Alao village dedicated and christened its new fautasi, simply named Alao, Friday morning.
Chief and orators of the village hosted a large gathering of government leaders, business owners, and the community at the Alao fautasi boat shed in Pago Pago, where the longboat has been under construction for the last three months.
Faga Fiti Sunia served as the master of ceremonies.
According to an overview of the project presented by High Chief Sogimaletai, it was in 2013 that the matai of the village made the decision to build a village fautasi as a response to the drug problem affecting village youth and also to build village unity. However, because the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa win Alao was building its church hall at the time, the fautasi was put on the back burner.
Some of the matai who had initiated the project have now passed on, such as Sogimaletavai Leo and Lealao Melila Purcell. Sogimaletai recounted that in April of last year, village chiefs discussed the fautasi again and agreed to bring it to reality. He said that during a trip to the U.S. mainland to seek support from people of Alao living off-island, there was strong support and endorsement for the village fautasi.
The total cost of the fautasi project, including the fautasi shed that was built by Prism company is $476,512.
Talking Chief Faga said the people of Alao, both, here and off-island, all contributed to the cost of the fautasi project. Several businesses also donated, including McDonald’s, which contributed $50,000.
Taupau Tauleave Toluono, the fautasi project manager, said the Alao fautasi has 37 seats, plus one for the skipper, and is 104 ft long. It is built with PVC and fiberglass and reinforced with carbon fiber. All of the materials were imported. The feature of the Alao which most fautasi enthusiasts would find interesting is that it has sliding seats; its design is based on the Olympic rowing boat.
One of the two builders from New Zealand, Simon Miller, explained in an interview with KHJ News what makes the design superior to that of other fautasi…
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Miller and fellow boat builder Denny Moore were bestowed the matai titles Alao and Fetu o Sasae as a token of the village’s appreciation for their service. The two commended the local laborers who helped build the longboat.
Church ministers of Alao offered prayers, and Fr. Kelemete Puaauli, a son of Alao blessed the fautasi with holy water.
Village leaders thanked former Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who was present, for giving Alao space at Pago Park for their fautasi shed, and also acknowledged the support of Pago Pago village.
The crew, mostly first-time rowers, have just a few days to train in the Alao fautasi before the Flag Day regatta.
