Afimutasi Gustav "Gus" Hannemann Jr., a Samoan community leader and elder brother of former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, died Friday in Honolulu. He was 78.
Mufi Hannemann said his brother died of natural causes at Straub Clinic & Hospital.
The elder Hannemann was director of the American Samoa government office in Honolulu, where he promoted Samoan culture and helped with various issues, such as immigration, said American Samoa Gov. Lolo Moliga by phone.
"It’s a big loss for us," Moliga said. "He has touched a lot of lives in the Samoan community in a lot of ways."
Moliga said Hannemann was a straightforward person who would not accept the status quo and always tried to find solutions to people’s problems.
Hannemann was born on Christmas Day in American Samoa in 1936 and moved to Hawaii with his family two years before graduating from Farrington High School in 1955.
After high school, he joined the Air Force and served in Japan and Germany, then co-founded a small luau at Paradise Cove, his brother Mufi said.
He served a two-year term as a representative in American Samoa’s Fono, or legislature, and on the late U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye’s staff for Samoan affairs.
Moliga said Hannemann’s heart was always in American Samoa, despite living in Hawaii Kai for 50 years.
In Hawaii, Hannemann was instrumental in organizing community efforts to help with disasters in other parts of the world, said Headrick Hunkin, assistant pastor at Lighthouse Outreach Center in Waipahu.
Hunkin said without Hannemann the center would not have been able to send containers filled with supplies to American Samoa after the 2009 tsunami. He said Hannemann also helped in sending containers to the Philippines after another natural disaster.
"He’s like a voice or a spokesperson who represents the community and invites the churches to come out," Hunkin said. "He had a heart for not only his people, but the community as well."
Hunkin said Hannemann was an outspoken leader who also managed to remain humble and work with churches outside his Mormon religion.
"He’s the type of person that really spiced things up," he said. "When he talked, everybody would just pause. They would try to figure out (what he was saying), but later on they would understand."
Hannemann was the oldest of seven children and 18 years older than Mufi Hannemann.
"He definitely was the big brother of the family," said Hannemann, who recalled his brother helping him practice his public speaking skills in elementary school. "He had broad shoulders because he did a lot of heavy lifting for all of us."
He said his brother was a Samoan chief who "always extended himself to help people" and never expected repayment.
"My brother was one of the smartest persons around," said Hannemann, a Harvard graduate. "If he had my education, he would have been dangerous.
"I remember countless times when the media wanted a Samoan perspective … Gus was always sought to either be peacemaker, be a mediator, be a spokesperson," he said. "He was totally bilingual. He knew the culture very well."
He said his brother coordinated the trip for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to visit and receive a title in Samoa and helped former University of Hawaii football coach Dick Tomey recruit Jesse Sapolu, who won four Super Bowl Championships with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s and ’90s.
"Gus advised Dick on the Samoan culture and how to recruit a Samoan kid — you’ve got to recruit the parents," Hannemann said. "Everybody sought Gus’ guidance and advice and counsel because he was so well-versed in the Samoan culture. He was very proud to be a Samoan."
In addition to his brother Mufi, Hannemann is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lydia Leimomi Hannemann, his children Tafu Keola Hannemann and Teuila Kaimikaua, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brothers Miller and Nephi, and sisters Gafanua Memea and Vaofua Maughan.
Services are pending.
