Lawmakers and Fono personnel yesterday paid farewell to the late Sen. Tuana’itau Fa’atamala Tuia, during a two-hour state funeral service held at the Fono Guest Fale. He will be laid to rest today at his home in Pavaiai. “Farewell my friend. Enjoy the heavenly rewards that you so richly deserve,” Gov. Togiola Tulafono said at the closing of his speech during the service.

The longest current sitting Fono member now, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, led the service.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, along with other representatives of all three branches of government, traditional, and religious leaders, families and friends were present to remember and pay tribute to Tuana’itau, who served some 50 years in the Fono, making him the longest serving member of the Legislature.

Tualauta county leaders and Pavaiai aumaga members guarded Tuana’itau’s coffin, which was placed on the back of a flatbed truck and taken from LBJ hospital in a motorcade escorted by motorcycle police to the Fono compound.

As the coffin reached the Fono compound, it was lowered to the waiting team of Police Honor Guard, who then escorted the coffin into the entrance of the Fono Guest Fale and covered the coffin with the American Samoa Flag.

In his address, the Governor told mourners that his special remarks are a message of condolence from the government to the grieving family, the Tualauta county and to the Senate for the passing of a great leader, a champion and a warrior.

“Today, we gather to honor a great leader, more importantly, to celebrate the memory of his achievements. His departure is indeed painful, but the memory of his service and his achievements, lightens the burden of sadness,” he said.

For 50 long years, Tuana’itau gave his all to serve the territory - as a lawmaker, in his village as the sa’o, in the courts as a legal practitioner specializing in land and title cases, he helped many people he never knew, even those who refused him their votes, Togiola recalled.

“This man never learned how to say a simple ‘No’ to anyone who asked for his help. He truly earned his reward,” he said. “And that’s what we are celebrating today. This political star was born in the election booths of Tualauta in November of 1960.”

Two months later (in 1961), on his first day in the legislature, he was elected Speaker of the House— a monumental political feat, brought off by a man who was then known only to a handful of people outside of his village and county, he pointed out.

The late senator, who is referred to by many of his friends, families and lawmakers as just “Tua” served 18-years as House Speaker during his 30-years in the House.

Togiola remembered the time he was a senator along with Tuana’itau who became a Tualauta senator in 1992. He said that it was there in the Senate that he “witnessed Tua’s brand of politics, at close range, for I had the pleasure of serving with him for four years.”

“By then, he (Tuana’itau) was seasoned and experienced, but never mellowed, and never moved without careful calculation. He was cunning and clever, sometimes a bit foxy,” he said. “His brand of politics, as we all know, was bang, bang, bang!”

“His expressed wisdom has taught me how to persevere in the face of adversity, and to never give up on something you believe is right,” the Governor continued. “... He was a man of emotions— many and varied, and was not ashamed to show them publicly, to help achieve his purposes.”

“If as they say, politics is an art, then Tua was the Michelangelo of Samoan politics,” stated Togiola.

“Whatever the search for political advancement and security, Tua was at the forefront. With all the confidence I have, I dare say that there is no American Samoan alive today, whose life is not touched by the service of this great leader,” he said.

“Now he is gone, from sight, but not from mind ... He will be remembered always with a sincere spirit of admiration ... Think of tomorrow— I believe that’s what Tua would want us to do now,” Togiola  noted.

After the governor’s address, Senate Secretary Leo’o Va’a Ma’o read the Fono Concurrent Resolution paying tribute to the late senator and extending condolences to the Tuana’itau and Tuia families.

“He was the champion of people,” the resolution says, adding that Tuana’itau “never fails to speak his mind” and he was a tireless advocate for American Samoa to continue to maintain its culture for future generations as well as self governance.

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palie told mourners that the Fono and American Samoa lost a warrior. He recalled Tuana’itau’s last day in the Senate chamber when he voiced his concern over the closure of one of the canneries, laying off some 400 people from his district.

He said Tuana’itau wanted to know what was being done to help his constituents. It was Gaoteote’s reply that a bill from the Administration was pending with the Senate Budget Committee chaired by Sen. Lemanu P. Mauga, who sat right next to Tuana’itau.

Gaoteote also recalled that anytime a debate on the floor seemed to turn into heated one, Tuana’itau knew this, and would rise to speak about an issue that was not even remotely related to the issue of debate on the floor.

In closing Gaoteote bid farewell to the “tama matua” (elderly) senator.

Tuana’itau’s final funeral service will be held this morning at the LDS church in Pavaiai followed by burial at his home, also in Pavaiai.