Pua’imalae Misikei Faaleo, a chief of Le’auva’a values two things in life; good leadership and farming life.

Speaking to the Village Voice, the 46-year-old, said a village is not a village without leadership and subsistence farming.

 “I’m not only a chief in my village, I’m a farmer,” he says to Village Voice.

“Let’s discuss the farming life first because I think that’s something that everyone in Samoa should value.

“Why? Because the cost of living is not cheap anymore; prices going up and for me, that’s a concern because what happens when we can’t afford anything anymore?

“That’s why we need to nurture plantations, work the lands and make sure you have a plantation just in case you run out of money, but you have another way to support yourself.

“Farming life can always provide you with the healthiest food you need. 

“I mean these days, a variety of food coming in and some of them; we don’t even know where they are being produced or what they are being produced from.

“That’s why I value the farming life because it’s the safest place to find food.”

Pua’imalae is also a chief which holds significant meaning for him as it’s not just a title.

“I didn’t become a chief for nothing; I became one because I understand what it means to have good leadership for your people.

“It helps not only to guide people but also for people to understand actions and their roles in a village.

“Too many people, especially young people are acting out nowadays because leadership and control is not effectively implemented. 

“A lot of people don’t know how to manage their time and they’re always walking everywhere, and next thing we know, there’s a fight somewhere.

“That’s why we have curfews here to avoid people; our youth from roaming around at the wrong time.

“So our curfew goes all the way to the road up at Aleisa.

“I care for the people of my village and as long as I’m a chief I will always fight for what is right for everyone.”