Remembering HTC Fuga Tolani Teleso

High Talking Chief Fuga Tolani Teleso , who built the 18-hole golf course at Iliili and the Veterans Memorial Stadium, passed away Sunday of last week in Arizona. He was 92.

Those who knew him well describe Fuga as a man who got things done, whether there was a budget for it or not. He is credited for designing and building the golf course at Iliili, turning bushland to what was once regarded among the top 100 golf courses in the United States. Fuga managed to convince local businesses and golfers to donate money and in kind contributions to build the golf course and he led a group of volunteers to do the hard physical work. After the golf course was completed he opened a pro golf shop that was in operation for decades supplying carts for the golf course.

When American Samoa won the bid to host the Mini Pacific Games in 1997, Fuga was called in to build the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

As Director of Parks and Recreation, Fuga was credited with upgrading the parks at Pago Pago and Lions Park.

He was also responsible for building the Faleata Golf Course in Tuanaimato in Samoa.

During that project Fuga stayed in a small shack on the golf course property.

At one time Fuga was the publisher of Samoa News after acquiring controlling interest in the newspaper from Jake King. He later sold the newspaper to Lewis Wolman.

Wolman gave the following tribute: “Fuga Tolani Teleso was an exceptional American Samoan, who rose from humble Pago Pago origins to become the equivalent rank of a one-star U.S. Army General.

“Fuga was equal parts proud and humble in a unique mixture.

“As a young palagi entrusted with the Samoa News, which he then owned, Fuga Tolani Teleso taught me to love, respect, and question American Samoa, its people, its government, and the fa’a Samoa.

“He was a HTC and a Sa’o, and he was deeply committed to both the welfare and unity of his large extended family and was very conscious about his responsibilities to guide and lead the family with all his heart and mind.”

Wolman continued, “Fuga channeled his amazing energy and passion for service into action, for his village of Pago Pago, for American Samoa, and for the United States.

“His physical legacy includes building the Golf Course and the Veterans Memorial Stadium for lunch money, but his most proud legacy was his many years serving as the Civilian Aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army.

“He took great pride and pleasure in the Junior Golf program and the many youth that learned how to golf and how to grow up in that program.

“Many people remember how he successfully raised $1 from every person in American Samoa to support the effort to refurbish the Statute of Liberty in New York City. He simply felt that American Samoa should be represented in such a patriotic endeavor, for our own good as well as Lady Liberty’s.

“Thank you Tolani, for all that you did for all of us.”

KHJ News offers our deepest condolences to Fuga’s family for their loss.

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