Samoan Americans are

Americans Americans are the Citizenship of the United States, citizens and United States nationality law, nationals of the United States, United States of America.; ; Law of the United States, U.S. federal law does not equate nationality with Race (hu ...

of Samoan origin, including those who emigrated from the United States Territory of

American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. Centered on , it is southeast of the island count ...

and immigrants from the Independent State of Samoa to the United States. Samoan Americans are

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

s in the

United States census The United States census (plural censuses or census) is a census that is legally mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 United States ce ...

, and are the second largest

group in the US, after

Native Hawaiians Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiʻi was settled at least 800 years ago by Polynesian ...

has been an

unincorporated territory Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions and dependent territory, dependent territories overseen by the federal government of the United States. The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indi ...

of the United States since 1900, and Samoa, formally known as the Independent State of Samoa and known as

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabit ...

until 1997, is an independent nation that gained its independence from

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

in 1962.

(which is under the jurisdiction of the United States of America) and Samoa together make up the

Samoan Islands The Samoan Islands () are an archipelago covering in the central Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and of the wider region of Oceania. Political geography, Administratively, the archipelago comprises all of the Samoa, Indep ...

, an

archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Example archipelagos include the Aegean Islands (the o ...

that covers 1,170 sq mi (3,030 km2). Like

, the

Samoans Samoans or Samoan people () are the Indigenous Polynesian people of the Samoan Islands, an archipelago in Polynesia, who speak the Samoan language. The group's home islands are politically and geographically divided between the Independent S ...

arrived on the mainland US in the 19th century serving in the

US Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. U.S. federal law names six armed forces: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard. Since 1949, all of the armed forces, except ...

and working as fishermen, and later they often worked as agricultural laborers and factory workers. As per 2021 US census estimates, there are over 240,000 people of Samoan descent living in the United States, including those of partial ancestry, which is roughly over the population of the Independent State of Samoa, as of 2021.

Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, has the largest Samoan population of over 12,000 making up over 2% of the city's population. There are large Samoan communities in

Greater Los Angeles Greater Los Angeles is the most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. state of California, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino County and Riverside County in the eas ...

Orange County, California Orange County (officially the County of Orange; often initialized O.C.) is a county (United States), county located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population ...

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

, and Greater San Diego counties in the state of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Other states with cities and towns with significant communities are

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

, and Washington.

History

Migration from Samoan Islands to the United States began in the 19th century. A small group of Samoans were part of the first Mormon Polynesian colony in the US, which was founded in Utah in 1889 and consisted of Samoans, Hawaiian natives,

Tahitians The Tahitians (; ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands in French Polynesia. The numbers may also include the modern population in these islands of mixed P ...

, and Maori people. Page 116.

officially became a US territory in 1900 with the Treaty of Cession of Tutuila and in 1904 with the Treaty of Cession of Manu'a. In the 1920s a small group of Mormons from American Samoa emigrated to the modern United States. They were brought by American Mormons to Laie,

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

to assist in building the Mormon Temple of this place.. Page 22. Chapter: ''Pacific Islander and Pacific Islander Americans, 1940-present'', written by Matthew Kester. Page 1177. The community grew over the decade and in 1929 there were already 125 American Samoans living in Laie, but the Samoan migration to Hawaii fell in the following years. It was probably due to the crash of 29, the loss of an important rice field for the community, and the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In the second half of the 1940s about 300 mostly military families of American Samoans emigrated to the United States specifically to Hawaii. From work ''Samoan Saints: the Samoans in the Mormon village of Laie, Hawaii''. In 1951, nearly 1,000 American Samoans linked with the army (i.e. military personnel and their relatives. Chapter 7. ''From Village to City: Samoan migration to California'', written by Graig R. James. Pages 120-121.) migrated to the Honolulu's American bases by accepting an invitation from the US Navy (which had left its bases in the

Pago Pago Pago Pago ( or ; Samoan language, Samoan: )Harris, Ann G. and Esther Tuttle (2004). ''Geology of National Parks''. Kendall Hunt. Page 604. . is the capital of American Samoa. It is in Maoputasi County, American Samoa, Maoputasi County on Tutuila ...

city, as American Samoa began to be administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior) so that the Marines could continue working for the Navy. However, many of them later migrated to California (in 1952). In 1952 the natives of American Samoa become U.S. nationals, although not American citizens, through the

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (), also known as the McCarran–Walter Act, codified under Title 8 of the United States Code (), governs immigration to and citizenship in the United States. It came into effect on June 27, 1952. The l ...

