[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN ENI FALEOMAVAEGA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TULSI GABBARD

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 21, 2017

  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today let's honor the life and service of 
our dear colleague, my friend, the late Congressman Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin 
Faleomavaega, Jr.
  My memories with Congressman Faleomavaega extend back to small-kid 
time, in Hawaii--he was elected to Congress as American Samoa's 
delegate when I was just 8 years old. On his way to and from American 
Samoa, he would often stop in Hawaii, pay visits to his alma mater 
Kahuku High School, watch a Red Raider game or two, and visit with 
friends and family in Hawaii's vibrant Samoan and Polynesian community. 
I grew up understanding and appreciating Fa'a Samoa--The Samoan Way--
which like the aloha spirit, refers to how we should respect and honor 
one another, no matter where you're from or your stature in life. He 
shared this Fa'a Samoa every day with his colleagues and others in 
Washington, seven thousand miles from his homeland. It was a very 
special thing to serve alongside him as a Member of Congress when I was 
elected in 2012. We served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and 
he often pulled me aside to talk story about his experiences on this 
committee, the places he'd been, and the people he'd met.
  Eni was a warrior, a public servant, a devoted Christian, and a 
family man. He was born in Vailoatai Village in American Samoa. It's a 
beautiful and culturally rich island with that small-town feel where 
everybody knows everybody. Eni's father served in the military, so 
growing up, he moved around a bit. He lived in Guam and later moved to 
Hawaii and attended Kahuku High School and Brigham Young University on 
Oahu's northeast shore, eventually graduating from the main BYU campus 
in Utah. Eni was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints alongside his wife Hinanui and their family.
  Eni was a soldier in the United States Army. He served honorably in 
Vietnam, earned the rank of Captain, joined the Reserves decades later, 
and unfortunately suffered from complications associated with his 
exposure to Agent Orange. Throughout his four decades of service in 
Congress (1989-2015), he worked hard for the people of American Samoa 
and for our veterans, caring for them deeply and fighting for them 
relentlessly. As a delegate, Congressman Faleomavaega was passionate 
about representing his people and ensuring the communities at home had 
the resources they needed, especially health care and other essential 
services. He stanchly opposed free trade deals so that the few but 
impactful industries of American Samoa would not be devastated. He 
always put the people first, and he served with all of his heart.
  So as we honor the life and service of this great man, Eni Fa'aua'a 
Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr., we send our deepest gratitude to his `aiga 
(family) for their support and sacrifice over the years.
  Traditionally, at a Samoan memorial service, guests give the grieving 
family hand-woven mats in a ceremonial exchange of gifts called 
fa'alavelave. We don't have one here today, but offer these words in 
their absence: Fa'afetai Tele Lava (thank you), Fa'amanuia le Atua (God 
bless), and Fa Soifua.

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