Papalii Grant Percival passed away peacefully in Auckland this week. He is known to many people for many different reasons but it has been as a visionary entrepreneur that he has made significant contributions to Samoa’s development and progress. A visionary thinks about and plans the future with imagination and wisdom. An entrepreneur makes money by starting their own business, especially when this involves seeing new opportunities and taking risks. Papalii had an ample share of imagination and wisdom. He could see opportunities with clarity few understood and was willing to take risks where many would vacillate. Many of his ideas were groundbreaking, placing his brilliance in the vanguard of pioneering thinkers who not only have a far-sighted vision but also the wherewithal to transform that vision into reality.

The eldest son of the late Papaliitele Stephen Percival and Greta Kathleen Percival (nee Gurau), Grant was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 21 November 1953. He is survived by his wife Vaina (nee Slade) and his four children: Lloyd, Damien, Janina and Grant Jr. On turning 70 years old on 21 November 2023, Grant was joined by his 93-year-old mother Greta, his sisters Rhonda Macdonald and Sabrina Percival, and his brothers Faavaeomaolo Arno and Galumalemana Steven. His opening words for his speech that day were: “I am who I am, and it’s just my upbringing and experience I have been through.” For those who knew the late Papaliitele Steve Percival, who was also a visionary and entrepreneur (and a tailor among other things), Papalii was cut from the same cloth.

Grant’s first career was as a pilot for Polynesian Airlines from 1974 – 1980, having trained at Ardmore College in New Zealand after attending high school at New Plymouth Boys High School. It was as a pilot that he met the strikingly beautiful air hostess, Vaina Slade. They were married in Samoa at the Bahá’í Centre in Lelata in 1977. He returned to New Zealand with Vaina in 1981, where he worked for the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority as a Pilot License Examiner and Airport Standards Officer. In 1986, Grant was called back to Samoa to become the first Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority, a position he held from 1987 - 1990. Recognising his potential to meaningfully contribute to Samoa’s development, it was in 1987 that the late Malietoa Tanumafili II conferred the Papalii title on Grant.

After his time at the Airport Authority, Papalii became Director General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport of Samoa and was later appointed as CEO of Polynesian Airlines where he introduced significant changes with new routes to the United States of America, Hawaii, Australia, Rarotonga, Tonga, and additional flights to New Zealand and Australia. In 1990, he played a significant role in managing the Government’s relief effort following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ofa. In 1995, he and Vaina returned to New Zealand where they established Video Ezy in Miramar, Wellington.

When his father Papaliitele fell ill in Samoa in 2001, Grant returned to Samoa and spent a year caring for him during the final year of his life. He also took over the management of the family businesses that demanded his full and unwavering attention. With a dogged determination to do more than just carry on with business as usual, he added an informed touch and brilliant business acumen to build on and take to new heights, the legacy left by the late Papaliitele.

Ever since he was a lanky adolescent, Grant has been an avid reader with a lifelong passion for knowledge and learning. Among the first to become a member of the Nelson Memorial Library gave him lifetime membership which he used to full advantage. He developed a broad, encyclopedic knowledge that meant for long conversations once started. Talking to Papalii was an educational experience.

His self-taught knowledge and experience, a strong regulatory and compliance ethos and a sound approach to health and safety, made Papalii an ideal member of government Boards. He served on several government boards and steering committees for many years, sharing his knowledge and experience in the areas of business and economic development, climate change, agro-business, energy, and aviation, to name a few. As the General Manager of Natural Foods International Limited for the past twenty years, his approach to value adding was unmatched and his capacity to manage fresh produce exports placed him at the forefront of the food industry and as an exporter. He had a strong working relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and was deeply appreciative of the support he received from this ministry.

Papalli was a member of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (SAME) where his contributions, including as President and Vice-President for many years, will now be sorely missed by his colleagues in the business fraternity.

He was also a great sportsman, formidable on the rugby field where he played lock to provincial level in New Zealand. His serve as a tennis player was a sight to behold. He followed all sports with a passion and, despite his failing health, was keenly interested in Samoa’s performance in the 2023 Pacific Games.

Of his many fine qualities, it was his love for his family, his loyalty to lifelong friends and his generous nature that define him. He will be sorely missed by his family, his many friends, and his business associates he also counted as friends.