. The percentages and numbers of Samoan people residing in cities listed below vary from 2015 to 2018, according to the "5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables" from the US Census Bureau.

Southern California

Carson (1.8-2.2%), Compton (0.3-0.5%), and

Long Beach Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the list of United States cities by population, 44th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 451,307 as of 2022. A charter ci ...

(0.7-0.8%), and

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

(0.7-1%) in

Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles and sometimes abbreviated as LA County, is the most populous county in the United States, with 9,663,345 residents estimated in 2023. Its population is greater than that of 40 individua ...

, Oceanside (0.5-0.6%) in

San Diego County San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, north to its border with Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634; it is the second-most populous ...

, and Twentynine Palms (0.9-1.1%) in

San Bernardino County San Bernardino County ( ), officially the County of San Bernardino and sometimes abbreviated as S.B. County, is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of th ...

have among the highest concentration of Samoans in Southern California, which include those of partial ancestry. Also in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, one of the very first Samoan churches in the entire United States, was founded in 1955 by Rev. Suitonu Galea'i. From there, multiple Samoan churches throughout California branched from the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church of San Diego. There are Samoan communities enumerating several hundred in Moreno Valley (300 to 500) and San Bernardino (400), at least 0.2% of the city's populations.

Northern California

Much of San Francisco's Samoan community is tight-knit live amongst the city's African American community. The

public housing Public housing, also known as social housing, refers to Subsidized housing, subsidized or affordable housing provided in buildings that are usually owned and managed by local government, central government, nonprofit organizations or a ...

communities as well as residential communities in the Bayview-Hunters Point, Potrero Hill, and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods in southeastern

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

are home to much of the city's Samoan community. As per the 2015-18 estimates, San Francisco is 0.2-0.3% Samoan (1,807-2,262 residents). The 2018 estimate of the number of Samoans in San Francisco is a decrease from the 2000 reported number of Samoans, which was 2,311 (which did not account for people who reported to be part Samoan). In the East Bay Area, San Leandro is home to a sizable Samoan community (0.4%-0.6%), as well as in Daly City (0.4-0.9%), East Palo Alto (1.2-1.3%), and Hayward (0.6%-0.9%). Balboa High School is about 3% Pacific Islander during the 2010s and 2020s and middle and elementary schools, such as Charles Drew Elementary in southeast San Francisco, are rife in Samoans and in general Pacific Islanders; that school of roughly 200 students is 15-25% Pacific Islander, and a similar volume of Islanders go to school at KIPP Bayview and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. In Daly City, Samoan restaurants and businesses are located off Geneva Avenue. In 1972, the First Samoan Congregational Church of San Jose was founded by Rev. Felix T. and Molly T. Ava Molifua, affiliated with Northern California UCC. San Jose has over 3,000 Samoans in residence (0.3%). Another

San Mateo County San Mateo County ( ), officially the County of San Mateo, is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 764,442. Redwood City, California, Redwood City is th ...

city, San Bruno, is about one percent Samoan; there are also Samoan communities in nearby South San Francisco and San Mateo proper, although it is more Tongan-populated within its Polynesian community. In the Central Valley and inland California, where compared to the Bay Area has a slightly smaller percentage of Samoans, higher populations are commonly found in the areas of

Modesto Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the 19th-most populous city in California. Modesto is locate ...

(0.2%),

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

, and Stockton. The city of Sacramento has over 1,800 to 2,200 Samoans, about 0.4% of its population. In

Central California Central California is generally thought of as the middle third of the U.S. state of California, north of Southern California (which includes Los Angeles and San Diego) and south of Northern California (which includes San Francisco and San Jose, ...

, Samoan Americans are concentrated in Monterey County, which was home to a U.S. Army base, Fort Ord, which closed in 1994. The populations are concentrated in

Marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : "related to the sea") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo ...

(0.8-1%) and Seaside (0.4%-0.9%).

Other Western US

Oregon and Washington

The

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

− Tacoma, Washington area is also home to a sizable Samoan community, especially in the cities of

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

(1.5%), Renton (1%), Federal Way (1.6%), SeaTac (2.9%), and White Center (3.2%). Seattle has 1,500 Samoans, 0.2% of the city's population. The First Samoan Christian Congregational Church in the

Washington state Washington, officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is often referred to as Washington State to distinguish it from the national capital, both named after George Washington ...

was established in 1964 in southeast Seattle, where Samoans settled in the Pacific Northwest. The south Seattle neighborhoods of Columbia City and Rainier Valley have had sizeable Samoan communities since the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly 6,000 people of their descendants reside in

Pierce County, Washington Pierce County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous ...

