Home › Malietoa Tanumafili Ii

Malietoa Tanumafili Ii

Malietoa Tanumafili II (born January 4 1913 and died on 11 May 2007 in Apia , Samoa ), is the head of state (the O Ao o Malo) of Samoa from 1962 until his death.

Son of Malietoa Tanumafili ^I. and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea, he succeeded his father as tama 'aiga in 1939. In 1962 the independence of Samoa, he became head of state for life, sharing the title with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole who died in 1963.

Malietoa Tanumafili II was a member of the Baha'i faith. It is the second royal personage (after Queen Marie of Romania ) to become a Baha'i. In 1984, he dedicated the house of worship (temple) Bah' Tiapapata, eight kilometers from the capital, Apia.

He died on 11 May 2007 at Tupua Tamasese National Hospital, in Apia.