Nikolao Pula | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 9thGovernor of American Samoa | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Lieutenant | Pulu Ae Ae Jr. |
| Preceded by | Lemanu Peleti Mauga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pulaali'i Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula (1955-12-31)December 31, 1955 (age 70) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lois Ellen Pula |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Menlo College Brigham Young University George Mason University |
| Website | Office website Campaign website |
Pulaali'i Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula (born December 31, 1955)[1] is an American Samoan politician who is currently serving as the ninthgovernor of American Samoa since 2025. He ran in the2024 American Samoan gubernatorial election and defeated incumbentLemanu Peleti Mauga in the runoff. He is the firstRepublican Governor of American Samoa since 1993. Previously, he had served from 1993 to 2022 in theOffice of Insular Affairs (OIA), being the OIA Director from 2002 to 2022.
Pula was born in American Samoa.[2] He is the youngest son of 12 children and his father was the first Samoan Director of Education.[3][4] He grew up in the village ofUtulei and attended Utulei elementary school.[2] He later attendedMarist Brothers High School where he graduated in 1974 and was the classvaledictorian.[2] He then furthered his education in the mainland U.S., studying atMenlo College in California.[2] He also studied atBrigham Young University in Utah, served a mission in Samoa in 1978, and later returned to the U.S. and completed his education atGeorge Mason University in Virginia.[3]
Following his mission, Pula worked a short stint for the reference bureau of theAmerican Samoa Fono, the territorial legislature.[3] In 1981, he moved toWashington, D.C., and became a special assistant for Hawaii U.S. SenatorDaniel Inouye.[3] He worked with Inouye for 11 years before joining the office of American Samoa delegateFofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia.[2] Pula also assisted theSergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and was the staff director for the U.S. House subcommittee on public works and transportation.[2][3]
In August 1993, Pula joined theUnited States Department of the Interior, specifically working for theOffice of Insular Affairs (OIA).[2] He worked as a policy desk officer from 1993 to 2000 and served as the OIA Acting Director from 1999 to 2002.[5] He was named the Director of the OIA in 2002 and became the first Samoan ever to hold the position.[5][6] In the role, he served as the executive branch liaison with four of five U.S. territories and three freely associated states, being in charge of "general policies regarding insular affairs and oversight of Federal activities."[5] He also served as the chairman of the U.S.-Federated States of Micronesia Joint Economic Management Committee, the Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Trust Fund Committee, and the U.S.-Marshall Islands Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee.[5]
Pula served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs for a period of nine months in 2009 and for a second time in 2014.[2] He stepped down as OIA Director in 2022, which came after he criticized PresidentJoe Biden's nomination ofCarmen G. Cantor to be Assistant OIA Secretary.[7]
In March 2024, Pula announced his candidacy for the2024 American Samoan gubernatorial election.[8] He chosePulu Ae Ae Jr. to be his running mate and faced incumbentLemanu Peleti Mauga in the general election.[9][10] In the election, Pula received 42.4% of the vote compared to Mauga's 36.2% (4,284 votes to 3,660), which set up a runoff election as neither candidate received a majority.[10] Two weeks later, he defeated Mauga in the runoff with 59.8% of the vote.[11]
In December 2024, theRepublican National Committee announced that Pula had joined the Republican Party, this made Pula the first Republican governor of America Samoa sincePeter Tali Coleman who served in the position from 1978 to 1985, and 1989 to 1993.[12]
Pula married Dr. Lois Ellen Pula, a professor of nursing atGeorgetown University.[2] They have six children together and as of 2023, have 22 grandchildren.[2]
| Candidate | Running mate | First round | Second round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Pula Nikolao Pula | Pulu Ae Ae Jr. | 4,284 | 42.4% | 5,846 | 59.8% |
| Lemanu Peleti Mauga (incumbent) | Laapui Talauega Eleasao Ale (incumbent) | 3,660 | 36.2% | 3,925 | 40.2% |
| Vaitautolu Talia Iaulualo | Maefau Dr Mary Taufetee | 2,169 | 21.4% | Does not appear | |
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of American Samoa 2024 | Most recent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of American Samoa 2025–present | Incumbent |
Political officials ofAmerican Samoa | ||
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| U.S. House |
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| Executive government |
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| Senate | ||
| House | ||
| High Court |
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| Commandant(1900–1905) |  | |
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| Naval(1905–1951) | ||
| Civil(1951–1978) | ||
| Elected(since 1978) | ||