Obituary for Pulefano Lefolasa Feagaima'ali'i Galea'i
Pulefano Lefolasa Feagaima'ali'i Galea'i was born in the villages of Mapusaga Fou (meaning new and peaceful), on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa on April 4, 1945, father Tuia Feagaima'ali'i Galea'i and mother Sitaimata Evelina Tufaga Galea'i.
He is also survived by his Eternal Companion Sa Sianiu Fautua Galea'i; Eternal Sweetheart Susana Maliana Maleko Galea'i (deceased); his children Christopher Saunoa Maleko (spouse: Vicky Lynn Maleko, grandchildren: Justen Barton (spouse: Alexis Barton; great grandchild: Noah Barton); Christopher Maleko, Jessica Galea'i Maleko, Tama Alii Manuia John Halvorsen Galea'i, (spouse: Susan Halvarson Galea'i; grandchildren: Mahina Halvorsen Galea'i, Tama Halvorsen Galea'i, Wairaka Halvorsen Galea'i, TeHuia Halvorsen Galea'i), Alexander Lefolasa Galea'i (spouse: Shannon Moran Galea'i; grandchildren : Alexander Galea'i, Angelo Galea'i, Alesha Galea'i), Pulefano Angelo Galea'i Jr. (deceased), Maliana Taliilagi Galea'i Ava (spouse: Jason Vili Ava; grandchildren: Quest Galea'i Ava, Malik Galea'i Ava, Chandae Galea'i Ava, Aaliyah Galea'i Ava), Tagimalie C. Galea'i, Peninatautele Trinay Galea'i Benjamin (spouse: Rondell K. Benjamin; grandchild: Aria Trinay Maliana Benjamin), Britannia Molina, Elisara Fautua (grandchildren: Teuila Fautua, Sianiu Fautua), Alexander Nagamine (grandchild: Katelyn Nagamine).
Pulefano learned and acquired all his cultural background including the ailao (twirl) from his father and grandfather. At age nine Pulefano volunteered to work for the Hukilau Luau alongside his parents (a native Hawaiian feast), in cooking, ceremony, dancing, singing and performing the traditional knife dance. Pulefano [learned] all he could from his father [and then shared those talents as he] taught and instructed many others.
In 1959, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa-Room Director of Entertainment, Mr. Glenn Hughes and his wife visited Pulefano's father searching for new talent. His father prompted him to do his best with the knife dance. It was the first Pulefano danced with fire, not knowing what would be the outcome. [He] went with the Hughes to Waikiki to become the youngest fire knife dancer in the world as the billing indicated. Pulefano's career had just begun, his eyes had never seen the glamour of show biz. Within six months he and his brother were hired by almost every major hotel that had a Polynesian production in Waikiki.
Pulefano attended the Church College of Hawaii for a couple of semesters but his career as a knife dancer demanded his full attention. He worked for the Hawaiian Eye and Follow the Sun series and [was] a regular on Lucky Luck's world televised Luau. He later went to Hollywood to work for 20th Century Fox Film Corporation to dance and act in various series, then the CBS Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Bowl with the Polynesian Cultural Center, with Hawaii Governor Ariyoshi and PCC in the signing of the Sister State Agreement with Okinawa, and twice to the Lord Mayor's Command Performance in Australia. He was invited twice to perform for the festivals of the Pacific Arts in Australia and New Zealand, assisted in the Flaming Sword Competition in American Samoa, and performance twice through the USO Program in overseas shows to Canton, Midway and Johnston Islands. He also worked as a travel and insurance consultant in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Pulefano won his first Fireknife World Title in 1964 in Hawaii and placed second in the American Samoa Intercontinental Competition by Office of Tourism. Following his return to Hawaii he founded the World Fireknife Championship here in Laie in 1993, the Kaua'i Poly Festival Fireknife Competition, helped organize the American Samoa Flaming Sword Competition, the Anaheim Flaming Sword Competitiion, the Fireknife Competition of Maui and more recently, the 2014 World Fireknife Tournament of the Champions, "Ua Pa Le Lagi" (Explosion from Heaven) in Waikiki with Papali'itele, Seiuli, To'oa and the lady who pulled it altogether, Cha Thompson, from Tihati's Production.
Pulefano organized and directed the Samoan Idol competition, Senior Citizen's Got Talent, and was the chairman of the Samoa Mo Samoa Tupulaga Festival, the We are Samoa Festival, a community consultant to Dr. Posiulai, Tina's Alamai Conference UH, recipient of the first Star of Oceania award from UH, the Na Makua Award by Dr. Ishmael Stagner and the Lifetime Treasure award by the Polynesian Cultural Center.
In accordance with Pulefano, all the things he has learned and acquired is through the divine guidance and love of his Heavenly Father. Pulefano has kept the faith and has built the Lord's Kingdom even through all his travel and contracts.
Pulefano served twelve years in various bishoprics and eight years as a high counselor, among many others callings. He was also a Life Scout receipient and served many years as a Scout Master.
Clearly, Pulefano has been a powerhouse and mentor, and we have all been blessed through his outstanding talent and generous heart.
With all of the outstanding accomplishments and dedicated service he performed, perhaps it's best to let him tell his own story. The following is from the section "About the Author" from his 2015 Book, "The Fireknife Dance: The Story Behind the Flames Ta'alolo to Nifo'oti".
Pulefano's final resting place is located at the Laie Cemetery, behind his parents and on the side of his late wife Susanna and son Pulefano Jr.
