Tala Samoa, Samoan News, San Diego
LEIISA CASE is the 2016 Ms. PIFA
Miss PIFA 2016 pageant was held last Saturday night and the winner of the Pageant was Leiisa Case who is Samoan, Guamanian, Tokelauen and Filipino. More details to come. This is a video of her talent performance.
Ms. PIFA 2016 is down to the 2 finalists, Cheyene Solia and Leiisa Case. Support the Pageant this weekend
Story and photos Courtesy of PIFA, San Diego, CA
Two lovely Pacific Island women will compete for the title of Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego, representing the Pacific Islander indigenous cultures of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, as well as their unique individuality in leadership, communication and other characteristics inherent of a role model to other young Pacific Island women.
Each contestant will receive a scholarship to further their goals in education. Furthermore, the new Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego will continue for the next year to promote the indigenous cultures of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia; promote the role of Pacific Island and American women; raise awareness and concerns on issues faced by women and youth, and much more. This also provides a great opportunity for a platform of a specific area the future Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego feels strongly about that will benefit the community of today and for generations to come.
Two lovely Pacific Island women will compete for the title of Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego, representing the Pacific Islander indigenous cultures of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, as well as their unique individuality in leadership, communication and other characteristics inherent of a role model to other young Pacific Island women.
Each contestant will receive a scholarship to further their goals in education. Furthermore, the new Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego will continue for the next year to promote the indigenous cultures of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia; promote the role of Pacific Island and American women; raise awareness and concerns on issues faced by women and youth, and much more. This also provides a great opportunity for a platform of a specific area the future Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego feels strongly about that will benefit the community of today and for generations to come.
Maua le faailoga ole FaaFoma'i poo le Doctorate of Theology a le susuga ile faafeagaiga o Ulalei Tausaga ma le faletua o Mai Tausaga i Pensacola, FL.Pensacola, Fl.
Sa faaeaina le susuga ile Faafeagaiga o Ulalei Tausaga ma le faletua o Mai ole First Samoan Full Gospel Church i le vaiaso na tuana'i atu ina ua la maua a la tikeri (degree) faa Foma'i poo le Doctorate of Theology ma le Doctorate of Divinity mai le aoga i Florida ole International Miracle Institute. O lenei aoga na faatuina ile 1994 ma oloo auai i latou mai atunee eseese ole lalolagi e aofia ai Aferika, Asia ma Amerika. O se aoga ua iai fa'iloga mo le a'oa'oina ole Tusi Paia ma le faaofuina o i latou e pasi a latou su'ega ile tikeri e iai le AA, BA, le MA faapea ma le Doctorate poo le tikeri faaFoma'i ile Tusi Pa'ia. Sa malaga atu le susuga ile faafeagaiga ile vaiaso na mavae faatasi ai ma nisi mai le latou ekalesia. Ose tala a le Faafeagaiaga o Ulalei ma le Faletua, ole la taumafai le a ua pale, ose tulaga e faafiafiaina ai i laua ma ose tulaga na la manatu e tatau na ave ai le viiga i le Atua ona ua ausia e i laua lenei faamanuiaga. O isi ua la aveina iai le faamalo ma le faafetai o le la nofoaalo sa tapua'i mai i San Diego a o la faimalaga ae maise le au Lotu i Lemon Grove. The next generation of the San Diego Pauu Police Officer Legacy is secured with Rowdy Pauu's graduation .By Albert Ainuu Photos By Penu Pauu, Jr., Sina Tupea and Beth Atuatasi
The Pauu Family have established a legacy of service to the City of San Diego that is second to none. The latest installment of this legacy was added on August 6, 2015 at the MCAS Marine base when Rowdy Pauu, the son of Penu Pauu and Alaisea Pauu, graduated from the 103rd Regional Police Academy to become the next generation of Police Officer in the Pauu family. The entire family and friends attended the ceremony where Rowdy was presented his Diploma and officially became a San Diego Police Officer. For his parents it was quite an honor to see one of their children step into this career. police work runs in the family. Penu and Alaisea both are retired Police Officers from San Diego. Penu Pauu is the first and only Samoan to ever achieve the position of Police Chief of a major US City. In 2003 Penu became the interim Chief of Police for San Diego. This was a very important achievement by the Samoan community in the USA. San Diego is one of top 8 cities in the US in terms of population and Samoans are a small portion of that population. But Penu has been a great role model for the Samoan youth to aspire to the top position no matter where you come from. Rowdy's mother Alaisea also worked as a Police Officer for her entire career. She worked in San Diego as well and has retired. She has also served the community well and is continuing her service through volunteering for such organizations as the Pacific Islander Festival Association. She was esctatic when Rowdy decided to become a Police Officer. She had not really pushed her son to become a Police Officer and was surprised when he made that decision given it was a loss of pay from his previous position to become a police Officer. But he was adamant that he wanted to do this and continue the family tradition and add to the Pauu legacy in San Diego's police force.
