FUATINO SU'A KOAHOU April 4, 1923 - November 2, 2014 "I'm very happy with my life, I loved the old Hawaiian people in Laie back then. They were very kind and helpful. They had great respect and love, and would do anything for you." 11-8-2007 - Kaleo Koolauloa News Fuatino Su'a Koahou, the first female fire-knife dancer of her generation from Western Samoa received her call to return home to be with our Heavenly Father on November 2, 2014. Being firm with the Good Lord, Fuatino, fondly known as "Aunty Tino," had attained 91 years and having lived a full and wonderful life, will forever remain our Spiritual Angel and an icon of eminent cultural inspiration for many who were fortunate to have shared a moment of her passion, vitality, and joyful expressions in Polynesian Dance. Fuatino Su'a Koahou was born on April 4, 1923 in the village of Sauniatu, on the island of Upolu in Western Samoa. Aunty Tino was the eighth child and a younger daughter of twelve children born to her mother, Fa'afeu Nele Tavete Leiataua. Ever respectful and a genealogist of note, Aunty Tino humbly acknowledged her father's Royal Heritage in the Tu'i Kanokupolu lineage of Tongan Nobility. Her father, Tinei Saimasina Su'a, son of Emosi Saimasina Tu'ipelehake, was a direct descendant of His Majesty, King Siaosi Tupou I, premiere Sovereign of Tonga. Aunty Tino's grandfather Emosi Tu'ipelehake was a first cousin to His Majesty, King Siaosi, Tupou II, whose Daughter, Royal, reigned as Her Majesty, Queen Salote, Tupou III and whose Son, Royal, Crown Prince Tungi Tupoutoa succeeded his Royal Mother as His Majesty King Taufa'ahau, Tupou IV. Her Royal Highness, Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa remembers well the protocol events of October 1954, now sixty years past, welcoming, in grand style, then Crown Prince Tungi Tupoutoa to the La'ie Hukilau Tourist Gardens where Fuatino's paternal uncle the Honorable Kipeni Su'a served as Master of Ceremonies. Fuatino along with her cousin Vendella Alapa had charge of the Polynesian entertainment - full of ceremony replete with traditional songs, dances, and costumes. Representing the Royal Family of Hawaii were HRH Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, her cousin, HRH Princess Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikalani Kawananakoa, and their cousin, Mrs. Thomas (Alicia Shingle) King. Aunty Tino's life-long association with Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike speaks volumes towards their mutually abiding friendship full of Love and Aloha. Aunty Tino received her education at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saint School in Mapusaga and at the Catholic Sister School, in Ituvai, both on the Island of Tutuila in American Samoa. At the age of 18, Aunty Tino "left her home in Sauniatu, Western Samoa, and boarded the old Matson liner Mariposa for the trip to Honolulu. She and her little nephew, Al Harrington, arrived on the Wednesday before Pearl Harbor was bombed." Aunty Tino lived with her paternal uncle, The Honorable Kipeni Saimasina Su'a at his home on Pacific Heights. After briefly attending McKinley High School, Aunty Tino pursued trade courses at the Galusha School of Business from 1941-1943 and the Honolulu Business College from 1943-1945 where she met her first husband Antone Perreira with whom she had a son, Perry Perreira. On April 2nd, 1952, Miss Fuatino Su'a married Jacob Keliipule'ole Koahou of Hilo and took up residence near Queen's Hospital to raise their family before moving to La'ie. Uncle Jacob, a truck driver for the Government, passed away on January 28, 1970. Aunty Tino enjoyed dancing and was well-known throughout the entertainment world. She began her career in 1947 with The Royal Samoan Entertaining Group, dancing professionally at the International Market Place and at the Beachcomber throughout the 1950's. She was a vividly imaginative choreographer, dancer, mentor, teacher, and solo performer. When the Polynesian Cultural Center opened on October 12, 1963, Aunty Tino was a valuable asset wearing many hats and readily served as Supervisor of Tour Guides, Cart Tours and had oversight of the Center's Theater. Musically gifted, Aunty Tino became Supervisor for Musicians at Coconut Island