Meet the Only Samoan Judge in the Circuit Court of Hawaii, Faauuga Tootoo
By Viopapa Euta Galeai Taeleifi
I attended Leone High School with Fa'au'uga La'ititi To'oto'o who was a grade above me, He was humble, friendly, intelligent, athletic, handsome, funny and popular, always lending a helping hand and an earnest ear with conversations we would have in the library and about the campus...It's gratifying to read and watch of how our people excel and make a positive difference in our global society...Please read on...
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS; PROUD HERITAGE: From Childhood in American Samoa to the Court House in Hawaii (2010)
This is the Testimony Presented by Hawaii District Judge Faauuga To'oto'o at his Confirmation Hearing for Circuit Court Judge on Monday, August 2, 2010 at the Hawaii State Capitol. The legislature will decide this week whether to confirm him. After more than 3 hours of testimony from people in support, To'oto'o had just received the Hawaii Bar Association's "not qualified" rating and he addressed it. After the confirmation hearings where the HBA did not appear to contest Faauuga's nomination, the Senate voted to approve him 22-0 as a Circuit Court Judge.
This is the text of Judge Faauuga Tootoo's address to the Committee selecting the Circuit judges for Hawaii. Aloha kakou and talofa Mr. Chairman Taniguchi and Members of the Committee.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. It is indeed an honor and privilege to be here seeking your approval to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in the First Judicial Circuit. I am truly humbled to be the first person of Samoan ancestry to be considered for an appointment and confirmation to the Circuit Court.
I’d like to share with you a few minutes of who I am. I live in Waimanalo with my wife Sheryl Turbeville and my 9-year-old daughter Moana and all of our animals on our plantation. I am a family man, a canoe paddler, and a wood carver in the making, a community volunteer, and a District Court Judge.
I grew up in the village of Nu’uuli in American Samoa. I am the youngest of the children in my family. My father, who served our country as a Marine in WWII and was a police officer, died when I was a child. My mother, who was a housewife, passed away while I was away attending college. My parents were hard workers and instilled in me the importance of working hard, being honest, getting a good education and helping others.
Community Service is an integral part of my life. In fact, I met my wife out at the Waianae Mall while we both were volunteering with the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry. I also volunteer with the Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy speaking to young men and women who are taking steps to get their lives back on track. I have also been volunteering for years with the Mo’okini Heiau Foundation in Kohala helping to prepare and host Children’s Day and other activities.
One of my more important roles as a judge is being a judge at the Waianae Coast Community Christmas Parade, a community activity my wife and I have enjoyed participating in for a number of years. I am also a member of for the Lumana’i Awards Committee that gives financial assistance to graduating Hawaii High School students of Samoan ancestry who excel academically in school and are going to college. I volunteer my time at the Waimanalo Community Fair.
I am also on the Board of Directors of the Kaneohe Cultural Foundation better known as the Kaneohe Canoe Club. I also volunteer with an elderly program at Kuhio Park Terrace. Then every Thanksgiving we head out to Nanakuli and spend the day preparing and delivering meals to the homeless along the Waianae Coast. It brings great joy to my family to give others a hand since God has blessed us so.
I graduated from Leone High School and was very fortunate to receive an academic scholarship from the Government of American Samoa for college. I attended Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and then transferred Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri where I graduated with honors. I then attended Saint Louis University School of Law in Saint Louis, Missouri where I graduated with my law degree.
After graduation, I moved here and made Hawaii my home ever since. I landed my first job as a Deputy Prosecutor with the City and County of Honolulu. I served as a deputy prosecutor for 10 years and it was a great experience. I started off in District Court handling non-jury traffic trials and misdemeanor cases. I prepared and argued various motions in traffic and criminal cases. I worked my way up to Circuit Court where I prosecuted a litany of crimes from murder cases to drug trafficking to domestic violence. I prepared cases for the grand jury, handled arraignment and pleas, and preliminary hearings in both traffic and criminal cases. All along working closely with law enforcement officers to successfully prosecute cases. The ten years I spent at the prosecutor’s office was very rewarding as I got the chance to take criminals off the street but most of all I got the opportunity to help victims of crime in their recovery process.