There are those who say if you want to be respected and hold power in the community, then you need to have members of your community in the Police Force. This is evident in San Diego. The Pauu influence as a Police Chief and officers, does affect how police officers treat Samoans in the city because they know Penu is Samoan many officers tend to be more compassionate with our people and there a very few incidents between Samoans and Police in San Diego. If there is anything Samoans need to understand is that more Samoans need to apply to their Police Academies and become Police Officers. Thats the Pauu effect which is now in full effect with the newest Pauu, Rowdy, joining the Force. Congratulations Rowdy. Day for tears ends with record toss
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UP COMING EVENTS/CalendarPastor Benson Mauga and the First Samoan Baptist Church Celebrate their 2nd Anniversary in La Mesa.Building a church from the ground up is not an easy task and Reverend Benson Mauga and his lovely First Lady Mouna have done that for two years now. On October 13, 2015 they celebrated the second anniversary of the First Samoan Baptist Church located in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego, right behind Helix High School. Helix High School has alot of connections to the local Samoan community in San Diego. This is where Benson Mauga's sons attended with NFL Stars, Reggie Bush, Levine Toilolo and Alex Smith. Many Samoans attend this school and the Mauga boys have been a major part in the success of Helix High School's football program. But that only adds to the significance of the location of this Samoan congregation which was founded in 2013 by Benson Fuaautoatasi Mauga. It is an amazing blessing that they have established the very first Samoan Baptist congregation in the United States of America considering the many Samoans who have lived and attended church here since they began arriving in the early 1940s, but according to Reverend Mauga this was all ordained by God as soon as he decided it was time to serve God and the first chapel he saw was on a hill looking down at the Helix High School campus and he said, that is a church up there. He investigated and made the right connections which led to his church becoming housed in the lovely facility where he now conducts services every Sunday at 1pm.
Now the First Samoan Baptist Church is 2 years old and this is a source of great joy and pride for Rev. Mauga and his family who have served in this capacity with a total commitment to serve God and the community. This is a path that he has followed from his youth which led him through many challenges and opportunities and are a part of his heritage as a chief which is a continuation of their role as protectors and facilitators for the Samoan people. It was a natural decision for him because he has been serving his fellowmen in many capacities including his country, Samoan community and family for many years. It could said that this was his destiny. Rev. Mauga is from the villages of Nuuuli and Pago Pago, American Samoa, although he grew up mostly in Nuuuli. He also holds the title of FUA'AUTO'ATASI, and he is the grandson of the one of the Paramount chief titles of American Samoa from his family in Pago Pago, the MAUGA title. This is unique for a Faafeagaiga or Pastor to hold such a distinction in the cultural ranks of Samoa but yet also be in service of God. But this is all part of the plan which Rev. Mauga sees laid out before him. Because he was brought up in American Samoa and has the title of Mauga he has that Samoan pride which is evident in all he does. Not only does he exude the warm confidence of a Samoan Matai, but he also has instilled this confidence in his family as well as those who attend his church. He has the personality and character necessary to be a successful Pastor as he is a warm, open and giving individual. However, the confidence he has is in his faith in God that no matter what challenges he faces that God will be there to answer and provide. This confidence was not something he just gained since becoming a Pastor. He grew up with a heart of a champion as he was a successful boxer and then came to play football in college as a young man. These experiences have influenced him to be heavily involved in sports which he supports through a variety of programs and efforts that he sponsors. Many of his activities involve family which is one of his main emphasis because he has a large family. Pastor Mauga met his lovely First Lady Mouna Tiumalu in 1977 when she came to American Samoa for her Uncle's funeral. She had come from some place named Lemon Grove in San Diego and she definitely caught his attention. A year later he renewed the acquaintance in California and they were married in 1979. He then went into the Navy where he served until he retired and then he worked for Homeland Security a department of the Federal Government until he retired a second time. At that time he and his family had settled in Lemon Grove. They have 6 handsome sons and 9 beautiful grandchildren who are source of great pride for the two of them. His sons are not only a large part of the support he has in his congregation but they also were the basis for his heavy involvement in the recruiting of Samoan athletes in High School and College sports in San Diego. The 6 Mauga boys were known during their days of playing at Helix High School and eventually Grossmont College as some of the fiercest defensive players on the team. They established a tradition and reputation as fearless hitters on the field.
