10 Facts About Afoafouvale Misimoa

Afioga Afoafouvale Misimoa, known by his European name Harry William Moors, was a Western Samoan businessman and politician.

Afoafouvale Misimoa served as a member of the Legislative Assembly in two spells between 1951 and 1967, and was the first Pacific Islander to become Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission.

Afoafouvale Misimoa was a founder member of the Apia Chamber of Commerce.

Afoafouvale Misimoa joined the Samoa Defence Force in 1938, serving as Commander of the group of Samoan troops that joined the Maori Battalion.

Afoafouvale Misimoa was seconded to the United States Marine Corps, training American army personnel in bush tactics and jungle warfare.

Afoafouvale Misimoa was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a European representative in 1951, and was re-elected in 1954 as the most voted-for candidate.

Afoafouvale Misimoa was appointed to the Executive Council, and when a Member System was introduced in 1956, he became Member for Works.

However, Mauri submitted a petition seeking to overturn his defeat, claiming that a death oath had been placed on voters by a local chief if Afoafouvale Misimoa was not elected.

Afoafouvale Misimoa was re-elected in 1964, but surprisingly lost his seat in the 1967 elections.

Afoafouvale Misimoa died during an official visit to Tarawa in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in February 1971.