Background
Sunia, Fofo I. F. was born on March 13, 1937 in Fagasa, American Samoa. Son of Fiti and Savali (Alesana) Sunia.
linguist politician translator
Sunia, Fofo I. F. was born on March 13, 1937 in Fagasa, American Samoa. Son of Fiti and Savali (Alesana) Sunia.
Bachelor, University Hawaii.
Sunia was the administrative officer for the Samoan affairs-liaison functions for the Governor of American Samoa, and served as a translator and interpreter and an election commissioner from 1961 to 1966. He founded the Samoan News newspaper in 1964 and became director of tourism for the Government of American Samoa in 1966, serving until 1970. He also formerly served as president and chairman of the American Samoan Development Corporation.
Sunia was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, and 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 pled guilty and was sentenced to five to fifteen months in prison and to pay $65,000 in restitution. He is currently a resident of Pago Pago.
Sunia was elected a territorial Senator in 1970 and was a member of the legislature until 1978.
Married Aioletuna Ta'amu, February 5, 1960. Children: Fiti, Merina, Iosefa, Vaaomala, Alexander, Cindy, Lupe, Dwayne.