This reputation has opened doors for many Samoan athletes trying to enter College sports. For Rev. Mauga the progress of his boys in sports was a path he would be able to participate in and his participation became very important to the success of the Helix, Grossmont College and Southwestern football programs. When the Grossmont college football team actually won the national Junior College championship while his sons were playing there, the Administration and Athletic Department came calling to ask Rev. Mauga to help bring more Samoan players to their school. He responded by bringing many players from around the USA and American Samoa to play there. The result was a strong football program for Grossmont which was not known for being a football powerhouse before. His work has resulted in the College having a warm spot in their hearts for the Mauga name because of tradition established by the Mauga clan in Grossmont and the success of the program through the contributions he makes to the team. He has begun a tradition where his family serve food to the whole team after each home game. This has endeared them to the coaching staff and the players of Grossmont.
However, he also has helped a local rival, Southwestern College. Southwestern College were not doing so well and Rev. Mauga decided there were more Samoan players than Grossmont could handle so he approached Southwestern College's football program and they were more than happy to bring in Samoan players to play on their team. Eventually with the insertion of Samoans this became a tough team and now both Grossmont and Southwestern were extremely competitive. This desire to create opportunities for the Samoan Football players seems to be a theme that Rev. Benson acts upon without much hesitation. In June of this year four Samoan athletes from Western Samoa arrived to seek a College to play for. They were not able to attend Southwestern College as originally planned but eventually they found their way to Rev. Mauga and he willingly sponsored the 2 athletes who needed a sponsor in order to be accepted by the College. That sponsorship allowed these 4 boys to attend College and currently play for the Grossmont Griffins football team.
The example he has shown of helping Samoan athletes and those in need within the community is what makes Rev. Mauga unique and special in the eyes of the community. He has found a niche that only he can fill when those seeking to gain an education while playing football need help. He has the resources and the contacts to open doors that would normally be very difficult and intimidating to most Samoans but because of the body of work he has already produced in San Diego from the examples of his own sons to the community service he has provided with his lovely First lady, the doors are easy for him to open because he has already laid that foundation. One of Rev. Mauga's contributions to the community is a program he does annually called Heart of a Champion Awards where he acknowledges all the local Samoan High School and College athletes who have been successful through the year. This program has been one of great pride and joy to the parents of the athletes and the athletes who have been acknowledged and received awards at this ceremony. Many of San Diego's top Samoan athletes have attended this Ceremony which Rev. Mauga began in December, 2002. One of the recipients from this Ceremony is Levine Toilolo, starting Tight End for the NFL Atlanta Falcons. The next heart of a Champion Celebration will be held April 30, 2016 at the First Samoan Baptist Church in the afternoon, 1-3pm. This will be the highlight of local Samoan sports events for 2016.
When you hear him speak in church he has a soft and imploring voice, like the voice of your father who is always there to provide for you and support you. This is the voice of a man who has the security of enjoying a successful military career, worked in a very demanding security organization for the US government, and yet he acknowledges the power of the Almighty God in his life and how it has made him succeed. It is this testimony which he shares with his congregation every Sunday. It gives him such confidence in the possibilities that he emphasizes these messages with a deep heartfelt "wow" as if he were a young child standing before the majestic power of the Almighty God himself. "Wow" God is surely good. And that is the attitude you feel while listening to him speak from the pulpit or in person.
