Galea'i Peni Poumele
Encyclopedia
Galea'i Peni Poumele was an American Samoa
n politician
and traditional leader. Poumele served as the third elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
from 1989 to 1992.
Poumele was a paramount chief
of the village of Fitiuta, located on Tau
in the Manu'a Islands. The chiefly title
of Galea'i became vacant upon Poumele's death in 1992.
In 1988, Peter Tali Coleman
and his running mate, Galea'i Peni Poumele, were elected Governor and Lt. Governor of American Samoa
. Coleman and Poumele were inaugurated on January 2, 1989. Poumele became the third elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, while the 1989 inauguration marked Coleman's fourth nonconsecutive term as Governor.
Lieutenant Governor Galea'i Peni Poumele died in office in July 1992 at the age of 67. It is unclear whether another Lieutenant Governor was named to serve out the remainder of Poumele's unexpired term or if the office was left vacant until Governor Coleman left office in 1993. He was succeeded by Tauese Sunia
, who was inaugurated Lt. Governor on January 4, 1993, with incoming Governor A. P. Lutali
.
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and traditional leader. Poumele served as the third elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
from 1989 to 1992.
Poumele was a paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
of the village of Fitiuta, located on Tau
Tau, American Samoa
Ta‘ū is the largest island in the Manu‘a Group and the easternmost volcanic island of the Samoan Islands. Ta‘ū is part of American Samoa. In the early 19th century, the island was sometimes called Opoun....
in the Manu'a Islands. The chiefly title
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
of Galea'i became vacant upon Poumele's death in 1992.
In 1988, Peter Tali Coleman
Peter Tali Coleman
Peter Tali Coleman was the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa and later became the territory's first popularly elected governor. A member of the Republican Party, he is the only U.S...
and his running mate, Galea'i Peni Poumele, were elected Governor and Lt. Governor of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
. Coleman and Poumele were inaugurated on January 2, 1989. Poumele became the third elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, while the 1989 inauguration marked Coleman's fourth nonconsecutive term as Governor.
Lieutenant Governor Galea'i Peni Poumele died in office in July 1992 at the age of 67. It is unclear whether another Lieutenant Governor was named to serve out the remainder of Poumele's unexpired term or if the office was left vacant until Governor Coleman left office in 1993. He was succeeded by Tauese Sunia
Tauese Sunia
Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia was the governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death. He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii for medical treatment....
, who was inaugurated Lt. Governor on January 4, 1993, with incoming Governor A. P. Lutali
A. P. Lutali
Aifili Paulo Lauvao , was governor of American Samoa . The founder of the U.S. commonwealth's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa. From 1951 to 1954, he served as administrative supervisor for public schools...
.