American Samoa holds a special place in the hearts of one of the most successful Samoan bands, Punialavaa.
It was here that Rev Lale Peteru and his wife Vini first began recording cassettes at the DayStar Recording Studio in Vaitogi. Their eldest son Nanai was only 4 months old at the time.
That was the time of well known and ageless compositions like “Ta’elega i Petesa, Ou Faitau le Tusi Paia, Ata mai le Teine and Silasila….
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The Peterus now make their home in NZ and have taken Punialava’a to new heights.
The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards in NZ presented the band with a life achievement award this year, the first group from Samoa to be so honored.
The family band arrived in American Samoa yesterday and will give their first performance at the Tradewinds this evening, a corporate table concert.
Their main event is a concert at Veterans Memorial Stadiun tomorrow, a benefit for “Love thy Neighbor”.
On the Samoa Sunrise Show this morning, Nanai with his father Rev Peteru talked about the start of Punialavaa and why American Samoa is special.
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