Samoana students and visitors to the school campus have probably walked by a cement pillar that holds a stainless steel plaque hundreds of times without noticing it — it is so much a part of the landscape and has been since 1973. Donna Gurr, a member of the Fia Iloa school 8th grade class of ’73 shares the poignant story behind the monument that touched and changed the lives of Fia Iloa students when one of their own, Rimoni Sotoa, drowned in a tragic accident at Utulei Beach.

Traces of graffiti mar the plaque that Samoa News photographer Jeff Hayner cleaned off after he found it tucked away behind the gym, adjacent to the track. We sought it out because tonight the territory will commemorate with a solemn Floating Lantern Ceremony the lives of people lost at sea, a fitting culmination to Rip Current Awareness Week.

Although this federally initiated week is a new event in American Samoa, the pain and loss from ocean based tragedies are not new to this or any island community as you will read in Donna’s remembrance.

IN MEMORY OF A BELOVED FRIEND

Some memories just don’t fade… even after 40 years. I can still vividly remember the day when our 8th grade class from Fia Iloa Elementary ― which was located next to Samoana High School ― went on our afternoon swim at Utulei Beach. On one side of the beach most of the forty or so students from our class were having a blast diving off the log board, jumping off or hiding under the anchored raft, snorkeling above the crystal-clear reef, while over to the side closer to the Rainmaker Hotel, there were just a few students swimming and canoeing. We were thoroughly enjoying the fun and beauty of the ocean that surrounded us that Friday afternoon, during our second semester of 8th grade.

Then something strange happened. I saw my classmates quickly get out of the ocean, and dozens of Samoana High School students began to dive where two of my classmates — Mike McMullin and Rimoni Sotoa — had been canoeing. Not comprehending what was going on, I found myself searching like the rest of students… they were saying an apa canoe being paddled by Mike and Rimoni had tipped over, and Rimoni was nowhere to be found.

Paramedics showed up… people were everywhere. I searched frantically for my friend who had moved with his family to American Samoa from the east coast that school year so his father, Dr. Sotoa, could work at LBJ.

I hadn’t seen his canoe tip over… was this for real? Rimoni was the tallest and most fit male in our class… it wasn’t possible for him to drown, I told myself, yet, I continued searching for him with others in the ocean many of us were so familiar with.

It was a blur how much time elapsed when suddenly Rimoni was lifted up by some of those searching for him. As I watched my classmate being taken to the paramedics, I felt in my heart that there was a chance he would be okay; that he would be revived from the doctors at LBJ. I don’t remember walking home to my house in Fagatogo, but when I arrived, I recall relaying to my eldest sister, Lisi, what had just transpired. She called the hospital for me to check on Rimoni’s condition, and when she got off the phone, I was filled with a new sense of hope that my friend would live as Lisi said the doctors were trying their best to revive him. 

Suddenly, my hope turned to sorrow, as tears rolled down my sister’s eyes as she broke the news there wasn’t anything more the doctors could do; Rimoni had drowned. I broke down… I had never lost a friend prior to that day. He was too young to die, but the Lord had taken him home forever.  _It was so painful and difficult to understand losing a friend at such a young age.

At his family’s house in Fagatogo just a few yards away from where I lived, I remember our classmates gathered around Rimoni’s casket, singing, “Lota Nu’u”, Terri placed a ring on his finger… his family tried to get us to eat… but we just couldn’t. We were grieving for the loss of a beloved friend who had drowned, and we couldn’t quite comprehend why.

As we finished up the school year and graduated from Fia Iloa, our 8th grade class dedicated our graduation in honor of Rimoni Sotoa ― our dear friend. A monument was erected at Samoana High School and still stands there today, in memory of our beloved classmate. I never asked them, but I believe Rimoni’s family erected the monument at that location not only to remember him, but also to thank those who tried to save their son and brother, but perhaps also as a reminder to all of us that there are lessons to be learned from Rimoni’s drowning.

As we celebrate Rip Current Week, it is only befitting that we remember those like Rimoni who have drowned in American Samoa, due to their inability to swim, or a lack of knowledge of rip tides.

As a community, we need to come together to support swimming programs offered such as DOE/ DOC’s Ocean Swimming/Ocean Science course at Samoana High School, and Zero’s after-school/ Saturday swimming lessons at Utulei Beach.

We must ensure our children learn to swim, and gain an understanding of rip currents so that drownings are eliminated on our islands. God has blessed with a beautiful ocean ― but it is one that must be understood and respected so that tragedies like Rimoni’s are not repeated in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story, on behalf of our 8th grade class of Fia Iloa Elementary, 1973, and especially in remembrance of our dear friend, Rimoni Sotoa.

~ Donna (Beddingfield) Gurr