Save American Samoa's Cultural Skills
Donation protected
READ the Fuller Story HERE
Isolated People
The Samoan culture dates back over three thousand years. The Samoan people and culture have survived in isolation, largely due to the indigenous skills that our people have developed. These skills created items of physical survival. Fishing hooks, fishing nets, boats, canoes, farming tools, building tools, Fofo (Samoan medicine) and much more. Ie toga (fine mat), Siapo (bark cloth), Tanoa (Ava bowl), Fue ma Toto’o (talking chief whisk and staff) and Tatau (traditional tattoo) are a few items that have perpetuated the culture to this day.
Problem #1: Sun is Setting
These indigenous skills that have been developed over many generations are nearly extinct in American Samoa. We have only a few of our elderly mothers left that possess these skills. Once they have passed on, our skills are lost.
Problem #2: Unemployment
The 2010 Amerian Samoa census revealed that the unemployment rate is at 23.8%. It is believed that taking into account those that are no longer looking for work the rate is above thirty percent. Of the most affected is our senior citizen community. Some of whom have these skills.
Solution
To solve problem #1 & #2 we plan to build a traditional Samoan village with eight faleo’o (traditional Samoan house) surrounding an open field. Each faleo’o will be a workshop for our skilled artist creating their discipline. Fine mat, fishing hooks, rope, nets, traps, lures, ava bowl, canoe, bark cloth, traditional massage & medicine, traditional tattooing and much more.
Sustainability
Le Faleo’o village and what is created by our artist is the product we offer to the world. More specifically:
1. Tourism packages designed for cruise ship travelers. Which includes: having an intimate learning experience with our artist, participating in the earth oven (umu), and ava ceremony, learning the Samoan siva (traditional dance) and legends and myths, enjoy a traditional meal and dance show.
2. Packages designed for multi-day travelers. In addition to the cruise ship package, travelers will have the opportunity to create their own craft, go on guided hikes to secluded beaches, abandoned villages, mountain tops, rain forests, or tide pools. These guests will also have the opportunity to participate in traditional fishing tours using what the village artists have created; carved canoes, fish hooks and lures.
3. Arts and crafts created will be available for purchase. Fine mat, bark cloth, the ava bowl, staff & whisk, fish hook, traps, rope, nets, baskets, bags, hats, and many, many more.
4. Venue rental: host weddings, parties, corporate retreats, conventions, conferences, family reunions and much more. We can provide cultural education, food and entertainment for your event.
5. Youth educational day camps: two weeks of learning arts, crafts, culture, and dance. Preparing their art exhibit and dance show for their parents to culminate the camp.
6. Agricultural products: Papaya, passion fruit, chili pepper, coconut, taro, breadfruit, green & ripe bananas, coconut butter, coconut oil, papaya jam, passion fruit jam and much more.
Pre-Purchase NOT a Donation
We are looking for a hand up not a handout. You have worked hard for your money and we want to as well by giving you the full value of your dollar. We are asking you to pre-purchase future products, many of which are listed above. Your pre-purchase will give us the financial means to get the cause off the ground. You will receive a credit in the value of your contribution. As our products come available, you’ll be able to cash in your credit at any time for products equaling the value of your credit. For those that are super ambitious, you have the ability to sponsor the building of a faleo'o and have it named.
Why Crowed Funding?
Like any cause, funding is required to get it off the ground. Unfortunately, due to many factors, traditional funding is not readily available here in American Samoa. Crowdfunding seems to be quite timely for a cause of this nature and location and perhaps the only way to fund this cause.
Our Contribution
The following is some of what we here have contributed to the cause.
1. Three acres of land
2. Existing fale Samoa (Samoan guest house)
3. Thirty-five hundred square foot house
4. Much of the building material used for the eight faleo’o
5. Most of the construction labor
Your Contribution
Your contributions will go far beyond the value of the product you purchase. Your contribution will help to ensure the revival of American Samoa’s cultural skills. It will provide dignity that comes from employment. It will provide pride to a people who will know that their traditional skills do have a place in this modern world.
Donation Flow
Due to the fact that Pago Pago, American Samoa is not an authorized GoFundMe country, my brother Ben Tuinei who lives in the State of Utah will withdraw all donations and send them to us here in American Samoa.
URGENT HELP
The Le Faleo’o project is already underway. We have two artists that are employed, they have begun weaving fine mats which we have a few already for sale. We have a target date of opening to cruise ship travelers September 2019. If you are moved by this cause, we humbly ask you to not delay but please contribute now.
Like our Le Faleo’o Facebook page
Stay in tune with the cause. We will post updates, pictures, stories, video and blog links here:
facebook.com/Le-Faleoo
You are Aiga (family)
Thank you is hard to express in words. So it is our hope to send all of you something really cool or even better, have you come and stay with us for a while. This cause will not be successful without you. Sometimes the best words are the most simple - Fa’afetai, fa’afetai, fa’afetai tele lava - Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.
