, giggling, laughing and just enjoying quality family time.  But, again, the to’ana’i is still about the food. Put simply, good food equals good mood.
And, personally, Samoa is where the good food is found.

...a little pig for a big to'ana'i appetite
there were a few of these

Faafetai le a’ao malosi!

... before the to'ana'i

Traditionally - and naturally - after the to’ana’i comes the nap. Everyone is full.  Like me (re: picture). Ma’oga loa, koso loa ma le fala ae fai le moe lakou ...hahaaa.  Actually it was nature’s lullabies (breeze, ocean, mat, etc) that lulled me to sleep. (Yea riiight!)  Either that or, like most Samoans, I took literally the belief that Sunday is the “day of rest”.  That was it but not from the gula (gluttony).  After indulging in the blessings of delicious island cuisine, I then indulged in nature's blessings of the sea breezes and comforts of the friendly and entrancing ocean.  Incidentally, if you commit the “sin” of gluttony from the Sunday ko’aga’i, would you be forgiven through obeying the commandment to then rest
immediately after?...Hahahaa.  Ok, enough digressing.

... the to'ana'i

Later in the evening, the family had a fireside (spiritual service). Each region was assigned to sing one spiritual song and a speaker to give some spiritual thoughts. Since the chapel was off limits, we had the service in the tents which was not only advantageous but also symbolic considering the broader and historic context of the tents especially in the scriptures.

And since reunions often entail recalling the past, this tent setting meant more than a simple and convenient contingency.

... after the to'ana'i 😜
(paparazzi file)

We can recall the Old Testament patriarchs and the Israelites (as a family) who dwelt,  gathered and worshiped in tents - most importantly in “the tent” (the portable tabernacle).  So our worship service in the tents was not only symbolic but also productive in its goals to uplift, edify, inspire and to appeal to our nobler spiritual side.  And of course after the spiritual food, came the more tangible and delicious native treats and refreshments.  Sunday turned out to be everything we had expected - and more.  Mālō le Faatuatua ma le Faamoemoe.  Mālō fo'i le moe!

...just a few of the members of Region I group comprised
mostly of those from Utah, USA

Monday was the so-called “toe aso” (final day) not in Moamoa, as the native expression goes, but in Malaela.  This was the “fiafia” day for the cultural performances of dances and songs.  But to make it more fun and competitive, two groups were formed, yet would still maintain our regional groups during the cultural part.    The two groups came together to open the day’s activities with a march/parade through the street in Malaela.

Donned in matching lavalavas and reunion
t-shirts, the family marched and sang. The minimal traffic added to the unity and continuity of the parade which, at certain scenic and important points along the way, stopped for photo ops. One of these places was right in front of the chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Malaela's (hence Purcell's) flagship religion.

Following the parade, everyone gathered back at the tents and had all different types of contests, games, competitions and dancing before the final cultural performances by each region.  Despite the fact that Samoan songs and dances were the shared theme in these performances, each group brought something extra and different to the floor including dances and songs from other countries and genres.  Each region as well performed a taualuga (finale) and as usual, donated money to supplement it.  The thousands that was collected in the final tally was originally offered to the Sa’o’s family members who were tasked with much of the cooking, serving and feeding of the reunion, but they declined and instead offered the money as a donation to the Missionary Fund.  Faafetai, o lau pule lea!

Region I taupou, Cherish, with
Mom in background

And so it was, and as the saying goes, every good thing comes to an end.  Final goodbyes and sweet sorrows of parting started.  Tears flowed freely as each one silently asked in their minds   “Why did it have to end so soon?” “Is it really over? Why?” “Can we not tarry a little longer?”

... bossy and fearless wahine
(yay, we DID it!)

Well that evening some actually tarried a little longer singing, chatting, laughing and reminiscing.

The reunion was an experience of a lifetime, to be remembered and cherished always.  Memories of friends, village, country and of AIGA.  E o a'u o le Samoa!

And in a span of a few days, Malaela, and Samoa, have left lasting impressions and impact on everyone who came.  Very much so that they now are talking about 2021 for a repeat.   What?....Already?  Says who?  Says some "bossy" and fearless wahine 😓😆...

Ok then....

to be continued................


