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Registration of Matai Title Le'aeno, :: Welcome to American Samoa Bar Association ::
HomeCasesSecond-Series24ASR2dRegistration of Matai Title Le'aeno, Registration of Matai Title Le'aeno, FAGAFAGA DANIEL LANGKILDE, Claimant,
UIAGALELEI GAFOA LE`AENO and FRANK W. REED, Counterclaimants.
[Registration of the Matai Title "LE`AENO" in the Villages of Matu`u and Faganeanea]
LT No. 2-89
Regarding the statutory exception for families having fewer than 25 adult, blood family- members, the term "family" is equated with the claimant's or counter-claimant's clan for purposes of testing the validity of matai-title petitions. A.S.C.A. § 1.0405, 1.0407.
Determining best hereditary right is traditionally guided by the percentage of matai-title candidates' blood relationship to a former titleholder, though in unusual cases it may be appropriate to calculate blood relationships from the original titleholder or the nearest common ancestor. A.S.C.A. § 1.0409(c)(l).
Clan support for matai-title candidates is traditionally measured by consensus and not by a mere numerical majority. A.S.C.A. § 1.0409(e)(2).
Regarding the criterion of the forcefulness, character, and personality of a matai-title candidate and his knowledge of Samoan customs, factors considered include leadership ability, honesty, education, public service, involvement in church and village affairs, and previous experience as a matai. A.S.C.A. § 1.0409(c)(3).
The matai-title criterion of value to family, village, and country seeks to evaluate a candidate's prospective value to his family, village, and American Samoa as holder of the title, in light of the first three statutory criteria and his leadership potential and plans. A.S.C.A. § 1.0409(c)(4).
Matai titles created after the matai-title registration process closed on January 1, 1969, are not legally recognizable.
Before OPINION AND ORDER
Before RICHMOND, Associate Justice, VAIVAO, Associate Judge, AFUOLA, Associate Judge, MAILO, Associate Judge, and LOGOAI, Associate Judge. [24ASR2d118]
Counsel: For Claimant, Tauese P.F. Sunia For Counterclaimant Uiagalelei Gafoa Le`aeno, Togiola T.A. Tulafono For Counterclaimant Frank W. Reed, Tauana`itau F. Tuia
The adequacy of the petitions filed by Fagafaga and Falani with the territorial registrar for registration of the matai title Le`aeno must be addressed first. Fagafaga's petition was signed by 17 persons. One signer is eliminated as a non-blood member of the Le`aeno family. The remaining 16 are members of Fagafaga's clan, the extended Amio family. Falani's petition was signed by 11 members of his clan, the same extended Amio family. Uiagalelei's petition was signed by 53 members of his clan, the extended Ugaloto family.
A.S.C.A. § 1.0405(b) sets forth the requirements for valid petitions. Among other elements, the petition must be signed by 25 blood members of the matai title claimed. These persons must be at least 18 years of age and residents of American Samoa at the time the petition is filed with the Territorial Registrar. If the family has less than 25 qualified members, the petition is still valid when it is supported by the claimant's affidavit of an insufficient number of blood members. Under A.S.C.A. § 1.0405(c), the Territorial Registrar, if not satisfied with the [24ASR2d119] information provided in the petition, must require proof of blood relation to the title, age, residency, or insufficiency of blood members. A.S.C.A. § 1.0407(b), (c) and (d) essentially establishes the same requirements for petitions submitted by counter-claimants or objectors.
To serve as a guide until there is further legislated direction, we equate the word "family" with the claimant's or counterclaimant's clan for purposes of testing the validity of the petitions. Cf. In re Matai Title "Mauga", 4 A.S.R. 616, 619-622 (Trial Div. 1965) ("intention of the Legislature is not and should not be to frustrate or make impossible the selection of a matai when a title becomes vacant").
Instead, we will simply follow the precedent of In re Matai Title "Mauga", 4 A.S.R. at 619-622, which dealt with similar factual matters and inadequate statutory guidance, and proceed with awarding this title. We believe that both candidates' affidavits stating that there were less than 25 qualified family members were made in good faith. In any event, the family is entitled to the judicial resolution it seeks after so many years without a Le`aeno titleholder.
