I learned about Fa'a Samoa watching this video. I think a smaller, isolated community that endures more hardship is more likely to maintain this tradition.
Mind if I go OT again, as I wondered about this in the past. I'll ask and consider this education.
I was told in the past that Samoan and the Hawaiian language are similar, if not, almost the same. It all depends on the "missionary" translation.
For example.
Aloha = Talofa: When you think about it, it sounds the same.
Hawaii uses letter like K. Samoan uses letter like T, for the same sound. Captain Cook's writing call Kamehameha Tama'a ma'a. That was what Cook heard, and wrote down. If this was to phone book today, we would think that's two different guys.
Samoan uses Fa, where are Hawaiian uses Ma, or maybe Pa. Same sound really.
There are no F, T, in the Hawaiian alphabet. Should there be?
Then you have Polamalu as an example. It sounds "Hawaiian" because of the letters.
Who and when was the Samoan language translated? It seems like there is a wider range of alphabets in Samoan, then Hawaiian.
Are there more to the letters? Where by looking at Polamalu you know it's Samoa. But when you look at Koolau, you that is Hawaiian?
Braddah Cabanalane, the Polynesian Triangle begins at New Zealand, goes as far north as Hawaii, and as far east as Rapa Nui. Tongans, Samoans, Tahitians, Hawaiians...all who live in this triangle...spoke some form of the Polynesian language. There are many regional differences. I read somewhere that among other things Hawaiians did not care for tattoos. Some European once tried to connect the Philippine language to Poly...it didn't pan out. Anyway, in the video, aside from the great introduction to Samoan culture, you can also get a view into the raw football talent that is Samoa.