Fun, laughter and lots of good times is how lovable character Lealailepule Fepulea’i Rimoni Aiafi will remember his 50th birthday.

The celebration at the stunning Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel on Beach Road last night will go down as one of the biggest birthdays of the year.

But the laughter, the jokes and the grandness of the occasion couldn’t be more fitting for the birthday boy, who is the Associate Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

“It feels great to be twenty one today,” he said laughing. 

“This is just a number but how you respond and approach life is what really matters.”

Lealailepule, who is the Member of Parliament for Faleata West, said life is all about moving on and keeping one’s faith strong.

 “Whatever challenges come our way, all you have to do is just move on and expect things will come out right. We have to expect that,” he said.

“Personally, I live everyday as the last day. All we have to do is just praise God and thank Him for everything.”

“Tonight, I invited all my friends and people who have helped and influenced me in my journey to celebrate with me.”

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu, Ministers of Cabinet, Members of Parliament, government officials and members of the business community were among them.

Lealailepule has three children with Tagaloa Sharon Aiafi, two sons and one daughter.

He is the second of seven children of Tauolo Aiafi Lesatele and Melenaite Tauolo from the villages of Vaitele, Sataua, Asaga and Tonga.

His mother, Melenaite Aiafi, said that his son is a blessing.

“My son is a blessing to our family. God has blessed us with Leala,” she said.

Pastor Samoa Unoi of the Peace Chapel Church led the service in prayer.

Leala is the founder and interim chair of the Tautua Samoa party.

He became an MP in August 2006. He had previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority.

In November 2008, Lealailepule was one of twelve (later whittled down to nine) MPs from the Samoan opposition to form a new political party, Tautua Samoa. 

Last year, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi switched political parties to the H.R.P.P. Lealailepule is a former student of Samoa College.