NIPEN Expresses Concern and Sympathy for Victims

The NPIEN Board of Directors expresses sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Samoa, and concern for those affected by this disaster and their loved ones both back home and here on the US mainland. In the greater Long Beach (CA) area, we commend the efforts of ministers of the many churches who are organizing relief efforts. Listed below are drop-off sites. NPIEN will dedicate its electronic resources to disseminate information, and strategize how to best help the community. We welcome your suggestions www.npien.com npien.mail@verizon.net:

The following is from the Tafesilafa'i website:

PACIFIC ISLANDS DISASTER RELIEF - DROP-OFF SITES


AREA DROP-OFF SITES


MASTER-SITE: Samoan Congregational Christian Church of South L.A.
1249 E. Carson St.
Carson Ca. 90745
(310) 513-1930
CONTACT: Kennedy Mailo

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BELLFLOWER
LAKEWOOD 5420 Clark Avenue
Lakewood, Ca. 90712
(562) 866-5416
CONTACT: Rev. Andy Leavasa
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SAN PEDRO 1137 So. Palos Verdes Street
PALOS VERDES San Pedro, Ca. 90723
ROLLING HILLS (310) 514-1428

CONTACT: Rev. Luulau Gafa
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LOMITA Kanana Fou Samoan Congregational Christian Church
TORRANCE 25304 So. Narbonne Ave.
BEACH CITIES Lomita Ca. 90710

CONTACT: Rev. Setefano Young
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ORANGE COUNTY 13931 Barney Street
Garden Grove, Ca. 92843
(714) 591-2307
CONTACT: Tina Vito
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LONG BEACH Second Samoan Church
655 Cedar Avenue
Long Beach, Ca. 90802
(562) 628-9282
CONTACT: Rev. Pouena Tagaloa
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We will be holding a Memorial Service tomorrow, Thursday at 6:00 P.M.
Location: South Bay Church
1725 E. Carson Ave.
Carson, Ca. 90745
(310) 835-1684

God Bless you and your family,
Together we WILL make a difference!
Katrina Hidalgo
TAFESILAFA'I
www.tafesilafai.org
www.mtdn.com/tafesilafai
www.facebook.com/tafesilafai

NPIEN Thanks Linaka for a Successful Luau!

NPIEN members participated in the 6th Annual Linaka Luau at Monte Verde Park in Lakewood, CA. Linaka Polynesian Performers Director Linda "Linaka" Vaca and Sales Development Director Ernest "Eleneki" Saucedo generously invited NPIEN to partner with Linaka in fundraising and marketing for the event. We received a percentage of the tickets sold by our Board and Staff. NPIEN also donated towards the raffle, including tickets to Los Alamitos Race Course, the Santa Ana Zoo, the Ice House Comedy Club, admission to the NPIEN Education Conference, Cookie Lee Jewelry, and other items. All NPIEN Board members were present, including President Falanai Ala, Martha Donnenfield, Eugene Mafi, Aileen Tanimoto, Rita Scanlan, and Staff members Tino Andres, Chief of Staff, Lopaka Faria, Judy Ann Sanchez, David Brown, Qb Keju, Femila Ervin, and many of our loyal NPIEN members and their families. Atonio "Tony" Kavea helped secure the roast pig for the luau, which also featured a menu of barbecue chicken, macaroni salad, and rice. Lorraine Telles of Cookie Lee, NPIEN Silver Level Sponsor, joined us as a vendor. There are 70 members of the Linaka Polynesian performers, and we saw a medley of dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand. Hope Thompson performed the traditional Samoan taualuga dance, accompanied by NPIEN board and staff members and community members. This was a great evening of fun and celebration of culture. We thank Linda Vaca, Ernest Saucedo, and the Linaka Polynesian Performers for allowing us to participate in and benefit from the luau.