Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Punialava‘a, one of Samoa’s most iconic family bands, has added a new chapter to its remarkable legacy.

Known for more than 50 years of Samoan music that blends gospel, love songs, and cultural pride, using eloquent oratorical lyrics rich in cultural and spiritual meaning. Now, they have made history by coining the Samoan word “Mananoa” as another translation for Alzheimer’s Disease.

The band is currently in American Samoa by special invitation, performing as part of Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Their music is being used not only to entertain but also to educate, spreading awareness through song and storytelling.

The annual awareness campaign is coordinated by the Agency for Better Living Endeavors (ABLE), a local non‑profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents through cultural, educational, and community programs.

ABLE’s partnership with Punialava‘a highlights the power of music as a cultural bridge for awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease, a condition that continues to affect a growing number of families each year.

At a press conference held at the DDW Restaurant in Utulei last week Monday, local media and members of the public were formally introduced to the first four members of Punialava‘a to arrive on island. Leading the group was band founder and leader Rev. Lale Peteru, accompanied by his wife Vini Peteru, their eldest child Nanai Vielani Peteru, and their youngest, Melody Peteru.

Mrs. Peteru confirmed that the third eldest sibling, Punialava‘a Peteru, is expected to arrive later in the week, while the second eldest, Vanya Peteru, was unable to make the trip.

Expounding on the meaning of Alzheimer’s, Vini Peteru explained that when people hear the word, they immediately think of memory and mental capacity. She noted that in the past, those afflicted with the disease were often stigmatized and dismissed as suffering from a mental impairment.

“However, we see this as an inter‑generational matter, and we are obligated to spread awareness that Alzheimer’s is not simply about impairment — it is about our memories, or our Mana,” Vini said. “In Polynesian and Māori belief, Mana is an impersonal supernatural power that can be transmitted or inherited, and we all carry our own Mana.”

She went on to explain that in Samoan, Mana is synonymous with the words Mauli and Tamāli‘iaga. “When that fades from us, the challenge becomes: who carries on the Mana? Who carries on the Mana of those who have lost their memories or have forgotten their Mana?”

“It’s us!” she declared. “That is the awareness we want to promote this month. Alzheimer’s is inter‑generational because we all relate to the Mana of our forefathers, of those who have gone before us. We carry it forward.”

Vini further emphasized the importance of remembrance through the Samoan word manatua. “‘Mana’ refers to the supernatural power to remember, while ‘tua’ means back or past. So manatua is, in essence, the supernatural power to remember the past.”

She concluded: “We must manatua those who are mananoa — those whose supernatural power to remember has become noa, or void. The Samoan phrase 'Manatua le Mananoa' translates to ‘Remember those who have forgotten,’ or ‘Remember those whose supernatural power to remember is now void.’”

The audience, listening intently, applauded with appreciation — acknowledging the informative, empowering, and culturally resonant explanation of the origins of the newly coined term Mananoa.

The floor was then opened for questions. Talatala le Ta‘ui Podcaster and former Samoa News reporter Taupau Tauileave Toluono began the Q&A session by requesting a Samoan‑language explanation of Mananoa, for the benefit of elderly viewers of his podcast.

Rev. Lale Peteru responded by first recognizing the invaluable work of the LMS missionaries who brought the Gospel to Samoa and, for the first time, produced a written version of the Samoan language.

“They constructed many new words that appear in the Samoan translation of the Bible,” Rev. Peteru explained. “These words were not originally Samoan but were carefully constructed by the missionaries. If future Bible translations omit them, there is a danger that these words will be lost.”

He emphasized that Samoans today have acquired the linguistic and contextual knowledge necessary to master the art of word construction, enabling them to create terms that can name and describe anything.

However, he cautioned that the situation has changed in modern times, with many people relying on transliteration — directly adapting foreign words based on sound. He stated that this practice has cheapened the Samoan language.

He cited examples: the English word 'cousin' often transliterated as 'kaseni,' though Samoan already has words such as 'tausoga' or 'tei;' and the word 'camera' translated as 'kamela,' when traditional Samoan terms like 'mea pu‘eata' or 'masini pu‘eata' exist.

“When we set out to construct a Samoan word for Alzheimer’s, we knew the building blocks had to share a contextual connection with the disease,” Rev. Peteru said. “As Vini explained, the cognitive power of the mind to remember and store information is called the Mana of a person in Polynesia. When that power to remember is diminished by Alzheimer’s, it becomes Noa — void. Hence, the new word: Mananoa.”

Executive Director of the Samoan Language Commission of American Samoa, Elisapeta Tupo Alaimaleata, opened her remarks by expressing heartfelt gratitude for the vital role that Punialava‘a continues to play in preserving and advancing the Samoan language.

She asked the Punialava'a members how they had chosen the words used to construct the new term Mananoa, noting that there were many possible options. Specifically, Alaimaleata inquired about the process behind selecting the two words Mana and Noa.

Responding to the question, Mrs. Vini Peteru first reflected on the word Mana, explaining that when it is spoken, it often refers to God’s Mana — His almighty power.

“Then Lale and I focused on the word 'Tamāli‘iaga' — the dignity and honor of a human being worthy of respect, created by God Almighty,” she shared. “Our thought process followed this path because of the way people afflicted with Alzheimer’s are often unjustly perceived. Too often they are ridiculed, stigmatized, and falsely labeled as ‘crazy’ by those who do not understand the disease.”

She emphasized that this was why they agreed to use Mana as the root word: “It reflects the power of the human mind to process, store, and remember information. And we affirm that this power itself was created by a higher power — God, the Creator of the Universe.”

Mrs. Peteru went on to connect this to the word manatua, which calls on us to remember those who have lost the ability to remember, reminding us that they too were created by God. “Manatua le Mananoa,” she concluded — Remember those who have forgotten.

The legendary Punialava‘a Family Band took to the stage last week  at the "Manatua le Mananoa Aiga Concert" at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, Tafuna.

This special event was coordinated by ABLE and was free of charge and open to the entire community.

Joining Punialava‘a were other outstanding Samoan musical acts:

• Ozki – the rising Samoan duo of brothers Gaberiel and AJ Paese Si‘a, whose fresh sound bridges traditional Samoan roots with modern pop.

• Marina Davis – the internationally renowned Samoan Diva, often hailed as the “Voice of the Pacific,” celebrated for her powerhouse soprano and her role in shaping modern Polynesian music. The concert begins at 6pm sharp. Come early, bring your family, and be part of this unforgettable evening of music, culture, and community pride.

Samoa News will report this on an exclusive interview following the press conference with Executive Director of the Samoan Language Commission of American Samoa Alaimaleata reiterating the importance of Punialava’a’s contribution to the Samoan language as well as deepening cultural understanding across generations.