This is my husband's grandfather. Tulafono had moved to Hawaii from American Samoa four years before saving up enough money to bring over the rest of his family. Tulafono was a member of an elite Samoan unit called the Fita-Fita Guard, which was established in 1900 by the first U.S. governor of the territory, naval commandant Benjamin Franklin Tilley.
The Solaitas were one of the first families to emigrate. English was still not widely spoken, despite several decades of U.S. government effort. Tulafono joined the Marines, successfully arguing that his service with the Fita-Fita should count toward his tenure. After 23 years, he retired as a master sergeant. The Marine life caused the Solaitas to move to Oceanside, California (near San Diego) in 1957. Three years later, it was off to San Francisco.
Tulafono, who passed away in July 2000 at the age of 82, upheld the old traditions as a matai or village chief with the honorific Levu. He is buried on his land in the village of Nu'uuli American Samoa along with his wife Lili'aifao Solaita, son's Tolia "Tony" and Peni Ben Solaita, as well as grandson John Wesley Solaita.
The Solaitas were one of the first families to emigrate. English was still not widely spoken, despite several decades of U.S. government effort. Tulafono joined the Marines, successfully arguing that his service with the Fita-Fita should count toward his tenure. After 23 years, he retired as a master sergeant. The Marine life caused the Solaitas to move to Oceanside, California (near San Diego) in 1957. Three years later, it was off to San Francisco.
Tulafono, who passed away in July 2000 at the age of 82, upheld the old traditions as a matai or village chief with the honorific Levu. He is buried on his land in the village of Nu'uuli American Samoa along with his wife Lili'aifao Solaita, son's Tolia "Tony" and Peni Ben Solaita, as well as grandson John Wesley Solaita.
This is my husband's grandfather. Tulafono had moved to Hawaii from American Samoa four years before saving up enough money to bring over the rest of his family. Tulafono was a member of an elite Samoan unit called the Fita-Fita Guard, which was established in 1900 by the first U.S. governor of the territory, naval commandant Benjamin Franklin Tilley.
The Solaitas were one of the first families to emigrate. English was still not widely spoken, despite several decades of U.S. government effort. Tulafono joined the Marines, successfully arguing that his service with the Fita-Fita should count toward his tenure. After 23 years, he retired as a master sergeant. The Marine life caused the Solaitas to move to Oceanside, California (near San Diego) in 1957. Three years later, it was off to San Francisco.
Tulafono, who passed away in July 2000 at the age of 82, upheld the old traditions as a matai or village chief with the honorific Levu. He is buried on his land in the village of Nu'uuli American Samoa along with his wife Lili'aifao Solaita, son's Tolia "Tony" and Peni Ben Solaita, as well as grandson John Wesley Solaita.
The Solaitas were one of the first families to emigrate. English was still not widely spoken, despite several decades of U.S. government effort. Tulafono joined the Marines, successfully arguing that his service with the Fita-Fita should count toward his tenure. After 23 years, he retired as a master sergeant. The Marine life caused the Solaitas to move to Oceanside, California (near San Diego) in 1957. Three years later, it was off to San Francisco.
Tulafono, who passed away in July 2000 at the age of 82, upheld the old traditions as a matai or village chief with the honorific Levu. He is buried on his land in the village of Nu'uuli American Samoa along with his wife Lili'aifao Solaita, son's Tolia "Tony" and Peni Ben Solaita, as well as grandson John Wesley Solaita.
