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americansamoa.gov
LIEUTENANT governor of american samoa
htc LA'APUI Talauega Eleasalo “Salo” Va’alele Ale
is the son of the late Va’alele Togia Tuiolosega La’apui Ale of Fitiuta, Ofu and Olosega, Manu’a, and the late Aiga Leutele Talauega Taveuveu Ale of Nua & Se’etaga, Tutuila and Falefa, Samoa. He was born and raised in the village of Nua & Se’etaga.
SPOUSE & CHILDREN
Lieutenant Governor La'apui is married to Marian Tiare McGuire of the Aulava family in Lauli’i. They have 3 children and reside in Nua & Se’etaga. Marian is also an attorney, practicing law at a locally owned law firm. Prior to returning to private practice, Marian served the American Samoa Government as Legal Counsel for the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency and as a Chief Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General.
EDUCATION
A product of our local education system, La'apui graduated from the Marist Brothers’ Elementary School in Atu’u (1982), and High School in Malaeloa where he was elected student body president (1986). He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Truman State University in 1990, and earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Drake University Law School, graduating with honors in 1994.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Between college and law school, La'apui worked as a Legislative Assistant to the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator of Hawaii (May 1990-June 1991). After law school, he served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable James S. Burns, Chief Judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals (July 1994 – June 1995).
La'apui spent the next seventeen years practicing law in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the international law firm of Faegre & Benson, where he made partner in 2003. At Faegre, La'apui developed a successful law practice representing, among others, Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and public entities. He is one of the first Samoans to earn partner status in a major U.S. and international law firm.
In 2012, La'apui returned home to care for his elderly mother and fulfill his goal of serving the people of American Samoa. He joined the Attorney General’s Office serving as a Deputy Attorney General for Attorney General Fepulea’i Arthur Ripley, and continued his service as Deputy with Attorney General Afoa Leulumoega Lutu.
In January 2014, La'apui was appointed by Governor Lolo Moliga and confirmed by the Fono as the 7th locally appointed Attorney General of American Samoa. In January 2017, he was reappointed and re-confirmed to continue serving as Attorney General. Some of the most significant and historical constitutional cases brought on behalf of the government have been undertaken during La'apui’s time as AG-including the Large Vessel Protected Area and US citizenship cases.
As required by law, La'apui resigned as AG on February 16, 2020 to enter the gubernatorial race with then Lt. Governor Lemanu Mauga. He opened a private law practice – Ale Law – serving business and public entity clients in complex legal matters.
Lieutenant Governor La'apui also served as General Counsel of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) General Assembly, and Vice President of the Marist Brothers Crusaders Alumni Association. He is Treasurer of the Nua & Se’etaga CCCAS, where he is also an ordained Deacon, and a life-long member of the Lotofuatiaifo Choir. La'apui is also active in the community through his responsibilities as a matai – he holds the High Talking Chief title "La'apui" from Fitiuta, Manu'a and the chiefly orator title “Talauega” from the village of Nua & Se’etaga, in the District of Lealataua.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
La'apui enjoys spending quality time with his children and family, listening to and performing music, reading and gardening.