Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Chaminade Life > Campus Unites to Support Samoan Islands

Campus Unites to Support Samoan Islands

Ashlee Duenas, Editor

On Sept. 29 an 8.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in South Pacific waters.  Shortly after, the Samoan Islands were faced with an unstoppable force: a tsunami. The tragedy killed 184 people and destroyed whole villages.

Chaminade has a strong Samoan presence in its community. When they heard the news, what is usually boisterous laughing and quick jabs in Samoan turned into silence and shock, as each person waited to hear about the safety of loved ones.

Cherish Galea’i, a senior and secretary of Chaminade's Samoan Club, Lumana'i O Samoa, said, “We all gathered at the chapel, and all of us were kind of scared. We’ve dealt with hurricanes and whatnot, but never a tsunami. [We] couldn’t get in contact with anyone back home. All we could do was pray and wait.”

Two of the hardest hit villages were Pago Pago and Leone, which several Chaminade students call home.

Within a couple of days, plastic donation containers were placed in the Courtyard Café, Sullivan Library and Campus Ministry Office. More than $1,600 has been raised thus far, and the club hopes to donate the money to the Samoa Relief Fund later this week.

The tragedy has sparked a sense of activism not only among Samoans, but also among the non-Samoan population as well.

Campus Ministry held a mass and a prayer service and also donated two Sunday mass collections as part of the Samoan Relief Fund, said Angel Yandall, Lumana’i O Samoa’s historian. 

Another effort was lead by senior Aurora Aguila. After hearing about the tragedy and seeing the hurt and anguish in her friends’ faces, she felt an urge to do something.

“I couldn’t just sit around and watch,” said Aguila. “I decided to make wristbands with the Samoan colors and country motto.”

Aguila has been selling the plastic wristbands to friends, family and anyone else who will pay the five dollars. She is even receiving requests from Samoans and non-Samoans on the Mainland for her Tsunami Relief bracelets.

“All proceeds are going to the tsunami relief fund,” she said.