HC Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga

HC Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga currently serves as the elected Governor of American Samoa. He previously served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in 2012 and again in 2016.

Born in the village of Nu’uuli, Lemanu was later bestowed the traditional High Chief title “Lemanu” by his family in Sa’ilele of Sua County, American Samoa. His parents are the late Sialega Palepoi Mauga of Nu’uuli, Pago Pago, and Sa’ilele, and his late mother Iva Pedro of Swains Island. He is an ordained “Deacon” with the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) in the village of Sa’ilele.

SPOUSE & CHILDREN Governor Lemanu is married to Ella Gaea Perefoti Failautusi, daughter of Gaea Perefoti Failautusi and the late Patopa’e Liu Failautusi. Mrs. Ella Mauga was born and raised in her village of Vaitogi. She has served 21 years and retired from active duty in the United States Army as a Financial Management Inspector with the 125th Financial Management Support Unit at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Sergeant First Class (Retired) Ella Mauga deployed five times to the Middle East to support the War on Terrorism: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lemanu was previously married to the late Pohakalani D. Bailey Mauga. Together, Lemanu and Ella have four boys Peleti Jr.(Sinaaletoaga), Palepoi (Raylin Foster), Punalehua, and Perefoti, and seven grandchildren.

EDUCATION Lemanu holds a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, and an Associate of Arts from the American Samoa Community College. Lemanu graduated from Waianae High School in Hawaii after attending Samoana High School in American Samoa. He attended Matafao Elementary School in Faga’alu, American Samoa. He had attended numerous professional schools in his military career.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER Lemanu first joined the military in 1978 as an enlisted member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He completed his enlistment and was honorably discharged. He returned home, attended the American Samoa Community College, and graduated in 1985. He received his Commission as a 2nd Lt. and joined the U.S. Army Reserve while attending the University of Hawaii (Manoa). He graduated from the University of Hawaii (Manoa) in 1988. He went back into active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in various locations in both the CONUS and OCONUS. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf War as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and has served in many leadership positions in his career. He retired after serving 22 years in the Military in 2005.

After retirement from the military, he served as the Director of Instructions, JROTC, Department of Education, American Samoa. In 2006, he received military orders recalling him back to active duty in the U.S. Army, as our nation was in great need of specialized military experience and skilled officers. He was deployed to Iraq, the War on Terrorism, and Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Operational Officer. After serving in Iraq, he finally retired again from the U.S. Army in late 2007. He served a total of 23 years in the United States Military, both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army.

Lemanu again returned to serve the American Samoa Government as Chief of the Office of Property Management and as Military Liaison for the Governor’s Office from 2007 to 2009. Lemanu received the honor from his district of Sua County #2 to serve as the county’s Senator in the Fono. In the Senate, Senator Lemanu served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Budget & Appropriations and chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Immigration, and Legal Affairs.

Lemanu served many other Senate Committees as Vice Chairman or member. He was also appointed a Senator Representative to the Association of Pacific Islands Legislature (APIL) and to the Development Bank of American Samoa Board of Directors, where he was elected Vice Chairman.

PERSONAL INTERESTS Lemanu loves spending time with his family. He enjoys reading, learning the fa’asamoa and church, listening to music, hiking, swimming, canoe paddling, fautasi rowing, playing volleyball, racquetball, and basketball.