(Note: I may post more pictures of the reunion)

Samoa Observer Story

A Special Tribute:
My mother-in-law (Dearie’s Mom) passed away a few days before our trip to Samoa for the reunion.  She attended all the reunions in St. George and Las Vegas, especially as the eldest of the Purcell Aiga.  Rest in Love Mama.  You have a better heavenly reunion with your sweetheart 💕💕

...dancing to close the 2015 reunion in St. George, Utah

...with some of her aiga at the Vegas reunion 2018

..lunch break during Vegas reunion 

People Hate It When I'm Right ...LOL!! ...

...ok, make that "some people" hate it when I'm right.  Even my own children don't like it when I'm right.  They either express the sentiment in a risible and yet lighthearted way, or I hear it from their mother to whom they often make the confession that they "hate it when Dad is right." 😜 But then that's mostly in the context of parental counsel and advice given to them directly, in which case the parent is almost always right.  But in this instance, I'm referring to where I have expressed and/or posited an opinion or position on an issue and it turns out that I was right, and so I don't know exactly who the real - and imaginary - "haters" are. 🤣🤣😛😜😲🤣 ... or the "love-to-haters" for that matter.🤣🤣

Anyhow, to the point.  Three years ago, when Moana (the Disney cartoon) was the topic of conversation among Polys and non-Polys (short for "Polynesians") alike, there was much controversy about the movie and cultural appropriation, as well as how the distorted depiction - if not the blasphemy - of Maui the demigod, provoked the ire of many Polynesians.  I did write some reviews of Moana at the time and among those is the position post (reposted below) in which I presented a "theory" on Maui's character being possibly based on The Rock's (Dwayne Johnson) grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia.  I specifically wrote: "So my theory is that Disney used him, Maivia, as a model for Maui."

The post is dated June 28, 2016, four months before Moana was released/debuted.  This piece of information is important in understanding the veracity of the information shared here.  My theory was completely my own, devised and formulated exclusively on wit, reason and insight.  There was no corroboration with any secondary source or research - professional or otherwise.  And no, I was not a fly on the wall during any Disney board meeting; nor am I friends with "The Rock"🤣🤣.  But, amazingly, and just last night, I found out that my theory was right.  How?  Read on. Read the complete post to find out.

Original post re-posted, complete with pictures.

Moana Revisited: Disney's Little Big Secret?
(Note: This original title is also quite consequential.  Re: The Rock's tweet at end of the post.)

Presently, there are certain people who are frustrated and angry on the Internet. They're mostly Polynesians.  No, they're not angry with Donald Duck Trump, but with Donald Duck's maker, Disney.  They're angry about Dwayne.  The Rock. Well not with him personally but with his "character" (Maui) in the upcoming new Disney cartoon, Moana.

So what's their main beef?  Well, it's about Maui being depicted as a beefy, fat, obese Poly guy. Ok, demigod.  The Poly's are not pleased with using a stereotype as a model for Maui.  Maui is supposed to be a Polynesian god/demigod, handsome and well built like a Greek god, or like the Rock himself.

So what do I think?  Does it matter what I think?  Well it depends.  I think my angry Poly's may have a point, depending on whether Maui is perceived as fat and bulky or just big and all muscles plastered on a Poly frame.

But I have a theory of my own.  Here.

Maivia, model for Maui?

Dwayne Johnson was/is a pro wrestler, an Afro-Polynesian one.  He grew up in and around wrestling.  His father was a professional wrestler and his grandfather was one too.  Johnson however is slightly an atypical Poly wrestler in build.  He is a mutant image of the famous duo Afa and Sika (aka The Wild Samoans). But Johnson is also a near foil, physically, of another more famous Samoan wrestler.  Peter Fanene Maivia - his grandfather.

So my theory is that Disney used him, Maivia, as a model for Maui.  For someone who has etched in his mind the picture of Peter Maivia's image during his heyday, I can say that Maui is easily a clone.  While growing up in Lalomanu, The Rock's grandmother's village, we, the children, used to go to the family's house and would sneak a peek at a picture of Maivia pasted on one of the posts.  And the picture was one like this one (above) - big, buff, muscular guy with long curls.  Word got around that he used his long curls to entice his opponents then would go in for the fall.



Again, we who grew up in Lalomanu, after many years, still remember Maivia to be this hulk of a man.  And much later after he had his pe'a (tattoo), he became even more of an archetype and symbol.  Yes, very much like Maui.

