Once upon a time, a clever young man named Nonu lived on the island of ʻUpolu. Nonu was known for being overconfident. He was that guy who never turned down a challenge and always bet "double or nothing," even when the odds were against him.
The word ʻaiuli refers to the exuberant (often exaggerated and theatrical) dancing, gesticulating, and vocalizations that are performed by “accessory” participants around a solo dancer.
Before the sun rose, Sina directed the village women to load the canoes with bundles of their unpainted cloth, freshly squeezed plant dyes, water jugs, etc. With a loud blast of the conch shell trumpet, the women dug their paddles into the sea and headed off for Papaloa with lively cheers.
This storytime from old Sāmoa features the famous demigod, Tigilau, whose heroic exploits, mischievous shenanigans, legendary voyaging, and prolific lovemaking are recounted throughout Polynesia from the western isles up to Hawaiʻi and down to Aotearoa.
Prior to the influenza pandemic of 1918 (which wiped out more than 20% of Samoans), the sogi was the universal, everyday greeting in Sāmoa.
Long ago in Sāmoa there lived an extraordinary woman named Sina. Every day, Sina’s husband went fishing early in the morning and came back home with delicious seafood for breakfast. But one day, Sina’s husband did not come home for breakfast. She waited, but he didnʻt show up for lunch either.