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The head of state of independent Samoa, Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga
Efi, was the guest of honor at the University of Hawai'i at
Mānoa on Aug. 26. Photo: Liza Simon
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Samoan head of state spotlights indigenous spirituality
By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola
As part of an historic visit to Hawai'i, the head of state from independent Samoa, Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi, was the featured guest of honor at a panel discussion on Pacific indigenous religion, held August 26 at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Quoting liberally from the ancient proverbs of his culture, the Samoan leader read from his latest book of writings about Samoa's pre-Christian faith, which linked mankind in an intricate web of relationships with the forces of nature. He presented several passages of text describing the role of fa'a Samoa – practices of Samoan culture in maintaining mankind's sense of harmony with the island environment. As an example, he pointed to the protocol Samoans use in cutting trees: "A chant or prayer chant seeks forgiveness for causing pain to the tree,” he said. "This is to ensure that the environment is conserved for future generations. For conservation's sake, we need to prioritize nature over matters of profit.”
Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi acknowledged that many Samoan traditions mirrored those of Native Hawaiians and other indigenous peoples of Polynesia. The burial of a newborn's placenta, for example, a common custom in the Pacific, is intended to underline mankind's genealogical connection to the land, while serving as a reminder that continued stewardship of the land is key to future survival, he said.
Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi characterized modern personal and political conflicts as an indication of mounting disharmony in the relationships between nature and people.
The presentation by Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi took place at the UH School of Architecture and featured questions put to the Samoan leader by a panel of local college professors. UH education professor Jeannie Lum wanted to know if Christianity's 17th century incursion into Samoa had led to enrichment or colonization of Samoan philosophy.
"Colonization!” came His Excellency's answer without a moment of hesitation. "Our history has been sanitized by Christianity. "The indigenous view of the body as a sacred representation of the divine is especially antagonistic to Christianity,” he said. However, the Samoan leader was quick to add that he believed no single religion has all the answers to the profound questions of life. He cited as "healthy” the integration of various religions into an increasingly popular quest for greater spirituality.
Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi is the author of several books on Samoan tradition and philosophy. His presentation and dialogue with panelists was sponsored by the University of Hawai'i, the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace, the East-West Center and Hawai'i Pacific University.
The UH presentation was one of several activities that took place during His Excellency's three-day stopover in Honolulu en route to Samoa from China, where he was an honored guest of the Chinese government at the Olympics in Beijing. While in Honolulu, the Samoan head of state also led a cultural 'Ava Fa'atupu, or Royal 'Ava Ceremony, at Ke'ehi Lagoon Park.
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