Fano Solinuu Shimasaki (May 22, 1888 – April 17, 1958) was an

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the Internation ...

n traditional chieftess and politician. Shimasaki was the first woman to serve as a Senator in the

American Samoa Senate The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term. History American Samoa became a Unit ...

, the upper chamber of the

American Samoa Fono The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is locate ...

. She held the chiefly title of "Fano", from the family's home village of

Fagaʻalu Fagaalu is a village in central Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is also known as Fagaalo. It is located on the eastern shore of Pago Pago Harbor, to the south of Pago Pago. American Samoa's lone hospital, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical ...

. Solinuu Shimasaki was born on May 22, 1888, in the village of

Utulei Utulei or Utulei is a village in Maoputasi County, in the Eastern District of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. Utulei is traditionally considered to be a section of Fagatogo village, the legislative capital of American Samoa, and is l ...

on the island of

Tutuila Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, A ...

, present-day

, to Tuiaimo'o Fano and Tausisi'i Leta'a. In 1907, she married Masaitchido "Frank" Shimasaki (1877–1962), who was one of the first Japanese businessmen to immigrate to American Samoa. The couple had at least fourteen children, including Fano Frank Shimasaki (1913–1984), their last surviving son who also served as a member of the

. Fano Solinuu Shimasaki died in

, Maʻopūtasi County, Eastern District, American Samoa, on April 17, 1958, at the age of 69. She was buried in Fagaʻalu village. In March 2021, U.S. Congresswoman

Amata Coleman Radewagen Amata Catherine Coleman Radewagen (born December 29, 1947), commonly called Aumua Amata , is an American Samoan politician who is the current delegate for the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa. Radewagen, a Republican, ...

released a statement paying tribute to Fano Shimasaki, as well as

Mabel Coleman Reid Mabel Coleman Reid (died 9 November 1969), also known by the Samoan name Sinaitaaga,Samoa legislato ...

, the first woman elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives, to mark

Women's History Month Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shimasaki, Solinuu 1888 births 1958 deaths American Samoa Senators American Samoan women in politics People from Faga'alu People from Eastern District, American Samoa