and with her guitar in hand helped establish and supervise the Canoe Pageant Musicians. Aunty Tino's career would eventually take her to San Francisco where she worked all over in entertainment and eventually signed a sweet two-year contract to live and work as a dancer at Clear Lake, California. She said "they gave me a beautiful apartment. It was very good pay, but I was lonely." Then, in 1964, with her dance partner Kimo Wong, Aunty Tino and her signature fire-knife dance became a sensation and highlight at the New York World's Fair. Well into her eighties, Aunty Tino sang with the Nani La'ie Serenaders, a volunteer musical group who sang at funerals, weddings, parties, and community events- "We don't get paid, we just donate our time." Mindful of a promise made to her parents, Aunty Tino completed several missions with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a trainer and supervisor of Temple Protocol in both American and Western Samoa. As a Temple Ordinance worker, she would spend many hours here in La'ie completing reactivation work with Walter Wong and also worked in press services at Brigham Young University - Hawaii campus. Besides her many friends and relatives from all over the world, Aunty Fuatino Su'a Koahou is survived by her beloved hanai sister and companion, Noa Au; a Son: Perry Perreira; Daughters: Tutasi Ginger Koahou Ah Quin and Tapi Christa Koahou; Grandchildren: Abigail Kinoiki Ah Quin Kamai, Muriel Lilio "Lio" Ah Quin, Alicia Helen Ka'ahu'ula Ah Quin, Garrick Kalanikini Ah Quin; Great-grandchildren: Shazdon, Sage, Shayne, and Shone Kalima; Sisters: Lela Logotaeao Su'a Harrington, Fa'aliliu Su'a Higgins, Eka Paia Su'a Palmer, Lealofisa Sua Jones and Brothers: Malo, Elemene, Ulalo and Sioli Sua. Memorial Services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2014 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, La'ie North Stake Center. The eulogy will be presented by her nephew, Al Harrington. Family viewing 9:00 am to 9:30 am; Public Visitation: 9:30 am to 12 Noon; Service: 12:00 Noon to 1:15 pm; Graveside Service: 1:20 pm to 1:30 pm
FUATINO SU'A KOAHOU April 4, 1923 - November 2, 2014 "I'm very happy with my life, I loved the old Hawaiian people in Laie back then. They were very kind and helpful. They had great respect and love, and would do anything for you." 11-8-2007 - Kaleo Koolauloa News Fuatino Su'a Koahou, the first female fire-knife dancer of her generation from Western Samoa received her call to return home to be with our Heavenly Father on November 2, 2014. Being firm with the Good Lord, Fuatino, fondly known as "Aunty Tino," had attained 91 years and having lived a full and wonderful life, will forever remain our Spiritual Angel and an icon of eminent cultural inspiration for many who were fortunate to have shared a moment of her passion, vitality, and joyful expressions in Polynesian Dance. Fuatino Su'a Koahou was born on April 4, 1923 in the village of Sauniatu, on the island of Upolu in Western Samoa. Aunty Tino was the eighth child and a younger daughter of twelve children born to her mother, Fa'afeu Nele Tavete Leiataua. Ever respectful and a genealogist of note, Aunty Tino humbly acknowledged her father's Royal Heritage in the Tu'i Kanokupolu lineage of Tongan Nobility. Her father, Tinei Saimasina Su'a, son of Emosi Saimasina Tu'ipelehake, was a direct descendant of His Majesty, King Siaosi Tupou I, premiere Sovereign of Tonga. Aunty Tino's grandfather Emosi Tu'ipelehake was a first cousin to His Majesty, King Siaosi, Tupou II, whose Daughter, Royal, reigned as Her Majesty, Queen Salote, Tupou III and whose Son, Royal, Crown Prince Tungi Tupoutoa succeeded his Royal Mother as His Majesty King Taufa'ahau, Tupou IV. Her Royal Highness, Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa remembers well the protocol events of October 1954, now sixty years past, welcoming, in grand style, then Crown Prince Tungi Tupoutoa to the La'ie Hukilau Tourist Gardens where Fuatino's paternal uncle the Honorable Kipeni Su'a served as Master of Ceremonies. Fuatino along with her cousin Vendella Alapa had charge of the Polynesian entertainment - full of ceremony replete with traditional songs, dances, and costumes. Representing the Royal