Even though he holds one of the most prestigious titles in Samoa, yet he is humble and genuine. He has a genuine love for the word of God and is usually found at his home reading the scriptures in the comfort of the garden he built which resembles a Samoan yard with all different tropical plants growing, blooming and bearing fruit. This is his refuge and here he entertains guests and prepares large meals for the congregation, members of the community or his family on a regular basis. This weekend, October 31, 2015 he will host a Halloween Plate Lunch Fiafia for the benefit of the boys from Samoa to assist them with their tuition. (see the poster). Its his selfless service and dedicated commitment to bettering others that makes the Samoan proverb "Ole ala ile Pule ole Tautua" (Service is the prerequisite to Leadership) so relevant to Rev. Mauga's life. It is an example we could all learn from. For those seeking a church the services are conducted in both English and Samoan so it is open to any and all who want to worship with them whether Samoan or not Samoan, the door is open. Pauu first Samoan in continental U.S. to head police forceBy:DAVID STERRETT - For the North County Times | midnight Sept. 14, 2003
OCEANSIDE -- While his father was serving in Korea and Vietnam, Penu Pauu Jr. watched over his nine younger siblings to make sure everybody stayed in line. At 57, Pauu is still keeping tabs on his siblings, several of whom live in North County. He is also busy as another type of role model as well -- Pauu was named interim police chief of the National City Police Department in July . A native of American Samoa, Pauu said he is the first person from the island to become a police chief in the continental United States, and he hopes his accomplishments serve as a positive example for other Samoans. "I view my position as a role model for youth because there are not many Pacific Islanders in these type of positions," said Pauu, who has worked his way up the National City ranks for the past 32 years. "A lot of Samoans want to be football stars and follow Junior (Seau), but I hope to inspire youths to recognize these types of positions in the community." Pauu doesn't garner the same attention as the linebacker who used to wear No. 55 for the San Diego Chargers, but he said he did receive a congratulatory e-mail from Eni Faleomavaega, the congressman representing American Samoa. The 1965 Sweetwater High School graduate is very involved with the local Samoan community. He served as president of the Pacific Islander Festival Association last year, and is one of the directors of this year's festival which will take place Sept. 27 and 28 at Mission Bay. Pauu lives in Chula Vista, but he has many ties to North County's Samoan community -- four of his brothers, one of his sisters and his mother live in the area. "Oceanside is my second home," Pauu said. "I'm pretty much a local and when I show up in Oceanside people know me because I'm always up there." More than 2,000 Pacific Islanders live in Oceanside, according to the 2000 Census, but Pauu spends most of his time in Oceanside visiting his family. Pauu's family spends the holidays at his mother's house, and he said he tries to visit her as much as possible. "I'm very proud that my son became a chief," said Pauu's mother, Mona Pauu. "But he's still not the boss here in Oceanside." Pauu may not be in charge in Oceanside, but he is good friends with Oceanside Police Chief Michael Poehlman. Poehlman said the two met professionally and have developed a close friendship over the years. "He's a very compassionate person, and he cares a lot about others," Poehlman said. "He's very easy going and he makes people feel very comfortable." Pauu's personality carries over into his leadership approach and he said his main goal as chief is to develop more police interaction with the community. Pauu said he doesn't know who will be named as the department's permanent chief and that he was told he would hold the interim position anywhere from eight to 18 months. But no matter how long he remains, he will always be head of the house. "He's a leadership guy and we all knew he was the oldest when we were growing up," said his brother, Fonoti Pauu, with a laugh. "We're all really proud of him, and he's a great role model for young Samoans." Contact David Sterrett at (760) 761-4414 or [email protected] Samoan-Portuguese family share their heritage in the 2015 annual Portuguese Festa Parade in Point Loma.May 22-24, 2015 is a special time for the Portuguese community in San Diego. The Portuguese arrived in San Diego and settled in Point Loma in 1884 in the early history of San Diego. They were mostly fishermen and were responsible for the growth of Fishing as an industry in San Diego. Now, Point Loma is a very expensive community being on the coast. The Portuguese are very proud of their heritage and have celebrated the Festa Parade since 1922.