Could Disney have done The Rock a favor and use his grandfather as a model for his Maui character?  That's very possible.  And if my theory has merit, then Maui, like Maivia, is not obese or flabby, he is big, buff and muscular.

Sorry my angry Poly friends!

Maui

Maivia

____________________________

A year later (October 2017) after the above post was published in this blog, The Rock, revealed "a lil' Disney ...secret" (re: my title 🤣😲) and then also tweeted about it:

So the familiar question from past posts, especially when someone says something that's in agreement with my blog,  "Did The Rock read my blog?"  ...Hmmm... never know. 🤣🤣🤣 ...oohhh and come to think of it, maybe Disney is the "hater" 😡😡😝 ...cause I knew their little BIG secret 🤣🤣😍😍💜💛

By the way thumbing through my genealogy, my great grandmother Selafi Olive FUATAGA Alama and The Rock's grandmother (Ofelia) are of the FUATAGA clan of Lalomanu.  

Some interesting pics 🤣🤣🤣

Samoan Brothers - "Hobbs and Shaw" (The Rock)

Read and Watch This ...

So I was watching president Trump's State of the Union (SOTU) speech last night (Feb 5th).  Hmmm... I wasn't all that impressed, as I wasn't in all other SOTU's that I can remember by other past presidents.  Trump's usual hyperbolizing and overstating of his "successes" became boring at best and boastful and braggy at worst (pardon the alliteration 🤣).  It was quite similar to most other speeches of the past by Obama, Bush and others.  Again, the SOTU's are often dull and platitudinal.  I also dislike the sporadic applauses which are mostly partisan and can be really annoying at times.

Now you will believe how bored I was when I say that I was trying to find something, I mean anything that stimulates my curiosity and meticulous, analytical appetite during the speech.  But I found it! Serendipitously. Not in the speech though, but something I saw within the audience that was quite ironic, and offensive I think.

During the speech, Trump acknowledged two survivors of the Holocaust in the audience. The same two men were also survivors of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue last year. They were sitting next to each other.  And so during the tribute, when the cameras - as expected - kept zooming in on the two elderly gentlemen, I saw something that was offensively ironic.  I don't think the media, TV or otherwise, or anyone was able to pick it up or it would have been all over the Internet, social media and cyberspace.  Therefore, so far, this seems an original observation on my part.  Call me eagle-eyed ..🦅 😳  I'll let you figure it out, especially from the first picture ............. Got it?

Ok, if you can't see it then you need to see visit an optometrist 🤣 or you need a crash course in world history 😏.  As I was watching, I noticed that the back of the seats in the same section all had the same design.  They also seemed like seat covers but I wasn't quite sure.  Anyhow, I know it's just an unfortunate coincidence, but STILL, I'll be surprised how anyone responsible for the SOTU logistics could have missed it.  If they were seat covers, they should have been removed beforehand.  If it's a design on the actual seat, arrangements could have been made for the gentlemen to sit elsewhere, because there were seats that were different in other sections based on my subsequent and much keener observation during the rest of the speech.  Anyway, what do you think?  Or am I overstating it --- like Trump? 🤣  ... and so as Trump would always say in his tweets, SAD!  Moreover, considering Trump's controversial and seeming favoritism toward the so-called alt-right, this can be ironic on so many levels.

O Le Isi A'u Tala Mālie - 'Ae Aogā ...

O la'u tala mālie ae iai le aogā mo a'u, mo ‘oe ma i tatou uma lava.

Sa fai la'u lesona i le matou vasega faa-Sāmoa o le A'oga Sā i le taufa'ai'uga o le tausaga ua mavae.  O le ‘autū e faapea "Ma ‘Ou Tusi ai i ō Latou Loto" (I Will Write It in Their Hearts), mai i le tusi a Ieremia i le Feagaiga Tuai.  Lesona Numera 42.

Sa ‘ou talanoaina ai i lenei lesona le ‘ese'esega o le tūsia o polo'aiga poo le ‘upu a le Atua i nisi o faiga vaa'ia ma le tūsia i totonu o ō tatou LOTO.  Sa  aofia i la'u lesona le talanoaina o le upu TUUPAO.  O se upu Sāmoa.  O le ‘upu fo'i e lē o toe fa'aāogāina tele i le gagana o aso uma, ae o se ‘upu o lo'o maua i totonu o le Tusi Pa'ia.  O le uiga o le ‘upu tuupao, o fele, teuteu poo pito ‘ofu (fringes/borders).