, making up 0.7% of the county's population. Tacoma is home to 1,800 Samoans, making up nearly one percent of the city's population.

The Dalles, Oregon The Dalles ( ;) formally the City of the Dalles and also called Dalles City, is an inland port, the county seat of and the largest city in Wasco County, Oregon, Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 United ...

has a Samoan community of nearly 200 Samoan people, making up 1.3% of the city's population.

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

also has some Samoans, about 500, and Gresham has about the same with of a much smaller population of a city in general, therefore making half a percent of its population.

Utah and other Western US

statewide is 0.6% Samoan including those with some non-Samoan ancestry, and 0.3% are those who identify as Samoan alone. Utah has a history of Samoan immigration dating back to the late 1800s, due to them taking up

Mormonism Mormonism is the theology and religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationism, Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s. As a label, Mormonism has been applied to va ...

which was preached and influenced to them by missionaries who had come to

Polynesia Polynesia ( , ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians. They have many things in ...

n islands. Utah's Mormon community had housing and services for some Polynesian immigrants, which also included

Tongans Tongans or Tongan people are a Polynesian ethnic group native to Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Tongans represent more than 98% of the inhabitants of Tonga. The rest are European (the majority are British), mixed Europe ...

and Maori.

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...

is home to 1,500 Samoan-origin people, 0.7% of the city's population. Salt Lake County cities such as Kearns (2%), Taylorsville (1.5%), and West Valley City (1.8%) having above average proportions of Samoan people for Utah. There is a sizable Samoan community in Utah County, specifically Provo, which is at least 0.3% Samoan. There is a Samoan community in

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...

of 430 people (0.1%), and

Lawton, Oklahoma Lawton is a city in and the county seat of Comanche County, Oklahoma, Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in western Oklahoma, approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton metropolitan ar ...

(0.3%), in which Comanche County, Oklahoma is at least 0.6% Pacific Islander (2010), mainly Samoan.

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

is home to over 1,500 Samoans, 0.2% of the city's population.

Alaska and Hawaii

Outside the mainland US, many Samoan Americans have settled in

and

. About 2.8% of Hawaiian residents are of Samoan descent, with 1.3% having full Samoan ancestry. Many live on the island of

Oahu Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northwe ...

. Linapuni Street, especially the Kuhio Park Terrace apartments in

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, has the highest concentration of Samoans of any residential area in Hawaii, at 37% of residents. Central Palolo has the highest percentage of any Hawaiian tract, with 4% having a Samoan background. The Oahu town of Laie has 1,380 Samoan Americans, about 21% of the town, one of the highest concentration of Samoan Americas of any town or city in the US. Two percent of people in the city of

Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage, officially the Municipality of Anchorage, is the List of cities in Alaska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska. With a population of 291,247 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it contains nearly 40 percent of ...

are of Samoan descent, with nearly 6,000 living in the city. Alaska has a relatively high proportion of them, comprising about 0.8% of the state's population. In recent years, the Samoan population has rapidly increased in Alaska. Barrow, Alaska and

Whittier, Alaska Whittier is a city at the head of the Passage Canal in the Chugach Census Area, Alaska, Chugach Census Area in the Unorganized Borough, Alaska, Unorganized Borough of Alaska, about southeast of Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage. The city is located ...

both are rife in Samoan residents and Samoan churches have become commonly attended in rural Alaska as well.

Midwest and South

In the

Midwest The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...

, a significant Samoan community is in

Independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...

, where around 1,000 Samoan people reside (0.9% of the city). In nearby

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

there lives 340 Samoans, which is 0.1% of the city's population. In the

Eastern United States The Eastern United States, often abbreviated as simply the East, is a macroregion of the United States located to the east of the Mississippi River. It includes 17–26 states and Washington, D.C., the national capital. As of 2011, the Eastern ...

and

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

, Samoan communities exist in

Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the All-Ameri ...

and

Clarksville, Tennessee Clarksville is a city in Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 166,722 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tennessee, fifth-most populo ...

. There are 365 Samoan-origin people in

Prince William County, Virginia Prince William County lies beside the Potomac River in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 482,204, making it Virginia's second most populous county. The county seat is the independent city of Manassas. A part ...

, and a Samoan church in

Alexandria Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...

. There is a community of Samoans in

Liberty County, Georgia Liberty County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population is 65,256. The county seat is Hinesville, Georgia, Hinesville. Liberty Coun ...

. In

, there is a Samoan community prominent in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Euless (0.5%), and a Samoan church in the city of Killeen (0.3%).

