Acknowledging the importance of culture, an American university has paid for the air fare of one of their students to return to Samoa to have her traditional tattoo malu done.
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Utah Utes centre Joeseta Fatuesi was bestowed her taupou name Punipuao after getting her malu last week.
The University of Utah, paid her fare to come to Samoa for the tattoo when an article in the Salt Lake Tribune published the story titled ‘Ute freshman center has embraced being the daughter of an important man in the Samoan community’.
For Ms. Fatuesi, it was an honour to come to Samoa and experience the pain of having a tattoo and to learn more about her culture.
“I would like to thank my family in the States, the University of Utah, my family in Samoa especially my grandmother at Falefa, Alaisa Elena Laufasa and my parents, Junior and Maryanne and everyone for their support.
According to the the Salt Lake Tribune, her father said, ‘I love the fact that she's trying to learn," The journey began when 19 year old Joeseta first told her father that she wanted to get a tattoo.
Utah's freshman center is the daughter of Junior Fatuesi, a high talking chief for the Satoafaiga clan, from the village of A’asu on the north coast of American Samoa's main island, Tutuila.
"A lot of the kids, they either detest or disengage themselves from the cultural upbringing," he was quoted as saying.
Junior said there are also many Samoans who feel that the fa'amatai chiefly system— is outdated, and who reject the traditions.
But, "I think you can be progressive and still hold onto your cultural identity,"
The malu "signifies a rite of passage," Junior said.
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