Tauese Sunia
Encyclopedia
Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia (August 29, 1941 – March 26, 2003) was the governor of American Samoa
from 1997 until his death. He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii
for medical treatment.
He was a member of the Democratic Party.
He won the election of 1996 in a close runoff with Lealaifuaneva Peter Reid (51%-48%). The runoff was caused by a split in the Democratic party in American Samoa between Sunia and incumbent governor Lutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao, who received third place, with no candidates gaining a majority. Sunia won another close victory against Reid in the 2000 election, 50%–48%, with no runoff.
During Sunia's term of office a protest was issued against Samoa
, formerly named Western Samoa, for changing its official name to the shorter form. The official view in American Samoa
is that such a form detracts from the Samoan
identity of American Samoa
, and public officials and documents from American Samoa
still refer to Samoa
as Western Samoa.
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...
from 1997 until his death. He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
for medical treatment.
He was a member of the Democratic Party.
He won the election of 1996 in a close runoff with Lealaifuaneva Peter Reid (51%-48%). The runoff was caused by a split in the Democratic party in American Samoa between Sunia and incumbent governor Lutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao, who received third place, with no candidates gaining a majority. Sunia won another close victory against Reid in the 2000 election, 50%–48%, with no runoff.
During Sunia's term of office a protest was issued against Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, formerly named Western Samoa, for changing its official name to the shorter form. The official view in American Samoa
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...
is that such a form detracts from the Samoan
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
identity of American Samoa
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...
, and public officials and documents from American Samoa
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...
still refer to Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
as Western Samoa.