Award-winning Samoan band Punialava'a has donated over SAT$60,000 to support the work done by the Samoa National Kidney Foundation at Moto'otua. 

The official handover of the funds was held at the N.K.F. conference room on Thursday afternoon and was attended by the representatives of the Punialava'a Band, the Minister of Health, heads of Government ministries, the Chairman and Board of S.N.K.F. as well as members of the public. 

In May this year, the renowned Samoan band based in New Zealand travelled to Samoa and hosted a charity concert to raise funds to assist the foundation and its patients needing dialysis treatments in Samoa. 

The decision by the band to hold a concert in this year, according to Nanai Manutoipule Veillani Peteru is in memory of his grandfather who was a dialysis patient before he passed away.

The founder of the Punialava'a Band, Rev. Lale Peteru, and his good lady Vini were present at the handover ceremony and they joined their son Nanai in handing over the donation to the foundation. 

The Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele received the donation and spoke on behalf of the Ministry, the Chairman, and the Board of the S.N.K.F. to extend their gratitude to Rev. Lale, Vini Peteru and members of the Punialava'a Band. 

Valasi praised the initiative of Punialava'a to raise funds to support the work of the S.N.K.F. and also thanked them for producing good music for the people of Samoa. 

He also announced that the handover ceremony on Thursday signifies the partnership between Puniavala'a and the S.N.K.F. 

"This is the start of a solid and new partnership between the Foundation and Punialava'a band," Valasi said. "We only hope that this partnership will continue to grow and that Punialava'a will continue to promote and support the work of our dialysis unit here in Moto'otua."

Valasi also acknowledged with appreciation those who supported and donated to the charity concert put together by Punialava'a. 

The N.K.F.S. relies on funding from the Samoa Government, patient fees, and donations from the public to fund its programs. Since 2005 the number of patients undergoing dialysis treatment continues to increase.

Punialava’a is a Pacific band formed in the 1960s in Samoa by singer-songwriter Lale Peteru. Lale met his wife, female vocalist Vini Sofara who has a unique vocal dynamic that helped establish the sound of Punialava’a that migrated in the hearts and memories of Samoans to New Zealand, Australia, the USA, and other parts of the world.

The dynamic duo went on to have four children who have helped transition the family band into the current era and beyond. Punialava’a won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards in New Zealand in 2018.