Manono Island’s Hereditary Chief - ABC International Development

Herbert Samuel Phineas was born in Fiji of New Zealand parents, but brought up by his Samoan foster father on the island of Manono.

Now aged in his 50s and based in Apia, Herbert visits Manono as often as he can. He's the hereditary chief of the island, a title which other Samoan chiefs gave him.

In this 'Portraits' feature story, Herbert makes the journey to Manono with his wife and grand daughter, first by car and then a 2 hour paddle in an outrigger canoe.

The villagers are happy to see their foreign-born chief and his family. They catch up on progress of the building of a longboat, which will be used to race the following year during Western Samoan independence celebrations. Women gather to weave traditional mats and sing together and the chiefs meet for feasting and kava in the village council house.