The Rose family are part Portuguese part Samoan. Magele Peseta Tiumalu Rose who grew up in Iva, Savaii and Samoa, is the proud wife of her husband Mr. Rose and they have lived in Point Loma for many years. Her children have grown up and now her grandchildren have begun to participate in the Festa Celebration. This celebration is known for the extravagant outfits for the girls which are like Queen's gowns. This is because the history of the Festa Parade or Feast of the Holy Spirit is connected to the Queen of Portugal who was known for her compassion when she took care of her people inspite of the objections of the King. (To watch the slideshow click on photos.) It is said that Queen Saint Isabel saved bread from her own table to give to the hungry. Legend has it that the King tried to stop her from mingling with the poor and the Queen was once caught hiding something in her cloak. When he demanded that she open her cloak to show the concealed food, she said a prayer and threw open her cloak. Instead of bread, red roses tumbled out. It is for this reason that the statue of Queen St. Isabel is depicted with the mantle of flowers.
At one time during Queen St. Isabel's reign there was a terrible famine in Portugal. The Queen depleted all her funds while seeking food for her people and she had no financial resources left; only her crown, the symbol of her royalty. One morning, at Mass, she promised the Holy Spirit, "I will give my crown to the Church if you will send me a miracle, so my people will be relieved of their hunger." As she left the church, she saw ships coming into the harbor loaded with wheat and corn! For over 700 years Portuguese people have celebrated this event in the Festa do Espírito Santo (aka. Feast of the Holy Spirit), thanking and praying to the Holy Spirit to intercede in times of danger or calamity. In San Diego, the Festa do Espírito Santo is the oldest ethnic religious celebration, dating back to the time when the first families settled here in 1884 and was formally organized in 1910. Today, as it has been since 1922, the Chapel next door to the UPSES Hall is used to house the Crown of the Holy Spirit during the Festa. On Pentecost Sunday devotees of the Holy Spirit visit the Chapel to pray and offer a donation of monies or Portuguese sweet breads (which are sold to raise funds) to assure the continuation of this unique ethnic and religious celebration. Since 1922, our Portuguese colony here has made a procession (now a full parade) from our UPSES Hall chapel (i.e. capela) with our annual Queen Saint Isabel personage holding our community's Crown of the Holy Spirit, up to St. Agnes Church for a celebratory Mass followed by another procession/parade back down to our Hall afterward. Our chapel was built especially to hold our Holy Spirit Crowns during the Festa do Espírito Santo. Magele's daughter and son, Phyllis and Anthony participated in this year's parade and also her two grand daughters Delores and Diana. They are sharing their pictures of this unique Festival for our Le Malae viewers which allows us to enjoy the cultural diversity which many of us embrace when we marry into another culture. Congratulations to the United Portuguese SES, Inc., Foundation in San Diego for organizing such a successful event where even the Mayor of San Diego participated. San Diego's Junior Seau the only first Ballot Enshrinee into the NFL Football Hall of Fame in 2015. First Samoan ever!By Chris Wesseling
PHOENIX -- The 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Saturday at NFL Honors, rewarding several all-time greats who had been on the proverbial doorstep the past few years. Junior Seau, Jerome Bettis, Charles Haley, Tim Brown, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff, Ron Wolf and Bill Polian will receive their bust sculptures and gold jackets in Canton next summer. Tingelhoff was a Veterans Committee candidate while Wolf and Polian entered under the auspices of the new Contributor sub-committee. Noticeably missing are former Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison as well as Orlando Pace and Kurt Warner of the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams. If the 2015 class is any indication, that trio will be honored in the coming years. The late Seau was the lone first-ballot enshrinee. Standing with Lance Alworth, Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson on the San Diego Chargers' version of Mt. Rushmore, Seau earned six All-Pro selections and 12 Pro Bowlappearances in a 20-year career. During Super Bowl XLIX week,Seahawks coach Pete Carroll cited the spirit with which Seau played as his lasting legacy. "I think the style of play that he brought to the league," Carroll explained. "He was so outgoing and so aggressive and took chances and was a big risk taker. Along with Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, Seau was one of three greatest inside linebackers of the past two decades. He was a slam-dunk choice for the Hall of Fame. By HOWARD FENDRICH PHOENIX (AP) -- One by one, the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame stepped onto the stage as their names were called. When the eighth man elected Saturday, the late Junior Seau, was announced, his two sons stood