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By Kent Larsen
Samoan LDS Church Pioneer Gustav Hannemann Dies at 89
HONOLULU, HAWAII -- Gustav Hannemann, hardworking Samoan pioneer and leader
died Sunday at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation Center in Hawaii. Hannemann was
an early convert to the LDS Church in Samoa, and with his wife he converted
hundreds to the Church, opening and serving in village churches throughout
the islands. He was 89.
Born in Lotopa, Samoa, Hannemann was the son of Rosie, the younger sister of
Samoa's last queen of Manua, Makalita. He was the first Samoan recipient of
a teacher training scholarship at Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii, and worked
as a priminent teacher and principal in Samoa.
He married Faiao Soliai and then became a member of the LDS Church. He and
his wife then worked hard to spread the gospel there. He then moved his
family to Guam for several years, before coming to Hawaii in 1953. He was
then called as bishop of the LDS Church's Moanalua Ward, where he and his
family would often take in Samoans in transit to the US mainland.
Hanneman had trouble raising his family working as a principal, so he
instead worked at a Dairy, and also worked several part-time jobs to make
ends meet. His youngest son, Muliufi (known as Mufi), says "He was the
hardest working individual I have ever met in my life. I don't recall him
hanging out with friends, or buddies at a football game or anything," he
said. "Everything was oriented around his family."
Hanneman's leadership in the Samoan community has been passed on in his
children, says his son Mufi. "He was a great source of inspiration. He was
my role model," Mufi Hannemann said. "If I can be half the person my father
was, I'd be very happy." Mufi is successful in his own right, however,
serving as a city councilman and candidate for mayor. Another son, Gus
recently lost a battle for American Samoa's representative to the US
Congress and son Nephi Pineuma is a Waikiki entertainer.
Source:
Rites Tuesday for Samoan community leader Gustav Hannemann
Honolulu HI Star-Bulletin 18Jan01 P2
By Gordon Y.K. Pang: Star-Bulletin
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