How does one become a matai, or Samoan chief? The process is a fascinating mix of inheritance and election. You have to be an heir to a...
15+ pretty Samoan girl names, with nice meanings [and audio]
A relative once asked my mom for baby names. He and his wife were expecting a girl and wanted to give her a beautiful, meaningful Samoan...
The Story of Lauli’i, A Daughter of Samoa | Book Review
Do you know how they made the ava (kava) back in the day? I'm talking over 100 years ago... Well, the taupou in the village would break off pieces of the ava root, chew them into a pulp, then spit all that good stuff into the tanoa (kava bowl) where it would then be mixed with...
The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo (Tatau)
Tattoo is an artform that's been practiced around the world since... forever... but traditional Samoan tattoos - tatau - are an especially iconic expression of Samoan culture and the values we hold as a people. Over time, and partly because our tattoo patterns have become so...
How do you like your Samoan Chop Suey? (Sapasui)
Based on Chinese chop suey, a "traditional" Samoan style chop suey - or sapasui - is as varied as the Samoans who make them. Okay, not really. Our only real sapasui variations are whether to add aromatics (onions, garlic, ginger) or not and whether to add vegetables (cabbage,...
How to Serve Tea to a Samoan Chief – and Why it Matters
You may have noticed. Many Samoan families have a preference for arranging their living rooms in a large, inward-facing oblong or oval formation, with the backs of all the couches and armchairs pushed up against the walls. If you know anything about life in Samoa, you might...
12 Alagaupu (Samoan Proverbs) about Family
A few years ago I told you about my grandfather's api (notebook) full of alagaupu that I wanted to study and really understand. I was going to look at twelve of those proverbs, consult with the Samoan cultural experts in my life then share with you what I had learned. At LONG...