E iai le tulāfono e ta'ua o le Tulāfono o Tuupao (Law of the Fringes).  E maua lenei tulāfono i le tusi o le Numera 15:37-41.  Sa pōloa'i le Ali'i iā Mose ina ia ta'u atu i le fanauga a Isarāelu ina ia faia ni tuupao i o latou pito ‘ofu.  O le fa'amoemoega ina ia tāula'i iai le va'ai ma fai ma faamanatuga ia te i latou o poloa'iga a le Atua ma ia latou tausia.

E tatau ona silafia e tatou o tagata o le Ekalesia a Iesu Keriso o le ‘Au Pa'ia o Aso e Gata Ai lenei tūlaga ona o se pōloa'iga e tāli tutusa lona faatatāu i le ‘ofu mālumālu (temple garment) ma mea poo feagaiga na te faamanatuina mai.  I le Feagaiga Fou, o lo'o tā'ua ai fo'i le tuupao i le tala i le fafine na ma'i i le puna toto (issue of blood) i le sefulu lua tausaga, ae ina ua pa'i atu i tuupao o le ‘ofu o le Fa'aola, na malōlō ai loa (Mataio 9:20–22, Mareko 5:25–34, Luka 8:43–48).

E iai la se vāivāiga ua masani ai tatou o le so'ona fai pe faia fo'i i ni ‘auala e tosina mai ai le va'ai a tagata ina ia maua ai so tatou vi'iga faale-tagata, ae tu'u le a'ano moni o le pōloa'iga poo a'oa'oga.  Ua amata fo'i ona faia i se faapogai sesē.  We do things for the wrong reason/s.  E pei lā o lenei.  Ua 'aumai le tulāfono o tuupao iā Isara'elu ae nonofo latou ma fai ni faiga, suiga ma uiga e lē sa'o ma so'ona fai.

I le Mataio 23:5, ua faamanatu mai ai e le Faaola ni faiga ma suiga e le ‘au faresaio i tuupao o ō latou ‘ofu, "ina ia iloa ai e tagata" (to be seen of men):

"Ua fai fo'i [e le 'au faresaio] galuega uma ina ia iloa ai e tagata; ua latou fa'alautele ia latou filateri, ma faatelē  i tuupao o latou ofu."
(But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.)

O filateri, poo phylacteries, o tama'i pusa ia e fusia i le va o mata, faapea fo'i ma le lima o ni vaega o ‘ofu tatalo o tagata Sa Iutaia.  O nei tama'i pusa e tu'u iai i totonu ni vaega o le tulafono (law) e pei ona tūsia i le Teuterenome 6:8; 11:18 ma le Esoto 13:9, 16.  O filateri la e tutusa ō latou aogā ma faamoemoega e pei o tuupao ma pito ‘ofu - o le faamanatu lea i le tagata o tulafono, poloa'iga ia poo feagaiga fo'i ma le Atua.

O le mea la ua tupu, ua ‘aumai i le ‘au faresaio ua so'ona fai, ua fa'alautetele ma fa'alapopo'a e i latou o filateri ma tu'upao, ina ia faigofie ai "ona iloa mai i latou e tagata" ma maua ai so latou vi'iga.  E le o ni faiga sa'o pe tonu, o ni faiga inosia le fa'atetele o tuupao ma filateri e pei ona fautuaina mai.  E tusa ua magnify/broaden ma enlarge e le Sa Ituaia a latou "teuga" ae maise pe a 'auai atu e faia a latou sauniga ma tatalo, for the sole purpose of being "seen of men" and others.

Mo i tatou o tagata o le Ekalesia a Iesū Keriso, e le o iai ni tuupao o o tatou ‘ofu pei o ‘ofu o Sa Iutaia, PEITA'I,  e iai ni amioga tatou te faia e o gatasi pe uiga tutusa ma le "faatetele o ā tatou filateri ma tuupao" e pei ona faia e le ‘au faresaio.

Atonu e aofia ai nisi nei o uiga masani.

