Faofao Beach Fale Guest Asks Tourists to Dig Deep for Legalo Family Salaepaga; Paypal Set Up for Legalo Kin

When Manda Clair Jost of New Mexico saw the devastation caused by the tsunami, and the overwhelming grief in Samoa, she did the only thing she could think to do to make a meaningful contribution.

She set up an an appeal fund via Paypal for the Legalo family to help Koroseta, Kueva and Tapu. All the donations, 100 percent, will go directly to the Legalo family in Salaepaga.

“Foreign tourism and foreign dollars are the only things that supported the Legalo family for years,“ says Manda who stayed at Faofao Beach Fales Salaepaga in 2007.

Kueva Legalo, Faofao Beach Fales,Salaepaga in happier days before the tsunami. Photo: Manda Clair Jost.

The  American biologist is rallying support for Legalo family and calling on tourists who have stayed at Faofao Beach Fales to donate to the Paypal Fund.  “If you have ever slept in one of those sublime little fales, consider the fact that they are now all destroyed, along with the rest of the FaoFao complex, the village of Saleapaga, and more than 30 human lives.”

Manda got to know the Legalo family really well.

“We ate together, played music together, sang together, laughed together, and the impression I got from this family is that they are extraordinarily kind, loving, and sincere.”

“They are gracious hosts, talented musicians, key members of their community, and everyone who ever stays at FaoFao just falls in love with all of them, “she says.

If you have ever enjoyed the gorgeous beach, the endless crashing waves, the fiafia celebrations, the  food, Au’vaa’s siva afi fire knife dance, the Legalo’s traditional music, and any other part of your vacation, now is the time to make a difference, says Manda.

Her plea: “let us continue to support these kind, loving Samoans in their time of greatest need.”

Manda Jost Clair is Associate Professor, Department of Natural Science, Western New Mexico University, USA.

All donations go directly to  Legalo family of Saleapaga. Click here to donate

This is no longer. The village of Salaepaga, including Faofao Beach Fales pictured above, were completely annihilated by the tsunami that claimed more than 100 lives on the island of Upolu including 30 from Salaepaga on 'Black Tuesday' 29th Sept 2009. Many of the dead are women, children and the elderly. Villagers have stayed in the mountains where they fled last Tuesday. Photo: Manda Clair Jost