Based on the evidence submitted to the court, the following findings of fact are made with respect to the four criteria set forth in A.S.C.A. § 1.0409. [24ASR2d120]
This factual determination is traditionally guided by the percentage of the candidates' blood relationship to a former holder of the matai title (though in unusual cases it may be appropriate to calculate blood relationships from the original title holder or from the nearest common ancestor, the so-called "Sotoa" rule and its variant). See In re Matai Title "Iuli", 14 A.S.R.2d 116, 117-18 (Land & Titles Div. 1990); In re Matai Title "Tuiteleleapaga", 15 A.S.R.2d 90, 90-91 (Land & Titles Div. 1990); In re Matai Title "Sotoa", 2 A.S.R.2d 15 (Lands & Titles Div. 1984); see also In re Matai Title "Mulitauauopele", 17 A.S.R.2d 75, ___ (Land & Titles Div. 1990). By the traditional measure Falani, as the son of Le`aeno Viliamu Reed, has 1/2 or 50% Le`aeno blood. On the other hand, Fagafaga is the great-great-grandson of Le`aeno Fagafaga and, on this basis, has 1/16 or 6.25% Le`aeno blood.
This consideration seeks to weigh the candidates' support within the family by accounting for the wish of the majority or plurality of the customarily recognized clans in the family at the time of trial. A.S.C.A. § 1.0409(c)(2); In re Matai Title "Tauala", 15 A.S.R.2d 65, 68 (Land & Titles Div. 1990). The candidates also at least partially agree on this issue. The family has two clans established through Le`aeno Galeva`a's progeny, his daughter Amio and son Ugaloto. Both candidates are members of the Amio clan. However, their respective assessments of the wish of the clans diverge at this point.
During this vacancy in the Le`aeno title, the Amio clan met either separately or with the Ugaloto clan some eight or nine times in efforts to choose a successor for the title. The last time was after a [24ASR2d121] continuance of the trial for this purpose and only a few days before trial. One overall result of these meetings is that both Fagafaga and Falani still want to be the Amio clan's choice, and each refuses to concede to the other. Apparently, Fagafaga can command a numerical majority within the clan. However, clan support can not be evaluated by counting heads and is traditionally measured by consensus. In re Matai Title "Tauala", 14 A.S.R.2d 83, 88 (Lands & Titles Div. 1990). Amio's and her offsprings' marriages have produced several genealogical lines. Most of these lineages favor and, thus, forge consensus for Falani. Viewed in this traditional perspective, Falani has the Amio clan's support.
Leadership ability, honesty, education, public service, involvement in church and village affairs, and previous experience as a matai are some of the factors which aid in meeting this criterion. See, e.g. In re Matai Title "Tauala", 14 A.S.R.2d at 89-93; In re Matai Title "Tuiteleleapaga", 15 A.S.R.2d at 90-93; In re Matai Title "Mauga", 4 A.S.R. at 628-29 (predecessor Code Amer. Samoa, 1961 ed, § 6.0107).
Unquestionably, Fagafaga is a highly visible member of the generation that must succeed to leadership in American Samoa in the foreseeable future. He sought out educational goals, having graduated at the secondary level, attended institutions of higher learning off-island, and completed specialty training for radio broadcasting and disaster emergency communications. He has hands-on experience in supervisory and managerial roles. He is an accomplished master-of-ceremonies and broadcaster of events. He has served in the House of Representatives of [24ASR2d122] the Legislature of American Samoa, on various governmental committees, boards and commissions, and in several diverse church functions. He demonstrated initiative in enabling his fellow villagers to cope with the hurricane disasters in 1990 and 1991 and in dealing with other village needs. He has also been a matai for some 14 years. On the other hand, his matai title was created by a former Le`aeno after the matai title registration process closed on January 1, 1969, and, thus, is not legally recognizable.
Fagafaga's educational and career accomplishments give him a distinct but not overwhelming advantage in this category. Falani has overcome in maturity and humility any deficiencies from his younger years. However, Fagafaga does slightly prevail on this standard.
This consideration seeks to evaluate the candidates' prospective value to his family, village, and American Samoa as holder of the title, in light of the first three criteria and their leadership potential and plans. See In re Matai Title "Tauala", 14 A.S.R.2d at 93-94); In re Matai Title "Sala", 4 A.S.R. 21, 23 (Land & Titles Div. 1971) (predecessor Code Amer. Samoa § 6.0107 (1961 ed.)). [24ASR2d123]