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Photo Galleries
Independence, MO —
Most families have reunions of varied sorts, typically a picnic in the park. Few have 910 members and hold a weeklong reunion. During the week of July 23-28, the Fuimaono family reunion involved a multitude of not very typical activities such as a daily 7 a.m. Zumba/Hot Hula Workout, morning and evening devotionals, water-park frolics, golf tournaments, and line dancing in native dress as pictured below. They had cook-outs three times a day to sustain the energy demands of the events.
The genesis of the Fuimaono family began 40 years ago in Malaeimi, American Samoa, when Mateo Fuimaono, a merchant-ship worker, who traversed the Pacific on sailing vessels for a living, gathered his wife, Pei’u, and ten children to move thousands of miles away to California.
They pursued greater opportunities in education that would lead to greater prosperity in preparation to one day reach their final destination of Independence, Mo., which they feel is the promised land of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Another branch of the family, the Toli and Feeseetai Fuimaono family, migrated first to Pomona, Calif., where they lived and grew in numbers. In 1970, 32 members of the family packed up and made the difficult journey to Independence, leaving behind 38 members.
When they saw the “Welcome to Missouri” sign, they exited onto 23rd Street to give a prayer of thanksgiving for their safe arrival in Missouri, fulfilling their grandparents’ desires to be at the heart of the LDS Church.
The first Fuimaono Family Reunion was held in 1940. Five “Aunties” or Matriarchs of the Fuimaono family who were in attendance at the first reunion also attended the 72nd. Their presence is highly revered by all members of family and provides a strong connection to their root reunion.
After a week of being reunited, renewed and edified through recreation, socializa tion, and worship, the many members of the Fuimaono family disbursed to travel to their homes, many traveling great distances. Kalilimoku Hunt came from American Samoa where he is the National Director of Public Affairs.
The preparations are already under way for the 73rd Reunion in July 2013 in Missouri, which they call Zion.
Most families have reunions of varied sorts, typically a picnic in the park. Few have 910 members and hold a weeklong reunion. During the week of July 23-28, the Fuimaono family reunion involved a multitude of not very typical activities such as a daily 7 a.m. Zumba/Hot Hula Workout, morning and evening devotionals, water-park frolics, golf tournaments, and line dancing in native dress as pictured below. They had cook-outs three times a day to sustain the energy demands of the events.
The genesis of the Fuimaono family began 40 years ago in Malaeimi, American Samoa, when Mateo Fuimaono, a merchant-ship worker, who traversed the Pacific on sailing vessels for a living, gathered his wife, Pei’u, and ten children to move thousands of miles away to California.
They pursued greater opportunities in education that would lead to greater prosperity in preparation to one day reach their final destination of Independence, Mo., which they feel is the promised land of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Another branch of the family, the Toli and Feeseetai Fuimaono family, migrated first to Pomona, Calif., where they lived and grew in numbers. In 1970, 32 members of the family packed up and made the difficult journey to Independence, leaving behind 38 members.
When they saw the “Welcome to Missouri” sign, they exited onto 23rd Street to give a prayer of thanksgiving for their safe arrival in Missouri, fulfilling their grandparents’ desires to be at the heart of the LDS Church.
The first Fuimaono Family Reunion was held in 1940. Five “Aunties” or Matriarchs of the Fuimaono family who were in attendance at the first reunion also attended the 72nd. Their presence is highly revered by all members of family and provides a strong connection to their root reunion.
After a week of being reunited, renewed and edified through recreation, socializa tion, and worship, the many members of the Fuimaono family disbursed to travel to their homes, many traveling great distances. Kalilimoku Hunt came from American Samoa where he is the National Director of Public Affairs.
The preparations are already under way for the 73rd Reunion in July 2013 in Missouri, which they call Zion.
