Samoa International Radio will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a gala event in Waikīkī, Hawaiʻi on July 5, honoring four decades of cultural broadcasting, community service, and advocacy for the Samoan diaspora. The celebration will feature music, cultural performances, and awards recognizing prominent Samoan figures in sports, law, academia, humanitarian work, and the arts, while reflecting on the station’s enduring role in preserving Samoan identity and amplifying Pacific voices abroad.
By Vaelei Vaelei Von Dincklage
A leading Samoan media institution in Hawaiʻi will mark its 40th anniversary with a gala celebration on July 5 at the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikīkī.
For four decades, Samoa International Radio has served as a cultural bridge for Samoan communities across Hawaiʻi, the United States, and the wider diaspora through music, community forums, interviews, and coverage highlighting Samoan achievement and identity.
The anniversary celebration will honor the station’s long-running role in promoting Samoan language, culture, and Indigenous perspectives while creating space for community dialogue and representation.
In a press statement, Samoa International Radio Chief Executive Officer and Hawaii and U.S. reports host Daniel Ken Aiono reflected on the milestone and the station’s enduring mission.
“Four decades of passion, dedication, and labor of love have driven our commitment to counter negative stereotypes and highlight iconic achievements by successful Samoan trailblazers, while addressing pressing social issues,” he said.
Aiono is a respected Samoan academic, musician, and media personality based in Hawaiʻi, widely recognized for his contributions to Polynesian arts and cultural advocacy.
Celebrating Samoan Legacy and Excellence
The 40th anniversary program will feature traditional Samoan music, cultural exhibitions, and performances by legendary entertainers celebrating Samoan heritage and history in the United States.
The evening will also recognize prominent Samoan figures across music, sports, law, humanitarian work, literature, and the arts.
Renowned singer and composer Faanānā Jerome Grey and Poufa Vitale Noga, the only surviving member of the legendary Penina o Tiafau band, will receive the Anniversary Music Legends Awards.
Former U.S. Naval Academy head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the academy’s all-time winningest football coach and current head coach at San José State University, will be honored with the Distinguished Icon in Sports Excellence Award.
Honorable Judge Bode Uale, recognized as the first Samoan appointed as a judge in the United States, will receive the Distinguished Judicial Excellence Award.
High Chief TuiSamoa Lelei LeLaulu will be presented with the Distinguished Humanitarian for the Pacific Award, while Maualaivao Emeritus Professor Albert Wendt will receive the Scholar of Oceania Award.
Veteran actor Papaliʻitele Jack Thompson and his wife Auimatagi Cha Thompson will also be honored with Samoa’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Four Decades of Community Voice
Since its establishment, Samoa International Radio has remained one of the most recognizable Samoan-language media platforms in the Pacific diaspora, amplifying Samoan voices and preserving cultural traditions for generations living abroad.
Its anniversary celebration is expected to bring together community leaders, artists, academics, athletes, and supporters from across the Pacific community to reflect on the station’s legacy and future.
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