By Kent Larsen

Samoan LDS Church Pioneer Gustav Hannemann Dies at 89

HONOLULU, HAWAII -- Gustav Hannemann, hardworking Samoan pioneer and leader died Sunday at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation Center in Hawaii. Hannemann was an early convert to the LDS Church in Samoa, and with his wife he converted hundreds to the Church, opening and serving in village churches throughout the islands. He was 89.

Born in Lotopa, Samoa, Hannemann was the son of Rosie, the younger sister of Samoa's last queen of Manua, Makalita. He was the first Samoan recipient of a teacher training scholarship at Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii, and worked as a priminent teacher and principal in Samoa.

He married Faiao Soliai and then became a member of the LDS Church. He and his wife then worked hard to spread the gospel there. He then moved his family to Guam for several years, before coming to Hawaii in 1953. He was then called as bishop of the LDS Church's Moanalua Ward, where he and his family would often take in Samoans in transit to the US mainland.

Hanneman had trouble raising his family working as a principal, so he instead worked at a Dairy, and also worked several part-time jobs to make ends meet. His youngest son, Muliufi (known as Mufi), says "He was the hardest working individual I have ever met in my life. I don't recall him hanging out with friends, or buddies at a football game or anything," he said. "Everything was oriented around his family."

Hanneman's leadership in the Samoan community has been passed on in his children, says his son Mufi. "He was a great source of inspiration. He was my role model," Mufi Hannemann said. "If I can be half the person my father was, I'd be very happy." Mufi is successful in his own right, however, serving as a city councilman and candidate for mayor. Another son, Gus recently lost a battle for American Samoa's representative to the US Congress and son Nephi Pineuma is a Waikiki entertainer.

Source:

Rites Tuesday for Samoan community leader Gustav Hannemann
Honolulu HI Star-Bulletin 18Jan01 P2
By Gordon Y.K. Pang: Star-Bulletin