When I was visiting Samoa (Upolu and Savai'i), I had a chance to visit the open markets over there. It would be similar to our version of the swap meet. I sat in a corner and just observed. There were many booths that were selling many hand crafted items (things to hang on your wall, things to decorate your house with, earrings, necklaces, etc). I walked around the market and inquired and asked questions. Of course there was sort of a language barrier because I cannot speak fluent Samoan and well as try as they might, the sellers spoke very little English.
However, from what I was able to understand, I understood that these items are very unique. Yes, you can probably find these in a swap meet in some major city, you can find most items at a traditional Polynesian store. But, I hardly see them online. From what I understand, there have been people that have attempted to sell a lot of these items before hand. Their attempts were not successful.
The reason I am opening an online store is to reach to the world and give people a taste of what Samoan talent is about. Most of the time, when you hear about Samoans, one tends to think of NFL players, or young ones that join the military. Samoans are slowly letting the world know, we can be a small island of less than 200,000 people, but we sure can produce athletes, boxers, weightlifters, sumo wrestlers, actors and now even singers. We are not just people that get drunk and get into senseless fights at some corner bar. Greg Louganis, was a gold medalist in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics has Samoan blood. Tulsi Gabbard is now a well known politician with a Samoan background. Marcus Mariota was the first Samoan athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Samoans such as Sapolu, Sopoaga, Polamalu, Seau, and Tuinei have paved the way for the younger generation of Samoans to slowly make a name for themselves.
However, Samoans are gifted artistically. What I would like to do is give the world insight that Samoans are creative. I want the world to be able to indulge themselves, and own a piece of the culture. Samoans take coconut shells and create jewelry, the mulberry tree and turn it into a beautiful tapa cloth (siapo). I want the world to know Samoans back home are hospitable and treat their guests as such that their guests are treated like royalty. There was a reason famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson made his home in Samoa. Living in Samoa gave him the inspiration to write.
I am setting up this store because of a desire to help promote my people's craftsmanship skills, educate about Samoa, and to even promote the islands as a tourist destination. Samoa is known as the Cradle of Polynesia, where all Polynesians originated. Buying these items allows one to carry a piece of the culture with them always. When my store is up and running I will be sure to post it up. Right now, I am doing the best that I can to build it from scratch.
