by Andrew Walden

What happens in Samoa stays in Samoa?

University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Education Dean Donald B Young might wish it were so.

An advertisement consisting entirely of Young’s letterhead endorsement of Dr Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin-Finau, the Democrat candidate for American Samoa Congressional Delegate, “paid for by Vaitinasa for Congress” ran in the August 23, 2016 edition of Samoa News (pg 8).  Hunkin-Finau is challenging Republican incumbent Rep Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen who first won election in 2014 by defeating Hunkin-Finau’s father, former American Samoa Rep Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission explains: “Hawaii Revised Statutes section 84-13, the “Fair Treatment” section of the State Ethics Code, prohibits the use of state resources for political campaign purposes.”

Young did not reply to an emailed request for comment.

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UPDATE -- Ethics: UH Dean Fined for “Improper Use of State Resources for Campaign Purposes” in American Samoa Congressional Race

Talanei Sept 13, 2016: Ethics raised in political ad from UH Dean

2015: “Entire American Samoa school system must be revamped”

ABCDEFG: Hunkin-Finau