Former Congressman and a friend of Samoa, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, has passed away.

American Samoa’s longest serving non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, passed away at his home in Provo, Utah, yesterday.

A family member who was speaking on behalf of Faleomavaega’s widow, Hinanui Hunkin, confirmed his death. 

“He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and a few close friends,” Theresa Hunkin, Faleomavaega’s sister-in-law told Samoa News.

Faleomavaega, a Democrat, was unseated in the 2014 congressional race by Congresswoman Aumua Amata, a Republican. 

In the U.S. House, Faleomavaega was a member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources.  

As a member of the foreign affairs committee, he had traveled to foreign countries as a congressional representative and was well known as an ambassador for the Pacific.  

However, at home he received criticism for travel abroad instead of concentrating on issues pertaining to American Samoa.