Mr. Kenneth Kuaea has been selected by the governing board of American Samoa’s Community Health Centers (CHC) and Director of Health (DOH) to serve as the community health centers’ new executive director.
Mr. Kuaea was overwhelmingly considered the best candidate to oversee the territory’s health clinics in Tafuna, Leone, Amouli, Ta’u and Ofu.
According to a DOH press release, interests in the Governor’s Office postponed his start at the CHC as he was being considered for other critical areas in the government.
Nonetheless, Mr. Kuaea was able to sign an employment contract for the CHC executive director position in December 2018.
Complications developed, however, with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) that prevented him from starting at the CHC.
The CHC’s governing board then issued a resolution that Mr. Kuaea be hired without further delay.
This led to a sequence of meetings between DOH, DHR and the Governor’s Office.
Thanks to the mediation of Acting Governor Lemanu Mauga, a new employment contract was issued by DHR and signed by government authorities last week.
DOH Director Motusa Tuileama Nua expressed enthusiasm at the Tafuna health clinic’s key leaders meeting as he introduced Mr. Kuaea.
“We are very grateful to have a person of Ken’s education, experience and management skills to lead the CHC. We look forward to the work we will accomplish together in elevating the healthcare services that we provide to the people of American Samoa.”
Mr. Kuaea said, “I am honored to serve the people of American Samoa in this capacity. I will do my best, working with our healthcare professionals to improve our quality of service. I want people to know that I have an open door policy. If a person has a recommendation for how to improve services at the CHC, please call 699-6380 ext.222, stop by my office at the Tafuna health clinic or email me at kkuaea@doh.as. I welcome such discussions.”
The new executive director was born in Los Angeles, CA, to Frank and Mafa Kuaea, both of whom are natives of American Samoa. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. He then earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the Brigham Young University (BYU) Marriott School of Business and a Juris Doctor degree from BYU’s Law School while simultaneously serving as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Since moving to the territory, Mr. Kuaea worked at the American Samoa Community College, first as a faculty member and then as executive counsel. He later served as the deputy director of the DHR until his resignation in April of last year. Since then, Mr. Kuaea has been serving in the community with his wife, Luisa, helping to organize medical missions that target rheumatic heart disease, mental health research, a civic engagement coalition and a summer reading program for children.
