Aifili Paulo Lauvao (December 24, 1919 – August 1, 2002), was twice governor of

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 ...

(1985–1989, 1993–1997). The founder of the U.S territory's

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 had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa. Governor Lutali was a

preservationist Preservationist is generally understood to mean ''historic preservationist'': one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects, or sites from demolition or degradation. Historic preservation us ...

who wanted to preserve large areas of the territory's nature. Lutali also worked to preserve American Samoa's ancient sites and historical buildings. He revitalized the Historic Preservation Office.

Biography

Education

From 1951 to 1954, Lutali served as administrative supervisor for public schools. He was chairman of the Samoan Culture Curriculum Committee from 1952 to 1954, a member of the Board of Education from 1955 to 1958, and chairman of the first American Samoa Board of Higher Education, which established the American Samoa Community College, Mapusaga, in 1974. He was admitted to practice in the

High Court of American Samoa The High Court of American Samoa is a Samoan court and the highest court below the United States Supreme Court in American Samoa. The Court is located in the capital of Fagatogo. It consists of one chief justice and one associate justice, appo ...

in 1954 and was one of the founders of the American Samoa Bar Association in 1972. He was appointed a permanent judge of the high court in 1972, and later as chief judge of the Lands and Titles Division.

Political career

Lutali was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives in 1955 and served as its

speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

in 1955–58. He was a member of the 1966 Constitutional Convention and was American Samoa's Delegate to Congress from 1975 to 1979. He was elected to 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 ...

in 1977 and was elected its president in his first year, serving in the senate concurrent to his four-year term as delegate. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor in the 1977 American Samoan gubernatorial election, losing to

Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman (December 8, 1919 – April 28, 1997) was an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Coleman was the first and only person of Samoan descent to be appointed Governor of American Samoa between 1956 and 1961, and later became ...

. In 1978 he announced he would not seek another term as delegate. He was first elected governor of American Samoa in 1984 and lost his bid for a second term in 1988. In 1989, he was returned by his district (Sa'ole) to the Senate where he served as chairman of the Committee on Government Operations until he was again elected governor in 1992. Lutali played a key role in working with Samoan chiefs and the U.S. Congress to create the 50th national park of the United States in American Samoa. He lost his bid for a third term as governor in the 1996 elections.

Death

Lutali suffered a stroke and was admitted to LBJ Medical Center. He died on August 1, 2002.

Legacy

The A. P. Lutali Elementary School on the island of Aunu'u is named in his honor. The A P Lutali Executive Office Building in

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 ...

is also named after him.

Sources

Rulers.org

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Lutali, A.P. 1919 births 2002 deaths 20th-century American politicians American people of Samoan descent American Samoa Democrats 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 Democratic Party governors of American Samoa Governors of American Samoa Members of the American Samoa House of Representatives Speakers of the American Samoa House of Representatives