Funeral services for the late High Chief Afoafouvale Leulumoega Su’esu’e Lutu will be held tomorrow and Saturday.
Afoa passed away December 15 in Loma Linda, California and his body was brought home last Thursday night.
Both the Senate and House have passed a Senate Joint Resolution honoring the life of a man who spent most of his adult life serving the American Samoa Government, his family, church and community.
“Afoa was a distinguished statesman, a cornerstone of this community and a prominent figure in both the Legislature and territory. The immense loss is deeply felt by all. His legacy will endure through his remarkable achievements throughout his illustrious career and the profound influence he had on every individual he encountered,” says the resolution.
Afoa is a former Attorney General, Senator, House Representative, Chief Legislative Counsel and Director of the Legislative Bureau.
He served as chief legal counsel for the American Samoa Constitutional Convention of 1986, and was also Director of the 2010 Constitutional Convention. During Afoa’s first term as AG under Governor Lutali, he was a member of the US delegation that negotiated the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.
Afoa founded the Tautai o Samoa Fishing Association and was a member of the Advisory Panel and Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council.
He ran for Congress once and for Governor three times, but was unsuccessful.
Afoa was an ordained deacon of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Utulei and was once the legal counsel for CCCAS.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. A non-profit organization that his family founded, Agency for Better Living Endeavors, has helped promote awareness of the disease in the territory.
Afoa died just two months after his wife of 51 years, Etenauga Lam Yuen Lutu, passed away.
A family service will be held at 1pm tomorrow at the CCCAS Church in Fagatogo. His final service is set for 11am, Saturday, at the CCCAS Church in Utulei.
