ʻO Aʻu ʻO Le Sāmoa : Embracing Faʻasinomaga Through Virtual Spaces

Abstract

How does a Samoan individual stay connected to their faʻasinomaga (cultural identity) while living abroad? For some, it is through the preparation and cooking of cultural foods or attending a Samoan church where Samoan language is widely spoken. For others, it is through the arts such as siva (dance) and tatau (tattoo). While each of these avenues can certainly enhance a person’s faʻasinomaga, not every Samoan is brought up with Samoan food, dance, tatau, or the privilege of attending a Samoan church. This thesis portfolio looks at this problem through a study of my own journey growing up in a bicultural family on the island of Hawaiʻi. My exposure to the faʻaSāmoa was limited to my father's use of the language at times and culture in our home. After his sudden passing in 2020, I began a journey in learning Samoan language to honor his memory as well as to discover and construct my own faʻasinomaga. This journey led me to create and moderate an online platform dedicated to Samoan language and culture which also nurtured many connections with other likeminded Samoans in diaspora. This portfolio is an account of that journey within the context of the issues of language use and its importance to culture and identity, the problem of language loss, and how an individual can reconnect with their faʻasinomaga using the digital space.