NEWSPAGE 24 January
2011

(Photos: University of Canterbury)

NEW ZEALAND: Tsunami research boosted by Fulbright award

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Government donates to Pyke River disaster and Queensland flooding
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malilegaoi has presented government’s monetary donations towards the Pyke River mining disaster in New Zealand and relief efforts following widespread flooding in Queensland, Australia.

“Our donation might be insignificant in terms of the overall costs of these disasters but it is the spirit in which we give, I guess, that counts,” said Prime Minister Tuilaepa.

“It also highlights the close relations between our three countries. New Zealand and Australia, of course, has assisted us generously through the years, particularly following the tsunami of September, 2009.”

The Prime Minister then presented a cheque of NZ$60,000 towards the Pyke River disaster to New Zealand High Commissioner HE Nick Hurley and another cheque of AUS$100,000 to Australian High Commissioner HE Matt Anderson towards Queensland flooding relief.

Both High Commissioners thanked the Prime Minister, the government and the people of Samoa for the kind assistance.

Photo Caption: (R-L) Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, He Matt Anderson and HE Nick Hurley after the donation presentation this afternoon at the Prime Minister’s office.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC athletics instructor recognized in Hall of Champions
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

When area high school football experts recently compiled the Fabulous 50 Football players from the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section for the 50th anniversary of the San Diego Hall of Champions, one of the names on the list was Ed Imo Jr., Physical Education Department chairman at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC). Although more than 30 years have passed since the games which earned Imo the recognition, he has clearly left a lasting impression in his former home city. During his years as a football player, Imo was the first Samoan named CIF-San Diego Section Player of the Year as a two-way lineman for Kearny High School’s 1973 CIF championship team before going on to play as a defensive lineman on San Diego State University's back-to-back 10-1 teams in 1976-77.

Originally from Nuuuli, Imo located to San Diego in 1962 at age 7 to live with his aunt Gaoioi Galea’i, who wanted him to get a better education. “The Hall of Champions story is about my playing career at Kearney,” he recalled. “I actually began playing my sophomore year because Kearney began with the 10th Grade. I was asked by my friends to try out for the team because when we used to play sandlot football, I was good. My sophomore year, our Jr. Varsity team won the conference championships and I was the Most Valuable Player. I then moved up to the varsity and started my junior year as an offensive guard. I made the second team all-league. My senior year is when I got another “Most Valuable Player” award for all of San Diego. I was the first Samoan to be named MVP of that award. Our football team went undefeated and won the Championship in 1973. I was going both ways or playing guard on offense and nose tackle on defense.”

Despite Imo’s stellar record, Imo’s initial post-high school years did not bring immediate acceptance in college football. “From high school, I did not get a scholarship because the college recruiters who came to Kearney thought I was too small,” he remembered. “So instead I went to San Diego City College to pursue a scholarship. After my second year there, I was Conference Player of the Year and also First Team All American for Junior Colleges in 1975. Washington State, UCLA, Boise State, Washington, and California Berkeley all offered me scholarships, but I wanted to stay home so I went to San Diego State. I was going to try for the National Football League (NFL), but because of my height most NFL teams thought I was too small. Right around that time, my parents had asked me to come back to help them settle down in Manu’a, so I decided to come back to American Samoa.”

The NFL’s loss proved the Territory’s gain as Imo has remained a presence on the local sports scene from his return, either officiating games or coaching teams for the past several decades. A longstanding faculty member at ASCC, Imo also serves as president of American Samoa Basketball, an executive member of the American Samoa National Olympic Committee, and a coach, board member and former president of the local Oceania University Sports Association. Having devoted most of his professional life to helping the Territory’s youth develop their athletic talents, the belated recognition of his own sports achievements gives Imo some sense of having come full circle. “It’s an honor to be named to the Hall of Champions in San Diego because to be mentioned as one of only 50 top football players out of thousands who play every year is and accomplishment in itself,” he said, “and to be mentioned with those who have gone on to play in the NFL is also a great honor.”

Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Hall of Champions recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and traditions of the city’s athletes. The nation’s largest multi-sport museum, the Hall of Champions includes three levels of memorabilia over 70,000 square feet, and offers a state-of-the-art theatre, an interactive media center, and displays on the nation’s favorite sports. To view the Hall’s list of its Fabulous 50 football players, visit: http://www.sdhoc.com/newswire/four-heisman-trophy-winners-top-fab-50/

Photo Caption: ASCC Physical Education chairman Ed Imo Jr. was recently named one of the
Fabulous 50 football players in a list compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the San Diego Hall of Champoins. Imo attended both high school and college in San Diego in the mid-1970s, and won numerous awards for his performance on the football field.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Woman spreads love around
Source: Fiji Times

A 46-year-old single mother of Buca Village in Cakaudrove has proven that anything is possible.

Loraini Vulaono, known as Aunty Lili, has two daughters who will attend school this week.

Her daughters know how hard their life has been without father.

Mrs Vulaono said she normally helped other people because she knew that some day others would help her too.

"I'm a member of a women's group and I'm always a volunteer to help others," she said.

Mrs Vulaono, who's also a member of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, says the money she used to help others came from her pocket.

"I think God had plans for me to help other people, especially the villagers," she said.

Mrs Vulaono has paid her daughters school fees from Class One till secondary school to make sure they get the best kind of support.

Dalo farming is her only source of income.

"I have been a volunteer from 1994 till today," she said.

