Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2026 American Samoa Territorial Teacher of the Year, Elisaia Sualua Ma'ilo. Elisaia Sualua Ma'ilo teaches 11th grade United States history and Advanced Placement (AP) United States history at Tafuna High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa. With the ethos that ``we rise by lifting others.'' Elisaia has worked to make history meaningful and accessible to his students while emphasizing service, leadership, and cultural identity. That dedication to serving and uplifting his community has extended beyond the classroom.

He founded the Adopt-A-Student Academic Intervention Program, an initiative designed to support students who were failing multiple courses through teacher mentoring, tutoring, parent engagement, and academic intervention. The program helped students successfully recover failed courses and was subsequently adopted by the American Samoa Department of Education as a Credit Recovery Program across the island's public high schools. He served in professional leadership roles, including PLC leadership and school improvement efforts, while advocating for literacy, student achievement, teacher collaboration, and equitable educational opportunities for our students. He has been a steering committee member for our Warrior Literacy Program at THS and is currently part of the leadership team as program coordinator. One of Elisaia's stated goals is to perpetuate the Samoan culture through the arts. He is a music festival coach, speech festival coach and National History Day coach at Tafuna, where he also has led the Professional Learning Community Team for the past four years. He volunteers with the Moso'oi Festival of Arts and sings in the American Samoa Arts Council Choir. He is also a member of the youth group at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, which helps the community through cleanups and by donating to local charities. Elisaia was officially recognized by our local leaders including the American Samoan Fono. This serves as an affirmation of the importance of the educators who dedicate their lives to the children and future of American Samoa.

I hope that this recognition serves as inspiration for aspiring teachers and a reminder that the work of an educator is ultimately an investment in the future of our people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of David Thomas Pangelinan Perez, who passed away on February 16, 2026. He is preceded by his wife, Maria Luisa Cruz Paulino, to whom he was married for 53 years; and survived by seven children, fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. David was born in Guam on August 19, 1937. He retired as a Department of the Army civilian after 35 years of service, traveling on assignment in Asia, Europe, and throughout the U.S. After retiring he worked with the government of the Federated States of the Micronesia living in Pohnpei, and then in Guam and Tinian as an elementary school and Chamorro language teacher. He was one of the founding members of the Guam Society of America in Washington, D.C., serving as both president and treasurer. He was a WWII history buff and enjoyed watching Japanese historical dramas and Sumo. He was also his family's de-facto record keeper, with an extremely knowledgeable memory of the ``Gollo'' family genealogy. David was a bright and affable man, always able to bring smiles to those around him. He was a dear friend to me, as was his wife, Maria. I cherish his memory and kindness as he goes to his final resting place alongside her. He was beloved by many and will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Polynesian Association of Alaska (PAOA), a non-profit organization that is celebrating their 20th Anniversary. Over the span of two decades, this organization has committed itself to educating Pacific Islanders across various domains, including health and social services, employment, culture, language, voting, education, immigration, and more.

PAOA was founded on November 16, 2004, in Anchorage, Alaska, following a Samoan Computer Language Senior Class led by Lusiana Tuga Hansen. This non-profit entity was formally established and registered in the City of Anchorage and the State of Alaska on February 1, 2005, and achieved 501(c)(3) status on June 16, 2006. Since its establishment, it has functioned as the leading organization for the Pacific Island community in Alaska from 2005 to 2025.

PAOA's mission is to empower and educate individuals and families while promoting pride and acceptance of all cultures and instilling the best values they embody. The organization currently has 53 registered members and 19 Board Members. Their vision is to ensure that the Pacific Island community in Alaska and beyond receives support in education, employment, and cultural enrichment. I want to thank the group for their continued dedication to Polynesian cultural and community values in Alaska and for their contributions to the Pacific Islands region at large.