Asuemu Ulufale Fuimaono (January 24, 1924 – September 9, 2008) was an American Samoan politician and Paramount Chief who served as American Samoa's first Delegate-at-Large to the United States House of Representatives in a four-year term from 1971 until 1975. Fuimaono also served as the Governor of

Western District, American Samoa The Western District is one of the primary divisions of American Samoa. It consists of the western portion of Tutuila Island. It has a land area of 74.781 km2 (28.873 sq mi) and contains 29 villages plus a part of Nu'uuli village. Among the ...

on the island of Tutuila from his appointment in 1993 until his death in 2008.

Early life

A.U. Fuimaono was educated at the Marist Brothers Catholic School, Poyer School and Samoana High School. Fuimaono went on to obtain his

teaching certification A certified teacher is an educator who has earned credentials from an authoritative source, such as the government, a higher education institution or a private body or source. This teacher qualification gives a teacher authorization to teach and ...

from Feleti Memorial Teachers Training School. Fuimaono enlisted and served in the United States Navy for four years.

Career

Early career

Fuimaono was a full Samoan

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

. Fuimaono helped to establish the first Political Status Commission, which was held in 1969.

Delegate to the United States House of Representatives

Fuimaono was elected as American Samoa's first Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in 1970. As delegate he was instrumental in reversing a temporary ban on the recruitment of American Samoans by the United States Army.

American Samoan government

Fuimaono left Washington D.C. in 1974 and returned to American Samoa. He was elected to the American Samoa Senate in 1975 as a replacement for Lualemaga Faoliu, and served in the 14th and 15th American Samoan Legislatures. During this tenure, Fuimaono also served as

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for e ...

for 18 months. He unsuccessfully contested the

1977 American Samoan gubernatorial election Gubernatorial elections were held in American Samoa on 8 November 1977, with a run-off between the top two candidates on 22 November. Peter Tali Coleman was elected with 56% of the vote in the second round. Candidates Former appointed governor Pe ...

, coming third in the first round. Following the election he left the Senate to take up a position in the Cabinet of Governor Peter Tali Coleman. He returned to the Senate following the end of his Cabinet position. He served again in the Senate from 1985 until 1992 during the 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd American Samoan Legislatures. Ultimately, Fuimaono served in all three branches of the American Samoan government, including as a legal advisor on Samoan matters within the territorial Judiciary.

Governor of Western District

Fuimaono was appointed governor of

in 1993. He served as Governor until his death in 2008. Fuimaono was unable to attend many public events in 2008 due to failing health.

Other roles

Fuimaono also sat on the

board of directors A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

for a number of American Samoan committees and organizations throughout his career. He served as Chairman of the

Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa The Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) or the "Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano i Amerika Samoa" (EFKAS) is a theologically Calvinist and congregational denomination in American Samoa. It was established in 1980 with Galea'i ...

. He also worked as

chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

of the American Samoa Red Cross, Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Samoa's Aloha Council and Chairman of Future Farmers of Samoa. At one point, Fuimaono joined

StarKist Tuna StarKist Tuna is a brand of tuna produced by StarKist Co., an American company formerly based in Pittsburgh's North Shore that is now wholly owned by Dongwon Industries of South Korea. It was purchased by Dongwon from the American food manufactu ...

as the company's Director of Government and Industrial Relations in the private sector. StarKist Tuna has a large cannery and processing facilities in American Samoa.

Honors

Fuimaono was awarded the Governor's Humanitarian Award in 2000. The award, which is sponsored by the Amerika Samoa Humanities Council was established in 1996 by former Governor

A.P. Lutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao (December 24, 1919 – August 1, 2002), was twice governor of American Samoa (1985–1989, 1993–1997). The founder of the U.S territory's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in Amer ...

. Fuimaono was given the honor for his role as a church, governmental and traditional Samoan leader.

Death

A.U. Fuimaono died on September 9, 2008, at

LBJ Tropical Medical Center Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center is the only hospital in American Samoa, and is located in Faga'alu, Maoputasi County. It has been ranked among the best hospitals in the Pacific Ocean. It is home to an emergency room and there are docto ...

in Faga'alu, American Samoa, at the age of 85. The American Samoa Senate observed a moment of silence in Fuimaono's honor during its session on September 10, 2008. Governor

Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is an American Samoan politician and lawyer who served as the 6th Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as lieutenant governor, taking t ...

ordered all

American flags The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the c ...

lowered to half-staff. Tributes poured in from across American Samoa.

American Samoa Governor This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government of the United States. Since ...

said that American Samoa had lost a great leader, "We will forever be grateful to his leadership, dedication and contribution. He will be greatly missed." Representative Eni Faleomavaega said that Fuimaono "was like a father to me."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuimaono, A.U. 1924 births 2008 deaths 20th-century American politicians American Samoan chiefs American Samoa Senators Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa People from Faga'alu United States Navy sailors