A. P. Lutali
Encyclopedia
Aifili Paulo Lauvao was governor of American Samoa
(1985-89, 1993-97). The founder of the U.S. commonwealth's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa. From 1951 to 1954, he served as administrative supervisor for public schools. He was chairman of the Samoan Culture Curriculum Committee from 1952 to 1954, a member of the Board of Education from 1955 to 1958, and chairman of the first American Samoa Board of Higher Education, which established the American Samoa Community College
, Mapusaga, in 1974. He was admitted to practice in the High Court of American Samoa
in 1954 and was one of the founders of the American Samoa Bar Association in 1972. He served as chief judge of the Lands and Titles Division. He was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives
in 1955 and served as its speaker in 1955-58. He was chairman of the 1966 Constitution Convention and was American Samoa's Washington, D.C., delegate at large from 1975 to 1977. He was selected for the American Samoa Senate
in 1977 and was elected president in his first year. He was first elected governor of American Samoa in 1984 and lost his bid for a second term in 1988. In 1989, he was returned by his district Sa'ole to the Senate where he served as chairman of the Committee on Government Operations until he was again elected governor in 1992. Lutali played a key role in working with Samoan chiefs and the U.S. Congress to create the 50th national park of the United States in American Samoa. He lost his bid for a third term as governor in the 1996 elections.
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
(1985-89, 1993-97). The founder of the U.S. commonwealth's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa. From 1951 to 1954, he served as administrative supervisor for public schools. He was chairman of the Samoan Culture Curriculum Committee from 1952 to 1954, a member of the Board of Education from 1955 to 1958, and chairman of the first American Samoa Board of Higher Education, which established the American Samoa Community College
American Samoa Community College
American Samoa Community College is a two-year WASC college located in the village of Mapusaga, on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa, an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States of America...
, Mapusaga, in 1974. He was admitted to practice in the High Court of American Samoa
High Court of American Samoa
The High Court of American Samoa is the highest court below the United States Supreme Court in American Samoa. The Court is located in the capital of Fagatogo. It consists of a Chief Justice and an Associate Justice, appointed by the United States Secretary of the Interior...
in 1954 and was one of the founders of the American Samoa Bar Association in 1972. He served as chief judge of the Lands and Titles Division. He was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives
American Samoa House of Representatives
The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono. The House consists of 21 representatives serving two-year terms, with 20 popular elected members, and one representative elected by a public meeting on Swains Island....
in 1955 and served as its speaker in 1955-58. He was chairman of the 1966 Constitution Convention and was American Samoa's Washington, D.C., delegate at large from 1975 to 1977. He was selected for the American Samoa Senate
American Samoa Senate
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.-List of Senators:* Utu Abe Malae...
in 1977 and was elected president in his first year. He was first elected governor of American Samoa in 1984 and lost his bid for a second term in 1988. In 1989, he was returned by his district Sa'ole to the Senate where he served as chairman of the Committee on Government Operations until he was again elected governor in 1992. Lutali played a key role in working with Samoan chiefs and the U.S. Congress to create the 50th national park of the United States in American Samoa. He lost his bid for a third term as governor in the 1996 elections.