Tuifeai Pona Tagaloa

Tuifeai Pona Tagaloa born September 14, 1942 surrendered to the Lord peacefully on September 16, 2023 two days after his 81st birthday. Tui was a proud descendent of Tagaloa Lani, the patriarch of all of Polynesia with Western Samoa as the source from whence all of the other Pacific Island migrated. With a lifetime love of family, the Samoan culture and a heritage rich in content of music and dance, Tui was a born entertainer.  Give him a ukelele, his platform shoes (white or brown) or his fire knives.. he was ready to capture any spotlight. Through his father Pona, his sisters, brothers and two wives he gained a healthy and successful tribe of six children,  and nine grandchildren, with multitudes of nieces and nephews currently residing in Florida, Virginia, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and Arizona as well as in his long time former state of residence California.

Tui's unofficial mission in life was rescuing people, which was the possible inspiration for his youngest son, Tyson to pursue a career as an LA County Firefighter paramedic. Tui was received an award for pulling a man out of a flood channel in the city of Industry, mostly just risking his life anonymously and when the danger was over or first responders arrived, he would quietly just walk away. One witness example was pulling two people from a burning building in Anaheim after spotting a housefire after a show. After we pulled up, he ran out and the next I saw him was on the roof with a hose, watering it down, aleady having pulled two victims out through a window. In Anaheim as well, he rescued one woman from a car on fire in the middle of an intersection while the passenger expired in his arms, when he could not disconnect her seat belt. More burning cars on freeways, a flipped VW in Whittier, another that literally burned to the ground after flipping with Tui pulling the victim unhurt to the center divider amongst the roar of flames and exploding tires in Buena Park.  All of these rescues were second nature to him if he was at the scene of any such event…which is why I believe that he escaped death himself so many times….far more than the nine lives of a cat.

Tui left California and relocated to Las Cruces after being saddled with dunder physician advisement requiring oxygen 24/7 with and direction for no physical activity period.  New life in Las Cruces in 2015, proved to be miraculous for his health as within three months he was taken off oxygen and steadily regaining heart health.  Once reenergized an opportunity to share his culture and athletic experiences with the football team at Centennial High School found its in the performance of the Maori Haka shared on the football game during subsequent games.

The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints also brought opportunities to cook 300-600lb pigs in a pit underground as an introduction to the Samoan culture, based on years of experience for many occasions in California.  From singing and dancing to playing island numbers, Tui always concluded with the Knifo Oti or Samoan fire knife, originally learned while going to school in Hawaii and performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  From there Tui came to the mainland, landing in California which was rich with opportunities for Polynesian performers. Japan World's Fair, Germany, Canada, Las Vegas, Disneyland, the Disneyland hotel with private groups with Fern Estes, Teina Sherrick, and Nona Sina before forming his own group Paradise Polynesians which performed throughout California, including San Diego, Newport, Huntington and countless yacht clubs and private parties.

Rugby and Volleyball were lifetime passions leading Tui to play with a veteran's team, the Long Beach Eagles.

Refereeing Volleyball and a love of sports led Tui to a long career as a softball umpire where he was known as Kahuna, loved by all players and yet not quite as much appreciated by coaches who were tossed from games after a challenge to his authority.

Tui was a physical man never backing down from a fight or challenge whether facing a knife or hand to hand combat with anyone who ever was foolish enough to challenge him.  He had a perfect record, to my knowledge, having never lost a fight.

Throughout my 51-year history with Tui, he supported every sibling, niece or nephew who participated in an athletic event that he had knowledge of.  Whether handing them money after a game or just being there he always sought to support them.

Loving six children with nine greats, which included two sets of same sex twins, was what made Tui happiest.  The youngest, Tuifeai, Bubby, Little T was always within touching distance when Grandpa was at a table, in a restaurant or sitting on his lap. Little T was able to monopolize his attention by being the only grandchild in Las Cruces, so they shared first steps, and a shared love of music, laughter and unique dance moves.

Tui lived a full productive life and is survived by his wife, Sherri Tagaloa, former wife, Lorilee Tagaloa, Sons Lee, Todd and Tyson Tagaloa, daughters Elisa, Tiala and Tawna Tagaloa and great grandchildren, Madeline, Alexandria, Forrester, Annie and Memphis (twins),Thoryn, Taua and Taimana (twins) and of course Tuifeai regretfully leaving behind brothers Lee, Sam and Manu.

A viewing will be held Friday, October 6th from 5pm-7pm at Baca Mortuary 300 E Boutz Las Cruces, New Mexico with informal appetizers after at Wyndham Ramada  201 E University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005 room 6-9, Celebration of Life Saturday October 7th at 11AM, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 3210 Venus Street Las Cruces, New Mexico with the Interment at Masonic Cemetery  760 S Compress Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88005, Celebration continues with a return to the Venus Stake Center to food, music and entertainment.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com