Military

Significant numbers of Samoan Americans serve in the

US military The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. U.S. federal law names six armed forces: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard. Since 1949, all of the armed forces, except th ...

has the highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.

Sports

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

is the most popular sport in American Samoa. Per capita, the

have produced the highest number of

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

players. In 2010, it was estimated that a boy born to Samoan parents is 56 times more likely to get into the NFL than any other boy in America.

Notable people

Entertainment

* Drew Afualo, content creator, influencer, podcaster * Queen Muhammad Ali, film director * Cooper Andrews, actor * Nephi Hannemann, actor *

Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on a part-time basis. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional w ...

, actor, professional wrestler * Mark Kanemura, dancer * Tony Meredith, dancer, choreographer * Josefa Moe, entertainer, celebrity * Tanoai Reed, stunt performer, actor

Music

* Alex Aiono, singer, YouTuber * Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., hip hop group * Drew Deezy, rapper * Cheryl Deserée, singer-songwriter * Dinah Jane, singer; member of

Fifth Harmony Fifth Harmony, often shortened to 5H, is an American girl group based in Miami, composed of Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and formerly Camila Cabello until her departure from the group in December 2016. The group signed a ...

* Taimane Gardner, ukulele player, composer * Maryanne Ito, soul singer * Bunny Michael, musician, rapper * Mavis Rivers, jazz singer *

Tedashii Tedashii Lavoy Anderson (born March 8, 1977), known simply as Tedashii, is an American Christian hip hop artist and member of the hip-hop troupe 116 Clique. He also hosted the NGEN Radio show "Serium". Tedashii has released five solo albums, ' ...

, Christian hip hop artist *

Tenelle Tenelle Christine Luafalemana (born July 21, 1988) is an Samoan Americans, American Samoan singer-songwriter from Carson, California. She represented American Samoa in the American Song Contest where she placed 6th in the Grand Final. Early li ...

, singer-songwriter

Politics, law and government

Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi Gabbard (; born April 12, 1981) is an American politician and military officer serving as the director of National Intelligence, director of national intelligence (DNI) since 2025. She has held the rank of Lieutenant colonel (United Stat ...

, politician;

Director of National Intelligence The director of national intelligence (DNI) is a Cabinet of the United States#Current Cabinet and Cabinet-rank officials, cabinet-level Federal government of the United States, United States government intelligence and security official. The p ...

(2025-), US Representative for

Hawaii's 2nd congressional district Hawaii's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is represented by Jill Tokuda, who succeeded Kai Kahele after the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii, 2022 election. The ...

(2013–2021) * Mike Gabbard, politician; member of the Hawaii State Senate (2006-) * Verona Mauga, politician; member of the Utah House of Representatives (2025–) * Mufi Hannemann, politician; 12th Mayor of Honolulu (2005–2010) * Bode Uale, Hawaii state court judge

Sports

; American football * Al Afalava * C. J. Ah You * Harland Ah You * Tui Alailefaleula * Clifton Alapa * Tyson Alualu * Brad Anae * Robert Anae * Charlie Ane Jr. * Charlie Ane III * Donovan Arp * Devin Asiasi * Isaac Asiata * Matt Asiata * Sal Aunese * Kahlil Bell * Kendrick Bourne * Inoke Breckterfield * Algie Brown * DeForest Buckner * Colby Cameron * Jordan Cameron * Suʻa Cravens * Scott Crichton * Hershel Dennis * Luther Elliss * Justin Ena * DeQuin Evans * Nuʻu Faʻaola * Jonathan Fanene * Eletise Fiatoa * Malcom Floyd * Fou Fonoti * Toniu Fonoti * Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala * Setema Gali * Randall Goforth * Micah Hannemann * Wayne Hunter * Nate Ilaoa * Junior Ioane * Sale Isaia * Senio Kelemete * Pat Kesi * Hauʻoli Kikaha * Glen Kozlowski * Mike Kozlowski * Jake Kuresa * Shawn Lauvao * Kili Lefotu * Sefo Liufau * Joe Lobendahn * Al Lolotai * Malaefou MacKenzie * Kaluka Maiava * Damien Mama * Frank Manumaleuga * Brandon Manumaleuna * Vince Manuwai *

Marcus Mariota Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota (born October 30, 1993) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks footb ...

* Jeremiah Masoli * Hercules Mataʻafa * Fred Matua * Rey Maualuga * Josh Mauga * Itula Mili * Roy Miller * Edwin Mulitalo *

Louis Murphy Louis Morris Murphy Jr. (born May 11, 1987) is an American former professional American football, football wide receiver. He played college football for the Florida Gators football, University of Florida, where he was a member of two BCS Nation ...

