Lt Gov accepts family decision on HTC title "La'apui"

On Thursday, Lt Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale accepted his family's decision to bestow him the High Talking Chief title La’apui—a decision by his Ale family in Fitiuta.

A date for the title bestowment has not been set. However, Talauega has since accepted during a family meeting on Thursday.

Talauega is the son of the late Va’alele Togia Tuiolosega La’apui Ale of Fitiuta, Ofu and Olosega, Manu’a, and the late Aiga Leutele Talauega Taveuveu Ale of Nua & Se’etaga, Tutuila and Falefa, Samoa.

Born and raised in Nua & Se’etaga, Talauega graduated from the Marist Brothers’ Elementary School in Atu’u and High School in Malaeloa.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Truman State University in 1990 and earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Drake University Law School, graduating with honors in 1994.

In 2012, Talauega returned home to care for his elderly mother and fulfil his goal of serving the people of American Samoa. He joined the Attorney General’s Office serving as a Deputy Attorney General.

In 2020 he resigned from his post to enter the gubernatorial race and has been elected into office with now Governor Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga.