(soft atmospheric music) (ceremonial speaker speaking in foreign language) (attendants speaking in foreign language) [Salaivai] As a Samoan, our land defines who I am, where I come from.

It was walked on by my ancestors, and it will continue to be there when I'm gone.

And that's one of the things that my father instilled in us.

(soft atmospheric music continues) (soft atmospheric music continues) (trumpet playing "Taps" by Daniel Butterfield) (ambient music fades softly) [Instructor] Up, down, cross cross.

(instructor speaking in foreign language) One, two, three, four, five.

[Salaivai] When I left the island for school, I wish that I learned more on the Samoan dancing, because that's who I am and that's my culture, and that's why I opted for Kereina to be a part of this dance group.

Especially this time and age where like, there's so much of the English speaking now in the families and not really so much opportunities for some of the kids to participate in the Samoan culture, or faʻasāmoa, this is one of the reasons why I bring her here.

Just kinda appreciate where she comes from.

- Bye, Mom!

[Salaivai] Kireina, your stick!

Most of our childhood, we grew up in Taputimu, and then our father would always bring us to his side of the family, here in Utulei and Fagatogo.

My parents were very strict with us, mainly because there were six girls and four boys.

Our first language was always Samoan, and I know it's surprising to many people, but I never really knew English well until I was in college.

And, (laughs) you know, they always say, oh man, you're such a FOB, you know, growing up, but it was because my dad was very, very strict on the language that we used in our home.

He graduated from Valparaiso Law School in Indiana.

My dad was an attorney by trade, and when he met my mom, their main plan was to stay off-island and continue their family.

However, his father asked him to come back home, and many of his elders asked him to come home and become a chief and serve our local community, and that's one of the reasons why they moved back home, is to help the family.

He always felt that helping and providing the service to someone who really needed, especially in the legal arena, that was his passion.

(ʻAfoa Lutu speaking in foreign language) In the late seventies, our father represented the Puailoa family.

High chief Puailoa, at that time, of Malaeʻimi Village, believed that the Mormons were taking land in Malaeʻimi that was owned by the family.

It was communal land, and that case, it went all the way to the Supreme Court, and in the end, my father and the Puailoa family won.

the Supreme Court granted the family back their lands.

There were several other cases following that, but it was that first case that set the precedents for the following cases.

[Reporter] The people of American Sāmoa are considered US nationals.

If nationals move off-island to, say, California, they still can't vote or hold certain jobs, unless they pay a fee and apply for citizenship.

While the other major territories have achieved citizenship by birth through acts of Congress, it never happened in American Sāmoa.

[Tapa'au] What we call the US Citizenship Case was an effort to make it a right for people born in American Sāmoa to be born US citizens.

The second, important piece of that is that it's a decision that would be made by federal courts, and not as the collective expression of the people of American Sāmoa.

[Archival Narrator] Overlooking beautiful Pago Pago Bay.

The safest, the best.

Altogether, the most superb harbor in the south seas.

[Tapa'au] The legal beginnings of American Sāmoa started in 1900.

Because we have such an excellent harbor, they saw that as a very useful place to build a coaling station for the US Navy.

It's when the United States flag was first raised on the island of Tutuila, and the deeds of session were signed by the matai, or the family leaders of American Sāmoa.

We gave up our sovereignty to the United States.

They promised to protect Samoan lands, culture, and other natural resources.

United States government was faced with a important constitutional question.

Does the Constitution follow the flag?

When I'm talking to students, one of the examples I like to use is the US flag, and they all know that there are 50 stars on the flag because there are 50 states.

And then I ask them, "But where is the star for American Sāmoa?"

As US nationals, we have allegiance to the United States, and it's a well known fact that American Sāmoa has one of the highest enlistment rates in the US military.

They swear an oath to defend the United States Constitution, and they serve under the US flag.

So what does it mean to defend a flag and a constitution that does not give you all of its rights?

And when I say defend, sometimes, with their very own lives.

- Today's Memorial Day, and we held a short service here on the Veterans Monument, and I had the honor to lay the wreath for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association.

We are Post 9931 in American Sāmoa.

I know I lost a first cousin in Vietnam.

My two brothers were in Vietnam.

My uncle fought in the Korean War as a Marine.

So, I saw the one opportunity to join the service and then, also a way to leave the island, hopefully that I'll serve the first four years, then get out, and pursue the education.

However, I end up serving 30 years instead of going to school.

Then after 30 years in the Marine Corps, I returned as a way to support the family at the time.

It was only my mom, and my dad were working to 15 children.

Our family is a military family.

I'm hoping someday that we can be recognized for our service and then, maybe granted citizenship of the United States of America.

(cannon fires loudly) A lot of Samoans, now, are in the military, and they went to college and they joined the JOTC, then they went to ROTC in the college level, but they have to be citizens to become officers.

But for the commander in chief to tell us what to do all the time, knowingly, you don't even have a chance to vote for them.

Better yet, or even become a US president because we're not a US citizen.

I don't see any reason why we cannot be US citizens by birth.

There was really nobody give us any answers of what might happen.

Whether if it changed our political stance, instead of a US national, become US citizen, exactly what's gonna happen?

Do we lose our faʻasāmoa, do we lose the culture, and do we lose our land?

And I think those are the main questions or the reasons why everybody's hesitant to become US citizen at birth.

I'd rather keep the land instead of become a US citizen.

That's my personal opinion.

I can be a US national forever.

(soft ambient music) [Salaivai] This is Tiaoaliʻi, or this is the cemetery of where our high chiefs are laid to rest.

And coming here, it always keeps you grounded.

One of my greatest fears, is to just make decisions that will not be beneficial for us in the future.

As a US national, I do not support becoming a US citizen.

If the US Constitution were to fully be applied here in American Sāmoa, we would lose what's precious to us, which is our lands, our language, and our culture.

The origin of the Samoan culture is love and service.

To see those that came show their support and love is very humbling, and it just reminds me how much my dad influenced our community.

It was a very heartbreaking event for myself and my siblings, even for our families, because we've lost our leader.

(ceremonial speaker speaking in foreign language) (attendants shout in foreign language) (ceremonial speaker speaking in foreign language) (attendants shout foreign language) (ceremonial speaker speaking in foreign language) (soft music playing in distance) (soft chatting) (woman sniffling softly) We'll see you later.

We'll see you later.

We love you very, very much.

(soft, ambient piano plays) (soft piano continues) (soft piano continues) A man of principle and conviction.

ʻAfoa fearlessly championed causes that mattered to him, his upbringing, his faith, his love for his people.

His kindness and warmth and wisdom endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

His leadership and vision and wisdom will be sorely missed, not just by his colleagues, but also by us, his children and his grandchildren.

(soft ambient piano continues) (soft ambient piano continues) [Tapa'au] You know, when I talk about protecting land, and we're protecting it for future generations, I think the actions we take are for generations that are not even born.

And our greatest hope is that we will have something to give them, not for them to turn around one day and say, "Dad, what did you do?

When they came and bought all this land, and took away your language, and robbed you of your culture, where were you?"

(soft ambient piano fades) (lighthearted acoustic music plays) (acoustic music continues)