Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia (August 29, 1941 – March 26, 2003) was an American Samoan politician who served as the fifth
governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death in 2003. He was the second governor of American Samoa to
die in office;
Warren Terhune
Warren Jay Terhune (May 3, 1869 – November 3, 1920) was a United States Navy Commander, and the governor of American Samoa. Terhune was born in Midland Park, New Jersey, and lived in New Jersey most of his life when not posted elsewhere. He w ...
was the first.
Career
Sunia was a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
. He won the election of 1996 in a close
runoff
Runoff, run-off or RUNOFF may refer to:
* RUNOFF, the first computer text-formatting program
* Runoff or run-off, another name for bleed, printing that lies beyond the edges to which a printed sheet is trimmed
* Runoff or run-off, a stock marke ...
with
Lealaifuaneva Peter Reid (51%-48%). The runoff was caused by a split in the Democratic Party in American Samoa between Sunia and incumbent governor
Lutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao, who received third place, with no candidate gaining a majority. Sunia won another close victory against Reid in the 2000 election, 50%–48%, with no runoff.
During Sunia's term of office a protest was issued against
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...
, formerly named Western Samoa, for changing its official name to the shorter form. The official view in
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 Internationa ...
is that such a form detracts from the
Samoan identity of American Samoa, and public officials and documents from
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 Internationa ...
still refer to Samoa as "Western Samoa".
Personal life
Sunia married
Fagaoalii Satele Sunia
Fagaoalii Lefagaoali'i Satele Sunia (c. 1946 – September 5, 2015) was an American Samoan literacy advocate and educator. She served as the First Lady of American Samoa from January 1997 to March 2003 during the tenure of her husband, former Gove ...
in 1969.
They moved back to American Samoa in 1981 after living in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and settled in
Leone, American Samoa
Leone is the second-largest city on Tutuila Island's west coast.Clayville, Melinda (2021). ''Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Manu'a Islands''. Page 70. ISBN 9798556052970. The village is on the south-west coast o ...
.
Death
Sunia died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
to receive medical treatment, becoming only the second governor of American Samoa (after
Warren Terhune
Warren Jay Terhune (May 3, 1869 – November 3, 1920) was a United States Navy Commander, and the governor of American Samoa. Terhune was born in Midland Park, New Jersey, and lived in New Jersey most of his life when not posted elsewhere. He w ...
), and the first civilian one, to die in office. In 2012, the Utulei Convention Center was remodeled and renamed for Sunia. His wife, Fagaoalii Satele Sunia, died on September 5, 2015.
References
External links
Obituary*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunia, Tauese
1941 births
2003 deaths
20th-century American politicians
American people of Samoan descent
American Samoa Democrats
American Samoan Congregationalists
Democratic Party governors of American Samoa
Governors of American Samoa
Lieutenant Governors of American Samoa
People from Pago Pago