Muamua, o le ‘ofu/la'ei ose ‘ofu, ia poo ni a tatou tēuga (styles) i le lotu ma le faamoemoe e faaono maua ai so tatou vi'iga.  Ua le alu i le loku e kapua'i ma a'oa'o, ae ua alu e fa'aali le lautetele o ana tu'upao ma ona se'evae muli fao.  Mea fo'i gae o stilettos ea poo a ...Ioe, lavea loa i le ma'i, "ina ia iloa ai e tagata."

Lua, o le uma ona faia o se mea, ae maise se galuega fesoasoani poo galuega lelei ae toe nonofo i tatou ma toe faailoa ma faavi'ivi'i ia galuega.  E tusa ua toe ili lava e tatou a tatou foafoa/pu (doing a good deed and then "tooting our own horns" for having done such deeds).

E aofia ai lo tatou auai atu i le mālumālu, ae uma pu'e ni a tatou selfies poo ata ma faasalalau i nofoaga fai tele, pei o le social media.  Atonu e le āfaina ai ni ata o se faaipoipoga, faamāuga ma nisi aso faapitoa (special occasions).  Ae afai o se faiga masani i vaiaso ma masina taitasi lo tatou o atu i le malumalu, ae faamoemoe e faasalalau (publicize), e ala i ata ma ni faamatalaga, e mafai fo'i ona lavea lea faiga i le vaivaiga "ina ia iloa ai e tagata."  Ua tutusa lava lea ma le "faalautele o a tatou filateri ma enlarge tuupao o ō tatou ‘ofu."  Fai mai Peresetene Hunter, o le mālumālu o se faailoga o lō tatou membership, but not our "show"manship.

Lona tolu, o le vāivāiga lea ua ta'ua i le faa-Peretania o le "name-dropping".  O la'u faa-Samoa, o le "ta'uta'u igoa" po'o le  "fa'alauiloa-igoa" ae maise ai se igoa/suafa o se tagata lauiloa ma ta'uta'ua.
E mafi ai tatou o tagata o le Ekalesia, ae maise i nisi o le ‘au pulega sili (general authorities) i nofoaga faitele (in public).  E taumafai lava e maua sina avanoa e fegalegalea'i pe pu'e fo'i ni ata ma lea ta'ita'i, ona faasalalau loa lea i luga o le Initaneti poo le social media ma amata loa ona "namedrop" le suafa o lea ta'ita'i, faatasi ai ma nisi ta'ita'i.

O le uiga lenei o le upu lea o le "namedrop":

"To casually mention a well-known or famous person or their titles, often implying familiarity or association, especially in order to impress others or increase one's status..."
(O le tatou ta'uta'uina lea o igoa o ni tagata iloga ma le tāua, poo latou tōfiga/vala'auga fo'i, ina ia ātagia ai e tatou te masani pe uō, ae maise ina ia vi'ia ai tatou e isi pe si'itia ai fo'i so tatou tulaga....)

Ioe, ia lenā ... we namedrop our church leaders just to increase our STATUS - spiritual status, social status, ia poo le tatou Facebook status fo'i.🤣

E ao, ma ia matuā tatau, ona tatou fa'aāloālogia - ‘ae le o le so'ona fa'avi'ivi'i ma fa'alalanu - o o tatou ta'ita'i, ae maise le ‘au pulega sili (general authorities) i nofoaga faitele.  We should RESPECT - but not ADULATE - our leaders especially in public places, if/when we see them especially with hopes that we can boost our own image by fawning over them, or namedropping them online and elsewhere.  It's similar to "enlarging the borders of [our] garments" (no pun intended).

O le fautuaga mo i tatou i le vāivāiga lea o le "namedropping" - ia STOP IT! e pei fo'i ona fautua mai ai se tasi o ta'ita'i, ia poo la'u fo'i fautuaga e faapea: "DROP IT!" (pun intended).

Ia o si a'u tu'u alalo poo "tu'u pa'ō" atu lea i lenei itula 🤣 from my Sunday School lesson.

Faafetai

"Palagi Valea!" (Stupid Foreigner)....Huh?

Let me introduce this post.  One of the posts on this blog is about Trump's "covfefe" blunder (click).  The mistake was ridiculed and mocked on the Internet and social media.  In an attempt by many to try and come up with a possible meaning, a likely origin, or etymology of the word based on phonetics, syntax and morphology, Samoan seemed to have been the consensus.  And so I also put in my two cents/sene post, citing words such as "kafefe" as a possible variant or cognate.  In the same mold of "kafefe/kofefe", therefore, I also mentioned "kofifi" and "kofafa" - as homographs (for lack of a better word) - more for parody than reality.  Anyhow, Anonymous came along, thinking that I was a palagi, and posted his/her comment (below), to which I am responding here.  Enjoy.

