Auva'a V. Leiataua's Obituary
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Auvaa “Va’a” Leiataua, 69, passed away peacefully at home on July 8, 2025, with his wife and children by his side in Spanaway, Wash.
Auva’a ‘Va’a’ Leiataua was born in Apia, Samoa, as the fifth of eleven children. He was raised by his widowed mother following his father’s early death. His upbringing and life experiences shaped his values, motivating him to pursue education and secure a more promising future while overcoming the many challenges he faced in his early years.
After completing college in Samoa, Va’a joined the Samoan Police Service. His role as a police officer reinforced his sense of purpose and equipped him with the resilience to overcome various difficulties throughout his life. Va’a also worked as an accountant at the Tuna Cannery in American Samoa and served as a longtime educator in the American Samoa Department of Education.
In the 1980s, Va’a was called to ministry. As a dedicated ordained minister, he pastored churches in American Samoa and the USA for more than 30 years. He came to know the Lord in Dunedin, New Zealand, through Pastor Mauosamoa Fatialofa. Following this, he was sent to SBC American Samoa and then to South Pacific Bible College in Fiji. Va’a later returned to SBC in American Samoa as a faculty member, where he became popular among students for teaching Hebrews and Corinthians. Additionally, he joined the Jerusalem Fou Bible College on Savaii Island as faculty and worked at Kings Leadership in American Samoa from 2017 to 2019, all while serving as a full-time pastor.
Va’a married Mara (Pa’aga) on June 21, 1986, and together they modeled a strong marriage, dedicating their lives to raising their children. Although he later retired from ministry, Va’a continued to teach the Word of God with vigor until his very last breath. His impact left many with a sense of gratitude for the strength and guidance they received from him.
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