About Us

ʻO le faʻamoemoe o le Sāmoana Media, LLC ʻo se tasi lea taumafaiga ʻoloʻo uʻunaʻia le atinaʻe o faʻamoemoe faʻatatau i matāʻupu tau Sāmoa ma isi atumotu o le Pasefika, e ala i āʻoga ma le aʻoaʻoina o gagana, aganuʻu, talafaʻasolopito, ma isi matāʻupu faʻaonapōnei. ʻO lo mātou faʻamoemoe le tau atinaʻe o ala faʻasalalauga faʻapasefika ʻi le suʻesuʻega ma iloiloga o matāʻupu ʻoloʻo feagai ai ma nuʻu o le Pasefika ma ina ʻia mafai ona iloilo ai māfuaʻaga e faʻatatau i faiga faʻaagafesoʻotaʻi, faʻaletamāoʻāiga, ma faigaʻupufai ʻoloʻo aʻafia ai le talafaʻasolopito ma le lumanaʻi o le Pasefika.

Sāmoana Media, LLC is a social enterprise that focuses on promoting Samoan and other Pacific Islander initiatives, particularly through education and the exploration of language, culture, history, and contemporary issues. We strive to engage in the production of Pacific-focused media that critically explores indigenous Oceanic communities and the social, political, and economic factors that have and continue to shape their past and current experiences and realities and potential futures.

Mātou te matuā lagolagoina faʻamoemoe ʻeseʻese o le Pasefika ʻoloʻo taumafai e atinaʻe le soifua matāgofie o tagata e ala i le tōfā mamao ma le faʻautaga loloto ʻauā se lumanaʻi manuia o le Atunuʻu i onapōnei. 

We hope to support Pacific initiatives - both public and non-profit and commercial endeavors that support Pacific communities thrive in the contemporary era.

Sāmoana Media Content Development Team

John Falaniko “Niko” Pātū, Director, Editor, Gagana Sāmoa (Samoan Language)
Niko has several years of teaching in Samoan language and Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi and is currently working in the Hawaiian immersion schools teaching Samoan and social studies courses. He has a M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi - Mānoa, a graduate certificate through the Kahuawaiola Teacher Indigenous Teacher Education Program from the University of Hawaiʻi - Hilo, where he is currently pursing a Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization. His current research involves Samoan language revitalization in the diaspora, with a particular focus in teaching Samoan through the medium of Hawaiian. 
 
Carmelita Togi Pātū, Manager Carmelita "Lita" Pātū-Sio is a co-founder of Sāmoana Media and manages its administrative duties, including social media profiles, having background in Human Resources.
Naulea-Imeleta Sio, Junior Reporter, is involved in the development of content for Samoan language curriculum. She is currently learning Samoan and is involved with Samoan language courses for elementary school children. 

Gabrielle Alafaga Faʻaiʻuaso, Media and Content Editor, Gabby has several years of media experience, having graduated from the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaiʻi - Mānoa. She has worked in several capacities in the public sector and currently operates her own independent media company in American Sāmoa, Alafaga Media (www.alafaga.com). Gabby's passion for film and other forms of creative media inspires her to integrate Samoan culture and create innovative stories that transcend traditional narratives. 

Keane Nakapueo-Garcia, Senior Reporter, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) Keane has several years of teaching experience in the Hawaiian immersion schools, being a product of Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani's undergraduate program in Hawaiian Studies and its Kahuawaiola graduate program indigenous teacher education. His desire to support in the language revitalization efforts in his own community and in the Pacific has also lead him to assist in the revival of Hawaiian Sign Language. Keane earned his M.A. in Linguistics and currently teaches at Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau LPCS, where he is a lead teacher. He is currently pursing a Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization at the University of Hawaiʻi - Hilo. 

Nakamakanikolonahe “Kama” Obrero, Junior Reporter, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) Kama assists in the development of content in Hawaiian, having experience working at the Hale Kuamoʻo Hawaiian Language Center at the University of Hawaiʻi - Hilo, where he also completed his undergraduate degree in Hawaiian language. Kama's passion for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi has led him to teaching in the Hawaiian immersion schools, which he believes is crucial for the survival and thriving of the lāhui (Hawaiian nation), to which he has committed to serving through education. Kama also is a currently doing his student teaching practicum for the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program. 

All of our language content creators are products (or current students) of the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program at the Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi - Hilo. If you are interested in becoming a teacher in the Hawaiian immersion schools or interested in any of the Hawaiian language programs, please visit this site for more information: http://www.olelo.hawaii.edu/kwo/.

Our team highly supports indigenous language revitalization movements and encourages everyone to support indigenous language efforts everywhere.