The leadership role of women and their resilience in forging ahead despite difficult circumstances was celebrated last night in the 2017 Stars of Oceania awards at the Lee Auditorium.
Eight of the 13 award recipients, sponsored by the University of Hawaii Pacific Business Center, headed by Papalii Dr. Failautusi Avegalio, were women.
Governor Lolo Moliga who was the first speaker of the evening said American Samoa was happy to host the first awards night to be held outside of Hawaii and hoped that spotlighting the achievements and influence of women would help change some cultural stigmas about
women.
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The governor proudly listed all of the women members of his cabinet many of whom were present as well as women and men of Samoan ancestry who are leading the way outside of American Samoa.
Four of the awardees were present last night: Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Dr. Joanne Preston of the International Society Organization Development Change, Dr. Fran Palama of Hawaii and Nikolao Pula, Director of the Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Interior.
The other awardees were Congresswoman Aumua Amata, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Dr. Hilda Cathy Heine, President of the Marshall islands, Hokule’a Captain Pomaikalani Bertelmann and Navigator Kaiulani Murphy, and Lavinia Kaumaitotoya Program Manager of the Pacific Islands Farmers Organization Network of Fiji.
Posthumous awards recognized the late Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin and the late governor of CNMI Eloy Inos.
Two organizations which received awards were the Pacific Island Farmers Organization Network and the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa.
Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi spoke about the influence of her mother, the challenges she faced as a young single woman claiming titles that belonged to her father, the first prime minister of Samoa and the most memorable example of resilience and healing for her.
This was the coming together of people in Samoa without any coordination after the 2009 tsunami.
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