She said she knew it was through God that she had reached out to others even though she has own two daughters.

Photo Caption: Loraini Vulaono, second left, with Diloaloa Kubou, standing, Sharon Ritoviko, second right, and Benjamin Greeves during the launch of the hydro plant at Buca Village in Vanua Levu.
 

(Photo: Bruce Asato / Honolulu Star Advertiser)

HAWAII: Volunteers help clear debris in West Oahu
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser

Several dozen volunteers joined state Civil Defense employees, state prison crews and neighbors in cleaning up tons of debris from homes and waterways in Waianae and Ewa yesterday.

Work at both locations wrapped up more than an hour earlier than scheduled, but not because the work was completed. Cleanup organizers were able to secure only one 40-cubic-yard rubbish "can" for each site, and both containers were filled quickly with large pieces of wood, furniture and other debris washed into the neighborhoods during the deluge of water that flooded both areas as a result of the rainstorm on the night of Jan. 12.

"We've done just about all we can do for today," said Ed Texeira, the state's vice director of Civil Defense.

The closure of Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, also caused by the storm, hampered the availability of rubbish bins that could be donated for the effort, Texeira said. Large waste cannot be dumped anywhere until the landfill reopens.

The lack of bins, however, did not mean volunteers were sitting on their thumbs. After helping haul debris from the vicinity of about half a dozen damaged homes at the Ewa site, the volunteers went to work on the area along Honouliuli Stream. The waterway had overflowed at several narrower sections in the neighborhood, sending gushing water into the neighborhood along with debris of all kinds, includ-ing live chickens and feces-laden earth from a horse farm just upstream, neighbors said.

Texeira applauded the work of the volunteers, a majority of whom were from Hope Chapel Nanakuli and New Hope Church Leeward and are part of a new team of volunteers known as Survive to Serve that Civil Defense began organizing last March.

"They worked so fast and tirelessly," Texeira said.

Contacted by Civil Defense on Jan. 15, the Rev. Allen Cardines Jr., senior pastor of Hope Chapel Nanakuli, rallied more than 30 volunteers from his congregation to join him for cleanup efforts after church services the following morning.

Cardines grabbed six more people yesterday to help haul the rubbish they had cleared the previous week into their bin.

Texeira said the Survive to Serve program was spawned out of necessity.

"We realized that when a major strike hits, we're going to be so hamstrung and busy getting logistics and supplies, we've got to get help from the community," Texeira said.

Cardines recalled the first meeting with Texeira and other Civil Defense officials: "Ed told us, 'The next disaster is on its way,' and, 'Pastor, we need your help.' And I knew I needed to get involved."

People need to "hanai," or adopt, their communities in their time of need, he said.

Bill Kumia, community life pastor for New Hope Leeward, brought eight men from the church's "Braddahs in Christ" ministry. "When there's a huge one that hits, everybody has to go into the 'survive and serve' mode," he said.

Civil Defense officials said while they reached out to church groups first, they have begun talking to Lions Clubs and other community groups and welcomes help from anyone. Contact Civil Defense population protection planner David H. Smith at 733-4300, ext. 8044, or [email protected].

Photo Caption: Mark Ryales, with cap, and Paul Chapman were part of a group of volunteers who helped homeowners clean up flood debris in an area off Old Fort Weaver Road yesterday.
 

(Photo: Tahitian Noni International)

TAHITI: Getting 'FIT' with Tahitian Noni
Source: PR Newswire

Tahitian Noni International (TNI) announced the release of a comprehensive new body composition system called FIT. Unlike weight loss programs, FIT focuses on being healthy and achieving optimal body composition, not just losing weight. That means reducing body fat while at the same time increasing lean muscle.

Tahitian Noni International is the world leader in bringing natural bioactive compounds to market. Each FIT product is formulated with proven bioactives to help people achieve their desired body composition. When combined with Tahitian Noni's bioactive beverages, FIT products help restore metabolic balance and reverse the risk of metabolic syndrome - said to affect over 50 million people in the United States alone.

The FIT program is the most comprehensive body composition program available today. The revolutionary new FIT products are:

* Reset (Cleansing Formula) - Detoxify and gently cleanse your body
* Restore (Powerful Probiotic) - Fortify your body with good bacteria
* Replenish (Balanced Multi-Vitamin) - Fill in the nutrient gaps
* Rebuild (Power Protein Shake) - Build and tone lean muscle
* Reduce (Fat-Flushing Formula) - Remove fat from your body
* Resist (Super Snack bars) - Curb hunger cravings during the day


The Fit Body Composition System—combined with regular exercise and proper nutrition—provides the perfect jumpstart for creating a fitter, healthier, you and builds a foundation for lasting success. The products are great tasting, safe, have no harmful side effects, and have no artificial sweeteners. From now on, you won't have to worry about having a hard time staying FIT.

For more information about the FIT Body Composition System visit www.tni.com/fit.

For more information about Tahitian Noni® Products, please go to www.tni.com.


About the Company

Tahitian Noni International is a global, research-driven bioactive products company that was the first to introduce the health benefits of the noni plant—a bioactive-rich, adaptogenic plant, containing iridoid compounds—to the world outside of Tahiti. Tahitian Noni International is the leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of noni-based bioactive products including nutritional supplements, beauty, and weight loss lines. Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Tahitian Noni International has a presence in over 70 markets worldwide, and is the world-wide leader in bioactive supplements.