Read the full story at:LeFaleo'o Blog
Cover photo by: American Samoa National Park
Isolated People
The Samoan culture dates back over three thousand years. The Samoan people and culture have survived in isolation, largely due to the indigenous skills that our people have developed. These skills created items of physical survival. Fishing hooks, fishing nets, boats, canoes, farming tools, building tools, Fofo (Samoan medicine) and much more. Ie toga (fine mat), Siapo (bark cloth), Tanoa (Ava bowl), Fue ma Toto’o (talking chief whisk and staff) and Tatau (traditional tattoo) are a few items that have perpetuated the culture to this day.
Problem #1: Sun is Setting
These indigenous skills that have been developed over many generations are nearly extinct in American Samoa. We have only a few of our elderly mothers left that possess these skills. Once they have passed on, our skills are lost.
Problem #2: Unemployment
The 2010 Amerian Samoa census revealed that the unemployment rate is at 23.8%. It is believed that taking into account those that are no longer looking for work the rate is above thirty percent. Of the most affected is our senior citizen community. Some of whom have these skills.
Solution
To solve problem #1 & #2 we plan to build a traditional Samoan village with eight faleo’o (traditional Samoan house) surrounding an open field. Each faleo’o will be a workshop for our skilled artist creating their discipline. Fine mat, fishing hooks, rope, nets, traps, lures, ava bowl, canoe, bark cloth, traditional massage & medicine, traditional tattooing and much more.
Sustainability
Le Faleo’o village and what is created by our artist is the product we offer to the world. More specifically:
1. Tourism packages designed for cruise ship travelers. Which includes: having an intimate learning experience with our artist, participating in the earth oven (umu), and ava ceremony, learning the Samoan siva (traditional dance) and legends and myths, enjoy a traditional meal and dance show.
2. Packages designed for multi-day travelers. In addition to the cruise ship package, travelers will have the opportunity to create their own craft, go on guided hikes to secluded beaches, abandoned villages, mountain tops, rain forests, or tide pools. These guests will also have the opportunity to participate in traditional fishing tours using what the village artists have created; carved canoes, fish hooks and lures.
3. Arts and crafts created will be available for purchase. Fine mat, bark cloth, the ava bowl, staff & whisk, fish hook, traps, rope, nets, baskets, bags, hats, and many, many more.
4. Venue rental: host weddings, parties, corporate retreats, conventions, conferences, family reunions and much more. We can provide cultural education, food and entertainment for your event.
5. Youth educational day camps: two weeks of learning arts, crafts, culture, and dance. Preparing their art exhibit and dance show for their parents to culminate the camp.
6. Agricultural products: Papaya, passion fruit, chili pepper, coconut, taro, breadfruit, green & ripe bananas, coconut butter, coconut oil, papaya jam, passion fruit jam and much more.
Pre-Purchase NOT a Donation
We are looking for a hand up not a handout. You have worked hard for your money and we want to as well by giving you the full value of your dollar. We are asking you to pre-purchase future products, many of which are listed above. Your pre-purchase will give us the financial means to get the cause off the ground. You will receive a credit in the value of your contribution. As our products come available, you’ll be able to cash in your credit at any time for products equaling the value of your credit. For those that are super ambitious, you have the ability to sponsor the building of a faleo'o and have it named.
Why Crowed Funding?
Like any cause, funding is required to get it off the ground. Unfortunately, due to many factors, traditional funding is not readily available here in American Samoa. Crowdfunding seems to be quite timely for a cause of this nature and location and perhaps the only way to fund this cause.
Our Contribution
The following is some of what we here have contributed to the cause.
1. Three acres of land
2. Existing fale Samoa (Samoan guest house)
3. Thirty-five hundred square foot house
4. Much of the building material used for the eight faleo’o
5. Most of the construction labor
Your Contribution
Your contributions will go far beyond the value of the product you purchase. Your contribution will help to ensure the revival of American Samoa’s cultural skills. It will provide dignity that comes from employment. It will provide pride to a people who will know that their traditional skills do have a place in this modern world.
Donation Flow
Due to the fact that Pago Pago, American Samoa is not an authorized GoFundMe country, my brother Ben Tuinei who lives in the State of Utah will withdraw all donations and send them to us here in American Samoa.
URGENT HELP
The Le Faleo’o project is already underway. We have two artists that are employed, they have begun weaving fine mats which we have a few already for sale. We have a target date of opening to cruise ship travelers September 2019. If you are moved by this cause, we humbly ask you to not delay but please contribute now.
Like our Le Faleo’o Facebook page
Stay in tune with the cause. We will post updates, pictures, stories, video and blog links here:
facebook.com/Le-Faleoo
You are Aiga (family)
Thank you is hard to express in words. So it is our hope to send all of you something really cool or even better, have you come and stay with us for a while. This cause will not be successful without you. Sometimes the best words are the most simple - Fa’afetai, fa’afetai, fa’afetai tele lava - Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.
Read the full story at:LeFaleo'o Blog
Cover photo by: American Samoa National Park
Co-organizers (3)
David Tuinei
Organizer
Pago Pago, AS
Benjamin Tuinei
Beneficiary
Lose Tuinei
Co-organizer
Tolo Ho Ching
Co-organizer