American Samoa’s 2026 Poetry Out Loud Champion Johnson Ailima of Faasao Marist High School was a Region 3 semi finalist in the Poetry Out Loud Nationals Tuesday night in Washington D.C. He recited two poems, “Susan B Anthony,” by Katherine Rolston Fisher and “On Liberty and Slavery” by George Moses Horton. Here’s an excerpt of his recitation of Susan B Anthony.
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Though he wasn’t one of the finalists he proudly represented American Samoa. The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture and Humanities posted on its FaceBook page, “Johnson we are all so very proud of you and elated by your rising to the challenge and opportunity”.
Johnson, a senior at Faasao Marist, was accompanied to DC by FMHS Student Counselor Mrs Imeleta Lilo and two representatives from the Arts Council, Tasi Sunia, Program Manager and Douglas Tauese Program Assistant. Johnson’s Sister Lindsay Harrington who lives in Utah, traveled to DC with her husband and son to cheer Johnson on.
Congreswoman Amata’s DC office assisted the group while in DC. Chief of Staff Leafaina Tavai picked them up from the airport and hosted them at her home in Maryland before the competition. And Digital Manager Stephen Petaia took them for a a tour of the Congressional office facilities and the office hosted a luncheon for them.