with the group. ''I wish,'' 25-year-old Tyler Seau said later, ''he was here in person with us.'' A field-covering, hard-hitting linebacker, the charismatic Seau, who committed suicide at age 43 in 2012, was the only first-time eligible candidate in the Hall's class of 2015. Also getting in Saturday, a day before the Super Bowl, were modern-day players Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley and Will Shields, contributors Bill Polian and Ron Wolf, and senior selection Mick Tingelhoff. ''It's hard when you come into a group of men that have done what they've done, at their caliber, and they're sharing stories and memories that they had together and playing against each other,'' Tyler Seau said. ''It makes you emotional.'' Researchers who studied Junior Seau's brain said it showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease connected to repeated head injuries, including concussions. His death, less than 2 1/2 years after the end of his playing career, resonated among players in the league, raising worry about the physical and emotional toll the sport takes. FILE - In this 1994 file photo, Charles Haley, watches on the sidelines during an NFL football game … Junior Seau played in the NFL for 20 seasons, the first 13 with the San Diego Chargers, followed by three with Miami and four with New England. He was Defensive Player of the Year for San Diego in 1992, made six All-Pro teams, and was a member of the league's All-Decade team of the 1990s. ''He never really needed an award to solidify how good he was. This kind of stuff was more for his family, for his mom, his dad, his brothers. Just to make them proud, make his family proud,'' Tyler Seau said. ''For him, he knew what work he put in. So he knew where he was and where he stood amongst these men. And he's rightfully in.'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said this week he ''loved'' having Seau on his roster. ''I can't imagine having a Professional Football Hall of Fame without Junior Seau in it,'' said Belichick, whose team plays the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday's Super Bowl. ''I'd say the one word that comes to me when I think about Junior and football is 'passion.''' Oceanside hosts the AIGA Foundation's Polynesian All American Bowl 2015By Albert Ainuu
2015 began with a bang and a thud and a lot of hard hits. Oceanside High School was the site of the 2015 AIGA Foundation Polynesian All American Bowl. This is the 5th time this special annual event that was held. It is a competition between the top Polynesian football players in the USA. The AIGA Foundation brought in players from American Samoa, Alaska, Hawaii, Georgia, and all points in between. It was an impressive assembly of young football players of Polynesian heritage. Standing on the side line I felt like I was in a forest of Redwood trees. These youngsters of 16-18 years of age stood so tall they blocked out the sun. Included in this group of athletes were a group of five American Samoan players who had never been to the Mainland before and they were as excited as anyone to be in Oceanside and to compete against some the best football players in America. They actually played at a level that was as good as any of the players from Stateside.
The crowd began assembling for the game way before the starting time of 1pm. There was a festive atmosphere at the Oceanside High School Stadium. There were clothing and food vendors set up, the music from the DJ was definitely Old Skool and the families of the players were there to watch and enjoy a good game of football. And the players did not disappoint. The game was a hard fought contest and even had intrigue. The Black team fell behind in the first half 21-7. The White team had a more disciplined defense and their QB was able to direct 3 scoring drives before the half. But then the Black team began to run the ball behind the slash and dash of Bailey Laolagi of Folsom and their O Line was dominating the line of scrimmage. The Black Defense also stepped up in the second half and shut down the passing of the White quarterbacks, Matt Romero of Oceanside and Jordan Taamu of Pearl City. Logan Tago the Black team's Linebacker showed great versatility with his ability to play the run and the pass with equal skill. The Black team finally won the game 27-21 with a fine defensive stand at the end of the game.
The game ended and then the teams did the siva tau together, an impressive show of Polynesian heritage. The Siva Tau is a Samoan version of the Haka. When the players did the dance it reminded one of the warriors of old when Polynesians were the Lords of the Pacific, sailing from Polynesia to Asia and America and discovering all points in between. The aggressive choreography of the dance and the unified voices of challenge by the young players at the AIGA Founation's All American Bowl truly reminded us of who we are. That display of intensity was true to the heritage of our Polynesian warriors and the culture of courage that continues to thrive even in this era of civilized competition. This was the beauty of the AIGA Foundation's Polynesian All American Bowl. It gave us a chance to be ourselves once again.
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