Biography

BACKGROUND

• Born in Vailoatai Village, American Samoa
• Son of Eni and Taualai Hunkin of Vailoatai
• Holds Matai orator title, "Faleomavaega" of the Faiivae family, Leone, American Samoa
• Married to Hinanui Bambridge Cave of Papeete, Tahiti
• Five children, two grandchildren

EDUCATION

• Vailoatai and Laie Elementary Schools
• Kahuku High School, Hawaii, 1962
• Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science/History, 1966
• University of Houston Law School, Texas, Juris Doctor (JD), 1972
• University of California - Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Master of Law (LLM), 1973

WORK EXPERIENCE

• American Samoa Representative to the U.S. Congress (1989 - present)
• Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa (1985 - 1988)
• Deputy Attorney General of American Samoa (1981 - 1984)
• Staff Counsel to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs(1975-81)
• Administrative Assistant to Paramount Chief A.U. Fuimaono, American Samoa's first elected Representative to Washington D.C. (1973 - 1975)

MILITARY

• United States Army; Honorable Discharge 1966 - 1969, Vietnam Veteran
• United States Army Reserve; Captain, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
• Member, 100 Battalion 442nd Infantry Reserve Unit, Ft. DeRussy, Hawaii (1982-1989)

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, Member
• Subcommittee on Asia & the Pacific, Ranking Democrat
• Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Member

• RESOURCES COMMITTEE, Member
• Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, Member
• Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

• SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, Member 

CAUCUSES

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Vice Chair
• National Guard and Reserves Components Caucus
• Congressional Human Rights Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans
• Congressional Oceans Caucus
• Native American Caucus

PUBLICATIONS

• Navigating the Future: A Samoan Perspective in U.S.-Pacific Relations, KIN Publications, 1995

INTERESTS

• Crew Member, Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hokule'a, sailed from Tahiti to Hawaii (1987)
• Golf