Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1987 — Trade Fair, Cultural Exhibit Highlight Western Samoa Event [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trade Fair, Cultural Exhibit Highlight Western Samoa Event

A trade fair and cultural exhibit marking the 25th anniversary of Western Samoa's independence is scheduled Apr. 3-6 in the Tapa Lounge area of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m. Apr. 3 with Western Samoa and loeal government officials participating. The traditional kava ceremony will be one of the highlights of the program whieh takes plaee in the village green area behind the Hilton Lagoon. At the fair itself in the Tapa Lounge, there will be product samples and demonstrations of tapa making, carving, basket weaving, mat weaving and a lot of people doing things. The fair is scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and last through the evening on eaeh of the four days. It will be climaxed on Tuesday, Apr. 7, with a gala "Night in Western Samoa" $100-a-plate dinner-dance extravaganza in the Coral Ballroom with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 8. Purpose of this function is to raise money for the Western Samoa Silver Jubilee eelebration June 1-7. Her Royal Highness To'oa Salamasina Malietoa, granddaughter of King Malietoa Laupepa, will be in Honolulu for the dinner. She is also the sister of HRH Malietoa Tanumafili II who is head of state of Western Samoa. Authentically Samoan songs and dances will be presented at the dinner by first plaee winners of a national talent search. They will also perform in Western Samoa during the week-long celebration in June. Dinner music and entertainment will be presented under the direction of Faanana Jerome Grey and his band. Lalolagi Heini Forsyth of the Forsyth Counseling and Research Center, who is serving as project coordinator, said the trade fair and cultural exhibit will enable Hawaii businesses to see Western Samoa's products. It will also give Hawaii and Western Samoa business people an opportunity to make direct contact with eaeh other. Forsyth noted, too, that now is the time to aeknowledge and strengthen the historical ties that exist between Hawaii and Samoa. "King Malietoa Laupepe and King David Kalakaua signed a formal 'Treaty of Friendship' to acknowledge our 'oneness' and the need for a solid bond among Pacific nations. That need is even greater today. And many feel it is time to put aside our

separation and work together onee again; to transcend partisan interests and work toward eommon goals, supporting eaeh other's endeavors," Forsyth added. Forsyth is in Hawaii with his wife, Dr. Claudia Lalolagi Forsyth, a elinieal psychologist. He is here on behalf of Le Mamea R. Maulia, chairman of the Independence Celebrations Committee. Maulia is Western Samoa's Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. At the fair, there will be entertainment by Western Samoa's own Tusitala Band. On display will be several Samoan products, including beer, taro chips, clothing, fruit wine, coconut products and arts and crafts. Sponsors of the admission-free event inc!ude Hawaiian Airlines, Bank of Hawaii and Hilton Hotels. "The demonstrations and displays will be an expenenee people will never forget," Forsyth declared. He observed, too, that the dinner and its program is another experience people will Iong remember. The Western Samoa T rade Commissioner's office is handling all inquiries and taking dinner reservations at 734-3233.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III is visited by Heini Forsyth and his wife, Dr. Claudia Forsyth. Forsyth is project coordinator for the Silver Jubilee activities in Honolulu.