The first stop on a three weeks trip to Hawaii and Australia was Honolulu where I spoke at a conference organized by the University of Hawaii Business Center Program. One evening at a reception at the Art Exchange in China Town I was surprised by being the guest of honor at a beautiful Samoan ceremony that culminated in me receiving an "Ie Toga".
An "Ie Toga", or ceremonial fine mat used in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, is the most sacred of Polynesian possessions. It was presented to me by Papalii Dr. Failautusi Avegalio, Director of the University of Hawaii Pacific Business Program on behalf of Honolulu' Mayor Muliufi Hanneman. Present at the ceremony where ranking chiefs of American Samoa, High Chief Liufau and High Chief Alo. Representing Mayor Muliufi Hanneman was his wife Gail Hanneman.
Dr. Ernesto Sirolli
CEO
Sirolli Institute
1 877 SIROLLI
(916) 446-9264
www.sirolli.com
http://sirolli.blogspot.com/
"The future of every community lies in capturing the passion, imagination, and resources of its people."
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