Have you ever been at a celebration or gathering and heard that otherworldly “cheeeeeeehooo”—and wondered what it was? This iconic showering of love, is a faʻaumu and a Samoan expression of excitement. At one time, it was a call used to signal readiness in battle. Its continued use today is an example of the way that Samoan people have maintained their cultural practices in the diaspora.

Since the 1950s, Samoans in America have made homes across the US, moving from the islands of Sāmoa and American Sāmoa to various places across the United States. They have built community, faced harsh realities, kept their culture alive, and expressed their Samoan identity in the US.

In this module we will explore some of the ways that Samoans have continued to maintain their cultural identity. Sometimes this might look the same as it would in the Sāmoan islands, and at other times it might look uniquely American with a local twist. Both matter as cultural expression, adding to the complexity of Samoan identity and culture.