There are a number of similarities between Samoans and the Māori people of New Zealand.
Samoans perform a dance called the Siva Tua similar to the Haka. We clearly are not skilled enough to teach the kids the Haka or the Siva Tua, but we did have them practice a warrior stance.
The read a book called Māori Warriors
The Siva Tau
Samoan
Samoa!
Tatou o e tau le taua!
Tau e matua tau!
Fai ia mafai!
Le Manu!
Team: Sau ia!
Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva
Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva
Le Manu Samoa lenei ua ou sau
Leai se isi Manu oi le atu laulau
Ua ou sau nei ma le mea atoa
O lou malosi ua atoatoa
Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese
Leaga o lenei manu e uiga ese
Le Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa e o mai I Samoa
Le Manu!
We ate Spam and Samoan Pancakes. The kids loved both the pancakes and the Spam. We talked to Miss Sherry’s family on FaceTime. Auntie Pou taught us Talofa which is a greeting.
We also learned a traditional Samoan song:
Savalivali means go for a walk
Tautalatala means too much talk
Alofa ia te oe means I love you
Take it easy, faifai lemu
Teine manaia means pretty girl
Ta’amilomilo means around the world
Whisper to me means musumusu maia
Oi aue, means my, oh my
{ CHORUS }
E ua malie o, avane i le malo
E le faia so’u loto
A e tu’u lou finagalo
Go for a ride, ti’eti’e ta’avale
Stay at home means nofo i le fale
Leai o se tupe means no more money
Much trouble means fa’alavelave
Aue ta ino’ino i lau amio pi’opi’o
Ua e musu ia ita ua e laulauina
A ua e alu e nofo i le Saina
Isa isa fuga i lou fia ai alaisa
The kids learned a traditional Samoan song. They tried their hardest with the pronunciation. I included the original YouTube so you can hear the song in Samoan.
The students took chalk and drew traditional Māori tribal symbols on the sidewalk and Miss Sam discussed their meaning.