Family of Hawaii were HRH Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, her cousin, HRH Princess Virginia Kapooloku Poomaikalani Kawananakoa, and their cousin, Mrs. Thomas (Alicia Shingle) King. Aunty Tino's life-long association with Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike speaks volumes towards their mutually abiding friendship full of Love and Aloha. Aunty Tino received her education at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saint School in Mapusaga and at the Catholic Sister School, in Ituvai, both on the Island of Tutuila in American Samoa. At the age of 18, Aunty Tino "left her home in Sauniatu, Western Samoa, and boarded the old Matson liner Mariposa for the trip to Honolulu. She and her little nephew, Al Harrington, arrived on the Wednesday before Pearl Harbor was bombed." Aunty Tino lived with her paternal uncle, The Honorable Kipeni Saimasina Su'a at his home on Pacific Heights. After briefly attending McKinley High School, Aunty Tino pursued trade courses at the Galusha School of Business from 1941-1943 and the Honolulu Business College from 1943-1945 where she met her first husband Antone Perreira with whom she had a son, Perry Perreira. On April 2nd, 1952, Miss Fuatino Su'a married Jacob Keliipule'ole Koahou of Hilo and took up residence near Queen's Hospital to raise their family before moving to La'ie. Uncle Jacob, a truck driver for the Government, passed away on January 28, 1970. Aunty Tino enjoyed dancing and was well-known throughout the entertainment world. She began her career in 1947 with The Royal Samoan Entertaining Group, dancing professionally at the International Market Place and at the Beachcomber throughout the 1950's. She was a vividly imaginative choreographer, dancer, mentor, teacher, and solo performer. When the Polynesian Cultural Center opened on October 12, 1963, Aunty Tino was a valuable asset wearing many hats and readily served as Supervisor of Tour Guides, Cart Tours and had oversight of the Center's Theater. Musically gifted, Aunty Tino became Supervisor for Musicians at Coconut Island and with her guitar in hand helped establish and supervise the Canoe Pageant Musicians. Aunty Tino's career would eventually take her to San Francisco where she worked all over in entertainment and eventually signed a sweet two-year contract to live and work as a dancer at Clear Lake, California. She said "they gave me a beautiful apartment. It was very good pay, but I was lonely." Then, in 1964, with her dance partner Kimo Wong, Aunty Tino and her signature fire-knife dance became a sensation and highlight at the New York World's Fair. Well into her eighties, Aunty Tino sang with the Nani La'ie Serenaders, a volunteer musical group who sang at funerals, weddings, parties, and community events- "We don't get paid, we just donate our time." Mindful of a promise made to her parents, Aunty Tino completed several missions with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a trainer and supervisor of Temple Protocol in both American and Western Samoa. As a Temple Ordinance worker, she would spend many hours here in La'ie completing reactivation work with Walter Wong and also worked in press services at Brigham Young University - Hawaii campus. Besides her many friends and relatives from all over the world, Aunty Fuatino Su'a Koahou is survived by her beloved hanai sister and companion, Noa Au; a Son: Perry Perreira; Daughters: Tutasi Ginger Koahou Ah Quin and Tapi Christa Koahou; Grandchildren: Abigail Kinoiki Ah Quin Kamai, Muriel Lilio "Lio" Ah Quin, Alicia Helen Ka'ahu'ula Ah Quin, Garrick Kalanikini Ah Quin; Great-grandchildren: Shazdon, Sage, Shayne, and Shone Kalima; Sisters: Lela Logotaeao Su'a Harrington, Fa'aliliu Su'a Higgins, Eka Paia Su'a Palmer, Lealofisa Sua Jones and Brothers: Malo, Elemene, Ulalo and Sioli Sua. Memorial Services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2014 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, La'ie North Stake Center. The eulogy will be presented by her nephew, Al Harrington. Family viewing 9:00 am to 9:30 am; Public Visitation: 9:30 am to 12 Noon; Service: 12:00 Noon to 1:15 pm; Graveside Service: 1:20 pm to 1:30 pmOur deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
