Tunumafono Apelu Aiavao (1931 — 3 June 2021) [1] was a Samoan journalist, editor, writer, and educator. He was editor of the government-owned Savali newspaper from 1979 to 2000 and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa run Sulu Samoa from 2007 — 2018, and authored several volumes of short stories.
Aiavao was from Sataoa and was educated at Samoa College. [1] In 1953 he was the first Samoan to pass the New Zealand School Certificate examination. [1] He later studied in New Zealand, where he obtained a Teacher's Certificate, and returned to Samoa to become a teacher. [1] After teaching at Samoa College, where he edited the school's first publication, he became principal of Palauli Primary School. [2] He subsequently worked as government Chief Information Officer and editor of the government-owned Savali newspaper from 1979 to 2000. [3] After retiring from that position he edited the Congregational Christian Church Samoa's Sulu Samoa from 2007, finally retiring in 2018. [4] He was awarded the Head of State's Service Medal in the 2017 Samoa Honours and Awards. [3] [1]
Aiavao published several volumes of short stories, some of which were adapted for radio broadcast. [4]
Aiavao died in June 2021 and received a state funeral. [2]