Iosefa Sunia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Delegate to theU.S. House of Representatives fromAmerican Samoa'sat-large district | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – September 6, 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Himself (Delegate at-large) |
| Succeeded by | Eni Faleomavaega |
| Delegate at-large of American Samoa | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | A. P. Lutali |
| Succeeded by | Himself (Delegate) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Iosefa Fiti Sunia (1937-03-13)March 13, 1937 |
| Died | October 14, 2025(2025-10-14) (aged 88) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Aioletuna Ta’amū |
| Children | 8 |
| Education | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BA) |
Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia[1] (March 13, 1937 - October 14, 2025) was the first non-votingDelegate fromAmerican Samoa to theUnited States House of Representatives.
Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia was born March 13, 1937, inFagasā. He attended theUniversity of Hawaiʻi and earned a bachelor's degree in economics.[2] Sunia was the administrative officer for the Samoan affairs-liaison functions for theGovernor of American Samoa, and served as a translator and interpreter and an election commissioner from 1961 to 1966. He founded theSamoan News newspaper in 1964 and became director oftourism for the Government of American Samoa in 1966, serving until 1970. Sunia was elected a territorial Senator in 1970 and was a member of the legislature until 1978. He also formerly served as president and chairman of the American Samoan Development Corporation.[2]
He was elected to Congress in 1980. He served from January 3, 1981 until his resignation on September 6, 1988, after he was indicted on federal charges of running a payroll padding scheme. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five to fifteen months in prison and to pay $65,000 in restitution.[3][4][5][6]
As a Delegate to the U.S. Congress, Sunia opposed a Constitutional amendment which would have made English the official language of the United States. He argued that English already is the language of the U.S. and the law represented few if any changes to the status quo. He was quoted for saying: "… the 35,000 American Samoans on the island use theSamoan language in government, in the court, in business and in all facets of daily living, but strive to improve their proficiency in English." He did not believe the proposed amendment would reward "linguistic differences as an asset."[7]
He was released from prison after 11 months.[8] His knowledge and experience outweighed his conviction and he was hired to work as a staff member for the American Samoa Fono. By 1993, he was the highest-ranking staffer.[9] He died on October 14, 2025.[10][11]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Delegate at-large of American Samoa 1979–1981 | Succeeded by Himself as U.S. Delegate |
| Preceded by Himself asDelegate at-large of American Samoa | Delegate to theU.S. House of Representatives fromAmerican Samoa's at-large congressional district 1981–1988 | Succeeded by |
| Delegates at-large |  | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Delegates | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