(Note: I'm posting this here due to the limits on the number of characters in the "Reply" box in the Comments section.)

ANONYMOUS:
"No comments.... because your article sucks...For all your pontificating, Kofafa is actually Tofa Soi Fua...No such word as Kofafa....Palagi valea!"


RESPONSE:
Mālō Anonymous. Fa'afetai mo le manatu. Fai mai le isi upu masani, "Atonu oute le ‘au pe ioe i lau faamatalaga, peita'i oute matuā puipui/lagolagoina se'ia o'o i le oti lau āiā tatau e te faia ai lau faamatalaga." (I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.) O le a ou taumafai fo'i e āloā'ia ma fa'aāloālogia lou finagalo. E maitau atu, o ‘oe o se uso poo se tuafafine Sāmoa, e ātagia mai i lau gagana ma lou taumafai e fa'asa'o se sasi, sesē poo se 'aleu.  E fa'apenei la, o le a fa'a su'ifefiloi atu le ta talanoaga, using both English and Samoan. You seem well-versed and proficient in both.  Let me also compartmentalize my response based on the points you raised.

...Palagi valea!
First, let me get this out of the way.  I'm not a pālagi, let alone a "pālagi valea" (stupid foreigner/white person).  O le makuā Sāmoa māo'io'i a si kama.  Get it? Ia Fahafehtaheee!!🤣  I have the feeling that you are a new visitor to the blog otherwise you would have known about other introductory and biographical posts in which I officially declared that I am a dyed-in-the-wool Samoan.  Believe Me. ( My Trump impression 🤣)

No comments....because your article sucks
I have more than 400 total posts in the blog, and only a small number has comments, the rest have none, like this "covfefe" one - until you commented of course.  Your assumption is that, if a post does not have comments, then it sucks - whatever you mean by that.  For your information, comments do not necessarily represent a measure of whether an article/postup/opinion sucks or not.  Furthermore,  there have been those who have actually shared many of the posts from this blog but have not left any comments.  Well, what say you?  So your logic is elementary if not blatantly valea. 😊.. sorry your word not mine.

...For all your pontificating
Everyone pontificates at one time or another, otherwise he/she will end up either as a passive thinker or a "capitulater".  For the particular post in question, mind you, I'm not pontificating but POSTULATING, instead.  Big difference, dude.

Postulate/Postulating: suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief (Dictionary.com).

Ua e tau malamalama mai?  Read the post again and you will see "postulating" written all over it.  In fact, I did preface the main part of my prognostication with "Well, president, here’s my take."  Yep, "take" as in "suggestion" or "assumption" (re: definition of "postulating" above).

...No such word as Kofafa
You're right, but you're also more wrong - than right.  So therefore I disagree more than agree!

First of all, my use of "kofafa" is based on humor using the same morphological syntactic pattern (mamanu o fa'atulagaga o fasi'upu) of "kofefe" and "kofifi" (the latter also being mentioned in the post); hence the "kofafa" variant using the vowel-based pattern.  It's like some manufactured cognates.  So "kofofo" would logically fit in there as well.  Unfortunately, the last vowel (u), however,  would render an expletive in Samoan.

But in Samoan, there is still a word spelled "kofafa" but with a stress on the last syllable, when pronounced and written this way "kofafā". It's the plural form of "kofā/tofā" which is the polite form of the vernacular "moe" (sleep).  Example (in the "k" pronunciation/method): "O la ua kofafā  le ‘au malaga ua vāivāi." (The traveling party are sleeping because they're tired.)
Moreover, "kofafa" (as in "momoe", plural form of "moe") is also a valid and bona fide word (at least in morphological syntax) especially for those who are opponents and critics of diacritics (pun intended), especially the macron (fa'amamafa), and therefore rely solely and exclusively on context for meaning and pronunciation.  In other words in a diacritic-less text, you can and will find that there IS such a word as "kofafa".