Then in 1994 I had the honor of becoming a District Court Judge in the First Judicial Circuit. During that time I have gained invaluable knowledge and experience. I have presided over thousands of cases on the criminal, traffic, DUI, Weed and Seed and civil calendars. On the civil side, I have handled a lot of small claims trials, motions and TRO hearings and regular claims trials. On the criminal side, I have presided over a lot of criminal trials, from drugs to Weed and Seed to domestic violence to simple traffic violations. I have also had the privilege and experience to work at all the country courthouses: Waianae, Ewa, Wahiawa and Kaneohe.
I have also had the opportunity on many occasions to cover the calendar in Circuit Court for both civil and criminal cases. I have presided over a lot of criminal jury trials, extradition hearings, sentencing, drug court, mental health cases, and hearings on criminal motions filed by both the defense and prosecutors. I have also presided over a civil jury trial and other matters on the civil calendar. And after every jury trial, I always meet with the jurors to answer any questions they may have about the court system and help them gain a better understanding of our legal system.
As a judge, I take great care in reviewing the cases before me because I understand the impact it can have on the person or persons standing in front of me. If I have to work extra hours or on the weekends to get the job done, I do it without hesitation. I consider myself a tough but fair judge. I have made rulings and decisions that have angered some, but in this job, I am not out to make friends. I have to look at the evidence before me, know the law and render my decision accordingly. I am a hard worker, decisive and efficient. I have worked hard for everything in my life. No one gave me anything on a silver platter. I am confident that my 16 years of experience as a District Court Judge and the fact that I have substituted in Circuit Court on many occasions, will provide for a smooth transition to Circuit Court.
Mr. Chairman and Committee members, the State Bar Association has found me “not qualified” for Circuit Court. However, they gave me no explanation, nothing. When I find a defendant not guilty or guilty in my court, I always give an explanation. If this is their process, then I accept it and we move on. But I am truly disappointed. Please keep in mind, I have been in front of the Judicial Selection Commission 4-times and they have found me qualified for District Court and Circuit Court. Chief Justice Ronald Moon of our Supreme Court appointed me to the District Court bench after the Judicial Selection Commission found me qualified for District Court. I was retained twice by the Judicial Selection Commission to continue on as a District Court Judge. Governor Linda Lingle nominated me to Circuit Court after having gone through the Judicial Selection Commission once again, who determined I was qualified. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman and Committee Members, I respectfully ask you to allow me the opportunity to become a Circuit Court Judge.
With much aloha, faafetai tele, and thank you for your time and consideration.
Vaimasenuu Zita Martel one of eight women recognized as 2013 Stars of Oceania at hale koa hotel. Photos by Ken Aiono
Champion Samoan Fautasi Captain, Vaimasenuu Zita Martel speaks at Stars of Oceania event. Photos by Ken Aiono.
The University of Hawai‘i Pacific Business Center Program honored eight women of and from Oceania at the third “Stars of Oceania” recognition dinner December 3, 2013 at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki. The keynote speaker for event was Deputy Director Esther Kia’aina of the Hawaii State Government Department of Land and Natural Resources. Ms. Kia’aina is also a presidential appointee currently in the confirmation process in Washington D.C. as Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Leslie Wilcox, PBS Hawaii president and CEO, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Reverend Dr. Fran Palama chanted the oli to commence the evening and the UH ROTC presented and retired the colors for the event.