* Kai Nacua * Puka Nacua * Jim Nicholson * Ken Niumatalolo * Al Noga * Niko Noga * Pete Noga * Chris Owusu * Tenny Palepoi * Joe Paopao * David Parry *

Saul Patu Saul King Patu (born June 8, 1978) is an American football coach and former defensive end. He played college football at Oregon and professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL). Early life and college Patu was born and raised in Seattle to ...

* Domata Peko * Kyle Peko * Tupe Peko * Ropati Pitoitua * Kennedy Polamalu * Troy Polamalu * Pulu Poumele * Jeremiah Poutasi * Tavita Pritchard * Mike Purcell * Keilani Ricketts * Jason Rivers * Blaine Saipaia * Dan Saleaumua * Dru Samia * Brashton Satele * Samson Satele * Brian Schwenke * Kona Schwenke * Ian Seau * Junior Seau * Mike Sellers * Isaac Seumalo * Danny Shelton * Sealver Siliga * Mana Silva * JuJu Smith-Schuster * Brian Soi * Paul Soliai * Vic Soʻoto * Xavier Suʻa-Filo * Nicky Sualua * Frank Summers * Alameda Taʻamu * Ed Taʻamu * Tua Tagovailoa * Nuʻu Tafisi * Kelly Talavou * Lofa Tatupu * Vai Taua * Will Taʻufoʻou * Junior Tautalatasi * Terry Tautolo * Sae Tautu * J. R. Tavai * Daniel Teʻo-Nesheim * Manti Teʻo * Martin Tevaseu * Jack Thompson * D. J. Tialavea * John Timu * Pisa Tinoisamoa * Albert Toeaina * Pago Togafau * Levine Toilolo * Mao Tosi * Charles Tuaau * Esera Tuaolo * Natu Tuatagaloa * Marques Tuiasosopo * Peter Tuiasosopo * Lavasier Tuinei * Mark Tuinei * Van Tuinei * Joe Tuipala * Willie Tuitama * Maugaula Tuitele * Andria Tupola * Mike Ulufale * Morris Unutoa * Jeremiah Valoaga * Lenny Vandermade * Larry Warford * Albert Wilson ; Athletics * Jeremy Dodson, sprints * Gary Fanelli, long-distance * Anthony Leiato, shot put ; Baseball * Benny Agbayani * Isiah Kiner-Falefa * Sean Manaea ; Basketball * Rashaun Broadus * James Johnson * Dion Prewster * Wally Rank * Peyton Siva * Mekeli Wesley * Wendell White ; Mixed martial arts * Andre Fili * Kendall Grove *

Max Holloway Jerome Max Keli'i Holloway (born December 4, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Fea ...

* Raquel Paʻaluhi ; Professional wrestling * Afa Anoaʻi * Afa Anoaʻi Jr. * Lloyd Anoaʻi * Vanessa Borne * Deuce * Emily Dole *

Jacob Fatu Jacob Fatu (born April 18, 1992) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand and is the WWE United States Champion in his List of WWE United States Champions, first re ...

* Sam Fatu * Nia Jax *

* Sean Maluta *

Roman Reigns Leati Joseph Anoaʻi ( ; born May 25, 1985), better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, is an American professional wrestler and former gridiron football, football player. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he performs on the Sm ...

Rikishi A , or, more colloquially, , is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who par ...

* Rosey *

Samoa Joe Nuufolau Joel Seanoa (born March 17, 1979), better known by the ring name Samoa Joe, is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Opps, and is one-third of the AEW Worl ...

* Samu * Solo Sikoa * Tamina Snuka * Umaga * Jey Uso * Jimmy Uso *

Yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

; Rugby * Thretton Palamo, union * Psalm Wooching, union ; Swimming * Virginia Farmer * Stewart Glenister * Robin Leamy ; Other * Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, volleyball * Mariah Bullock, soccer * Tony Finau, golf * Konishiki Yasokichi, sumo *

Greg Louganis Gregory Efthimios Louganis (; born January 29, 1960) is an American Olympic Diving (sport), diver who won gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics on the springboard and platform. He is the only man and the second ...

, diving * Garrett Muagututia, volleyball * Fua Logo Tavui, sailing

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* Matt Keikoan, poker player * Alema Leota, politician and alleged criminal * Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard, writer, literature professor * Maluseu Doris Tulifau, human rights activist

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