Briefs
People
Tauaea Raioaoa, a 55-year-old Tahitian fisherman, was rescued at Aitutaki in the Cook Islands in mid-July after four months at sea in a 25-foot fishing boat. His boat ran out of fuel on March 15. He could not communicate with rescue services and began a drift voyage of 750 miles. After a while he began to lose track of time, and when rescued thought he had spent almost six months drifting. Raioaoa said he had tied himself to his boat and prayed often. When he first saw the island he was too weak to swim ashore. His family, however, never gave up hope. "We always thought he would come back," said Louise, one of his sisters. He survived on raw fish, dried fish and rainwater. When rescued he weighed 108 pounds instead of his pre-voyage 154 pounds. Following his ordeal, Raioaoa was said to be in good shape and "stuffing himself with steaks and French fries."
—ND
Aloha Airlines CEO Glenn R. Zander recently announced the promotion of Brenda F. Cutwright to executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Hawaii-based airline. Cutwright has worked for Aloha for 18 years. Zander made the announcement as part of a stand-alone business strategy being implemented following the unsuccessful attempt to merge with Hawaiian Airlines earlier this year.
—GJ
- ADVERTISEMENT -
 |
|
|
—GJ
National Geographic has finished filming a documentary about the ordeal of two Samoan fishermen who survived over four months drifting at sea last year. Four fishermen left Samoa in a small boat on July 24, 2001. They were found 2,000 away in Papua New Guinea waters in November. Only Tele‘a Lea‘ana and Lafaele Tuatagaloa survived the voyage. The documentary is expected to be completed in late 2002. Producer Michael Linder said that after seeing the film, "Perhaps people all over the world who open a can of tuna, then make a sandwich, will have true respect for where that fish came from and the work of the people who went to sea and risked their lives to provide it."
—FS
Nineteen-year-old Rava Maiarii, modern representative of a race that had once inspired the Bounty mutineers to mutiny, was named Miss Tahiti Nui 2002. Maiarii, a student of biology at the University of French Polynesia, hails from Tahaa in the Leeward Group and said she was pleased and surprised to receive the title. Miss Tahiti Nui will take part in the Miss World beauty contest in November. The event is expected to take place in the Seychelles. Runner-up was Tahia Balderanis, who won the Miss Tahiti title.
—ND
In Tahiti’s neighboring and ethnically related island group, the title of Miss Cook Islands, judged at the National Auditorium in Rarotonga, was won by Donna Tuara, to roars of acclamation from an excited crowd. She participated in the event as Miss Budget Rent A Car. Runner-up was Janice Nicholas, who entered as Miss Beachcomber. The evening was further distinguished by an appearance from the current Miss South Pacific, Samoa’s Manamea Apelu.
—ND
The British queen’s birthday honors list, announced in mid-June, includes four Cook Islanders. The recipients, all venerable males who have given years of service to community and country, are: Dr. Teariki Matenga, medical doctor and one-time Minister of Internal Affairs and Justice, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to public health and the community; Tahiti-born Manihiki resident Tekake William, regarded as the "father of the black pearl industry," who received Member of the British Empire for services to business and the community; Kaveariki Akania, long-time public servant, particularly with the Department of Works, who was awarded the British Empire Medal for community service; and Piriariki Tamaao, one-time schoolteacher and later office holder in the Education Ministry, who received the BEM for services to education and the community. All four recipients are active in sporting and church affairs.
—ND
 |
|
|
U.S. congresswoman Dianne Watson (D-California) and American Samoa Representative Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin headed a Congressional delegation that visited the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam and Japan. The visit was part of an increasing number of American congressional visitors as renegotiation of the Compacts of Free Association for the Marshall Islands and FSM near conclusion. Watson is no stranger to the islands, having been U.S. ambassador to the FSM in the late 1990s.