“Primarily we wanted to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Pacific Islanders and residents not born and raised as such, but whose heart and service is testimony to their love for the islands they call home. Their impacts are felt in and from Hawai‘i as well as other parts of the Pacific, the nation and the world. Each represents multiple dimensions of leadership to overcome challenges with Aloha, courage, faith and perseverance in their fields of endeavor,” stated UH Pacific Business Center Program Director, Dr. Tusi Avegalio, the primary organizer of the event. "These women inspire us to look forward to the flowering of a vision where everyone is a Star of Oceania and committed part of the vast constellation of hope, faith, courage and Aloha that will restore alignment, balance and harmony to a world so lacking in it."
The “Stars of Oceania” was inaugurated in 2006 with the intent to continue every three to four years. This year’s recognition dinner is not an award or reward ceremony for distinguished service, but to recognize and acknowledge these outstanding women for doing the right thing. All have been rewarded and awarded on many occasions and deservedly so. The “Stars of Oceania” recognizes that the attributes of service and sacrifice to raise the common good is much like Aloha, not an attribute of a particular culture, ethnicity nor geographical boundary. The event honors one’s sense of humanity.
The evening had a collection of various Pacific Island and Hawaiian high profile individuals both in the media and education areas. These included University of Hawaii Pacific Business Center Program Director, Papaliitele Tusi Avegalio who was instrumental in putting the event together. Also there were Hawaii's entertainment icon Papaliitele Jack Tihati Thompson, and wife Cha, Mister Hawaii 2012 Hio Pelesasa, Taiaopo Tuimalealiifano, a prominent member of the Samoan Community and Hawaii media stalwarts Linda Coble and Leslie Wilcox.
The beautiful Vaimasenuu Zita was as graceful a dancer as she was a fierce competitor in a male dominated sport, Fautasi regatta.
Vaimasenuu Zita Martel of Apia, Samoa was honored for her Courage and Leadership. Recognized as a Mother, diplomat, traditional leader and fautasi long boat skipper, successful business woman and entrepreneur it was noteworthy that she overcame tremendous challenges and shattered the gender barrier by entering a traditional, men’s only long boat race as the first women ever to do so, and winning the most prestigious race, the 50th anniversary celebration fautasi race of her country. Her acceptance of victory with traditional respect, humility and salutations to the chiefs and spiritual leaders of her country endeared her as a standard of excellence for the youth of her developing island nation. We congratulate Vaimasenuu Zita Martel on her continued success and exemplary life that is recognized from New Zealand to Hawaii. She is a true Pacific Island icon.
Noel Pauga Plays Key Role with BYU Hawaii Seasider's Volleyball Team in 2013 NCAA Div II Women's Volleyball Championship
Noel Pauga is big time
blocking and hitting for
the Seasiders Womens
Volleyball Team. Photo by BYU Hawaii
By Albert Ainuu
BYU Hawaii Seasiders Women's Volleyball team is battling for a place in the Championship game for the NCAA Division 2 Women's 2013 Volleyball Championship. In the ongoing NVAA Div. 2 Championships the No. 2 seed Seasiders (28-1) will take on No. 1 seed West Texas A&M (35-3) in the semifinals at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. One of the most impressive players for the Lady Seasiders is Freshman, Noel Pauga.
The daughter of Finauga and Joilynn Pauga, Noel hails from Peoria, Arizona where she was highly recruited as she was coming out of High School. Among her many accolades as a High School athlete she was the Varsity MVP for 4 years, was selected to the All Arizona 1st team All State 2011, West Valley Preps Player of 2011, 2nd team all state in 2010, and region player of the year 2010. She also plays piano.
In Cedar Rapids she was instrumental in the win over Ferris State to advance into the Semi finals. She administered a number of critical blocks during the game against Ferris State that led to a 3-2 victory over a tough team that pushed BYU Hawaii for every point. She also added 10 kills to the Lady Seasiders total which included 37 kills from All American Stella Chen a Junior from Taiwan. As a Freshman playing with this much skill and maturity it seems she is destined for great things down the road. We wish her well and BYU Hawaii Seasiders the best in the Tournament. GO SEASIDERS!!!!