Incidentally, "kofafa" may not be a Samoan word, per se, at least not yet - officially.  But there IS such a word in other languages. For example, in Malagasy, a language spoken by the people of Madagascar, "kofafa" is a word for tall grass from which kofafa brooms are made (Google it!). What's interesting though with regards to our debate is that Malagasy is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family.  So since you did not qualify your comment ("No such word as Kofafa") to refer to a Samoan connection, exclusively, your claim is therefore erroneous, and ...hmmm ... valea.😛

...Kofafa is actually Tofa Soi Fua
Now you sound more like a "pālagi valea"🤣 ... I thought you were a smart Samoan.
"Tofa Soi Fua" is actually "Tōfā Soifua".  Yes, "soifua" is one word.  There is also a big difference in how you would say "Tōfā Soi Fua" versus "Tōfā Soifua."  Got it?

Again, thanks for commenting!👍

God bless and ... tōfā loa fa'a-soifuaina!

ADDENDUM:
Oh and by the way, you obviously referred to me as a "pālagi valea".  Now that I've told you that I'm not a pālagi, naturally, therefore,  your "valea" (stupid) accusation still stands.  Well, I've responded to your claims and proved to you that - as the Samoan expression goes - "e lē vālea fo'i gei fāgau." 😜 So if you were a reaaaallly smart and intelligent person, as you seem to suggest in your accusations, then you would come back and rebut my response.  I hope you have peeked around my blog enough by now to know that I have been involved in a lot of debates, discussions and other conversations on a whole slew of topics.  You would therefore learn that I don't shy away from such discussions - analytical, intellectual, stimulating, etc.  I am a fair-minded person also when it comes to these such debates.  Again, therefore, I hope that you would come back and respond to my views, opinion and reasoning, as opposed to resorting and being content with the "ambush" tactic - which is similar to a hit and run -  that you seem to favor.  Such tactics are especially attractive to those who would hide their real identities, as in your case, as opposed to those who show their faces and take responsibility for their words and views. Personally, I am more desirous for you to respond than to "show your face" because I believe in personal accountability and answerability. What I mean by that is, even if others don't know of your true identity, inadequacies and vulnerabilities from this exchange, especially from failing to defend your views and claims, you yourself are still the only one that is in full realization and understanding of them - an epiphanic moment of self-awareness, i se isi fa'aupuga. It lives with you and you only.  Hence, it could also be a much needed learning moment for you, one for which you would thank me.  Ae pule lava lau susuga/afioga, ua na o se fautuaga e tu'uina atu. Soifua ia.✋✋

Before, During and After Christmas 2018

It has been an eventful time of year.  A few weeks before Christmas, we were in Vegas to attend a funeral.

...and it was already beginning to look and feel like Christmas (hotel lobby)

Then returned and started prepping our home, one room - and tree - at a time.  We had our own mini festival of trees...😍😮😊

First the LIVING Room ...

 Next one the "SITTING" Room ... with its tall tree

Next, the FAMILY Room ...

Then TOP of stairs was The SAMOAN Christmas tree.  This is the type of tree during the time Dearie and I were growing up in the islands.  A very simple, inexpensive but REAL tree, usually a branch of a bigger filimoto tree, or a baby one.  Balloons and streamers were used for decorations. 😅😍

Then the GAME Room - we put up another tree and left it for the grandchildren to come and decorate on Christmas Eve when they all come for our usual get-together

Aaaaaand then it was Christmas Eve ... and the clan began arriving for a night of fun, games, food, etc., 💙💓💛💜👪🎄🎄🎈🎉

Setting up table for the food  ...🍪🍣🍗🍩🍤

Then the presents ...🎄🎅🎈

Christmas morning ... house was empty and abandoned

Until it was time for the missionary to Skype, and everyone was back. This is always our Christmas Day highlight!! 

the elder

...always a happy and joyous time to chat with the elder/missionary

After the Skype, we left for our Christmas getaway in Eden (1.5 hrs drive North), a beautiful small town tucked away in a peaceful valley.  The children rented a cabin for our 3-day respite.  It was beautiful and it was a perfect White Christmas.

Eden ... (one of our granddaughters' namesake)

the cabin

... cabin was warm and cozy

love those saddle stools

...a postcard view/shot (from inside the cabin)

White Christmas

while the children had their foods/snacks... we had our own "cabin food" ...😃😁👍

children had fun in the snow

... for us it was time just to relax, rest and unwind ..🤣 and to ponder the wonders
of nature and God's creations, and also to spend time with the children and grandchildren💖😍

heading home ...