—GJ
Fiji judo star Nacanieli Qerewaqa Takayawa was the Pacific’s first gold medallist at the Manchester Commonwealth Games when he beat the U.K.’s Daniel Sargent in the men’s final of the 100 kg weight category.
—GJ
The Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawai‘i, announced several new appointments, including the selection of Gary Nelson as the resort’s senior conference and conventions manager. It also added three new people to its sales team: Donald D. Chock, director of sales, Dennis Carhart, director of incentive sales and Dylah Hughes, national sales manager.
—GJ
American Samoa Power Authority executive director Abe Malae has been named chairman of the regional Pacific Power Association. He was selected by PPA delegates at their recent annual meeting in Fiji. The PPA is one of the few regional organizations that includes American-affiliated islands, independent countries and the French territories.
—FS
An orator of Lepea village, Samoa, Lepou Petelo II, was named the new Member of Parliament for Faleata East in early August after chiefs in the area reached consensus on his appointment. Chief Electoral Officer Mase Toia Alama confirmed the appointment by the chiefs. He replaces fellow villager Faumuina Anapapa, who resigned his MP position when he was elected by parliament to become a member of the Council of Deputies.
—FS
The East-West Center in Honolulu announced advanced study scholarships for four Pacific Islanders this year. They include Donald Kiriau, of the Solomon Islands, who will work on a B.A. in political science; Monalisa Palu, of Tonga, who will pursue a B.A. in business administration; June Kohlhase, of Samoa, who will work on an M.A. in urban and regional planning and Ashwin Raj, of Fiji, who will pursue an M.A. in public policy. The U.S.-South Pacific Islands Scholarship Program at the EWC has provided a total of 41 scholarships since 1995.
—SW
Member of Parliament Su‘a Atonio said in late June that the Samoan government shouldn’t lie and say tax hikes on cigarettes and alcohol are being implemented out of concern for people’s health. The tax increases are because "government needs the money," Atonio said in Parliament during a debate on next fiscal year’s budget. "If the government wants to stop smoking and drinking, it should stop them, but don’t hide the tax increases by saying they were out of concern for people’s health," he said. The Samoan government generates about US$11.4 million from tobacco and alcohol taxes.
—FS
Senator Isaac Figir of Yap told the Federated States of Micronesia Congress in late June that the national government should purchase horses to use as land vehicles, replacing cars. He said horses could be used in places where a car cannot go, "like going on a mountain to deliver a subpoena where roads for cars are not available. The horse could also go into water and you don’t have to fill it with expensive gasoline." Horses could be fed with the grass outside the FSM Congress offices in Palikir, "and when the horse dies, we could also eat it," the senator reasoned.
—GJ
Asterio Takesy has been named to replace Tamarii Tutangata as director of the South Pacific Regional Environ-ment Program when the latter’s contract expires in January 2003. Takesy has been director of the Federated States of Micronesia’s Compact negotiating office and is the first Micronesian to head SPREP.
In Memoriam
Rev. Pita Elisara, leader of the largest religious faith in American Samoa, died unexpectedly in early August at age 59. He was scheduled to open the "Pulega (entertainment) night" for the annual conference of the Congregation of Christian Churches in American Samoa, attended by close to 1,000 delegates, but suddenly became ill in the afternoon and was rushed to the hospital. Family members reported that he died en route to the hospital.
—FS
Liam Reynolds, former Pacific editor with the Australian Broadcasting Corp., died recently after a long illness. Described by colleagues as a keen observer of Pacific politics and developments, he had retired about 15 years ago from ABC.
—GJ
 |
|
|
Former American Samoa Governor A.P. Lutali died on August 1 at the LBJ Medical Center in Pago Pago at the age of 82. He served two separate four-year terms in the mid-1980s and in the mid-1990s, and was also a one-term representative of the territory in the U.S. congress from 1975-1977.
—FS
Contributors:
Norman Douglas,
Giff Johnson, Fili Sagapolutele, Rebecca Stanfel and Scott Whitney