We would like to thank you all for the love and support and the Polynesian Cultural Center for writing the article on Pulefano Galea'i. Faafetai tele lava.
(https://www.polynesia.com/remembering-pulefano-galeai-mentor-many-friend)
He is also survived by his Eternal Companion Sa Sianiu Fautua Galea'i; Eternal Sweetheart Susana Maliana Maleko Galea'i (deceased); his children Christopher Saunoa Maleko (spouse: Vicky Lynn Maleko, grandchildren: Justen Barton (spouse: Alexis Barton; great grandchild: Noah Barton); Christopher Maleko, Jessica Galea'i Maleko, Tama Alii Manuia John Halvorsen Galea'i, (spouse: Susan Halvarson Galea'i; grandchildren: Mahina Halvorsen Galea'i, Tama Halvorsen Galea'i, Wairaka Halvorsen Galea'i, TeHuia Halvorsen Galea'i), Alexander Lefolasa Galea'i (spouse: Shannon Moran Galea'i; grandchildren : Alexander Galea'i, Angelo Galea'i, Alesha Galea'i), Pulefano Angelo Galea'i Jr. (deceased), Maliana Taliilagi Galea'i Ava (spouse: Jason Vili Ava; grandchildren: Quest Galea'i Ava, Malik Galea'i Ava, Chandae Galea'i Ava, Aaliyah Galea'i Ava), Tagimalie C. Galea'i, Peninatautele Trinay Galea'i Benjamin (spouse: Rondell K. Benjamin; grandchild: Aria Trinay Maliana Benjamin), Britannia Molina, Elisara Fautua (grandchildren: Teuila Fautua, Sianiu Fautua), Alexander Nagamine (grandchild: Katelyn Nagamine).
Pulefano learned and acquired all his cultural background including the ailao (twirl) from his father and grandfather. At age nine Pulefano volunteered to work for the Hukilau Luau alongside his parents (a native Hawaiian feast), in cooking, ceremony, dancing, singing and performing the traditional knife dance. Pulefano [learned] all he could from his father [and then shared those talents as he] taught and instructed many others.
In 1959, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa-Room Director of Entertainment, Mr. Glenn Hughes and his wife visited Pulefano's father searching for new talent. His father prompted him to do his best with the knife dance. It was the first Pulefano danced with fire, not knowing what would be the outcome. [He] went with the Hughes to Waikiki to become the youngest fire knife dancer in the world as the billing indicated. Pulefano's career had just begun, his eyes had never seen the glamour of show biz. Within six months he and his brother were hired by almost every major hotel that had a Polynesian production in Waikiki.
Pulefano attended the Church College of Hawaii for a couple of semesters but his career as a knife dancer demanded his full attention. He worked for the Hawaiian Eye and Follow the Sun series and [was] a regular on Lucky Luck's world televised Luau. He later went to Hollywood to work for 20th Century Fox Film Corporation to dance and act in various series, then the CBS Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Bowl with the Polynesian Cultural Center, with Hawaii Governor Ariyoshi and PCC in the signing of the Sister State Agreement with Okinawa, and twice to the Lord Mayor's Command Performance in Australia. He was invited twice to perform for the festivals of the Pacific Arts in Australia and New Zealand, assisted in the Flaming Sword Competition in American Samoa, and performance twice through the USO Program in overseas shows to Canton, Midway and Johnston Islands. He also worked as a travel and insurance consultant in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Pulefano won his first Fireknife World Title in 1964 in Hawaii and placed second in the American Samoa Intercontinental Competition by Office of Tourism. Following his return to Hawaii he founded the World Fireknife Championship here in Laie in 1993, the Kaua'i Poly Festival Fireknife Competition, helped organize the American Samoa Flaming Sword Competition, the Anaheim Flaming Sword Competitiion, the Fireknife Competition of Maui and more recently, the 2014 World Fireknife Tournament of the Champions, "Ua Pa Le Lagi" (Explosion from Heaven) in Waikiki with Papali'itele, Seiuli, To'oa and the lady who pulled it altogether, Cha Thompson, from Tihati's Production.
Pulefano organized and directed the Samoan Idol competition, Senior Citizen's Got Talent, and was the chairman of the Samoa Mo Samoa Tupulaga Festival, the We are Samoa Festival, a community consultant to Dr. Posiulai, Tina's Alamai Conference UH, recipient of the first Star of Oceania award from UH, the Na Makua Award by Dr. Ishmael Stagner and the Lifetime Treasure award by the Polynesian Cultural Center.
In accordance with Pulefano, all the things he has learned and acquired is through the divine guidance and love of his Heavenly Father. Pulefano has kept the faith and has built the Lord's Kingdom even through all his travel and contracts.
Pulefano served twelve years in various bishoprics and eight years as a high counselor, among many others callings. He was also a Life Scout receipient and served many years as a Scout Master.
Clearly, Pulefano has been a powerhouse and mentor, and we have all been blessed through his outstanding talent and generous heart.
With all of the outstanding accomplishments and dedicated service he performed, perhaps it's best to let him tell his own story. The following is from the section "About the Author" from his 2015 Book, "The Fireknife Dance: The Story Behind the Flames Ta'alolo to Nifo'oti".
Pulefano's final resting place is located at the Laie Cemetery, behind his parents and on the side of his late wife Susanna and son Pulefano Jr.
We would like to thank you all for the love and support and the Polynesian Cultural Center for writing the article on Pulefano Galea'i. Faafetai tele lava.
(https://www.polynesia.com/remembering-pulefano-galeai-mentor-many-friend)