Gentle literary giant leaves big footprint for next generation of Pacific writers

This year’s Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawaii will be a bittersweet celebration for many Pasifika writers as they mourn the passing of celebrated American Samoan poet, author, and academic Dr Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard.

Many are struggling to make sense of a tragedy that has robbed the world of a gentle literary giant who leaves a large footprint for the next generation of Pacific writers.

Sinavaiana-Gabbard died a brutal death in the Apia home of award-winning author Papali’i Sia Fiegel in the village of Vaivase-uta on 25 May.

Fiegel, described as a mentee and close associate of Sinavaiana-Gabbard, is accused of her murder.

Samoan Police allege Sinavaiana-Gabbard died from stab wounds inflicted by the accused using a hammer and knife.

Born in Utulei, American Samoa, and raised in California and Hawaiʻi, Sinavaiana-Gabbard was the first Samoan to achieve the highest academic rank of professor.

The 78-year-old taught creative writing at the University of Hawai’i for nearly 20 years where she was an associate professor of Pacific literature.

Colleagues say she played an essential role in reshaping the English department’s curriculum to embrace Pacific literature and cultures.

The award-winning author and poet was recognised as one of the influential women from US territories and made USAToday’s Women of the Century list.

Dr Selina Tusitala-Marsh says Sinavaiana-Gabbard was a fierce warrior goddess wielding the pen to fight for indigenous rights and people’s struggles. Photo/supplied

There has been an outpouring of grief from notable Pacific writers and academics who have worked alongside Sinavaiana-Gabbard as well as Fiegel.

New Zealand’s first Pacific Poet Laureate Dr Selina Tusitala-Marsh described Sinavaiana-Gabbard as “a ground-breaking Samoan poet and activist who set the Pacific literary world ablaze with her powerful words and tireless pursuit of social justice.

“To me and countless other Pacific writers, she was our first literary Nafanua, a fierce warrior goddess wielding the pen to fight for Indigenous rights and to give voice to our people’s struggles.”

Dr Damon Salesa, Vice-chancellor of Auckland University of Technology and author of An Indigenous Ocean said, “Caroline was a powerful and authentic voice, whose work as a scholar was both pathfinding and enabling, bringing literary criticism and indigenous Samoan criticism and culture into intersection”.

Sinavaiana-Gabbard is survived by daughter Michelle Gabbard Bamrah and son Liam Enright.

She is also the sister of Hawaiʻi State Senator Mike Gabbard and aunt of former Hawaiʻi Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.