At 98, Viali Saga'iga Matagi still has a full head of hair and a keen interest in things. Kaleo recently talked story with this Laie kupuna who has lived at the same location for 50 years:

Matagi said he was born in Pago Pago, just 10 years after the U.S. government acquired American Samoa, and lived there until he came to Hawaii in 1958, seeking better education for his children.

Prior to that time he said he worked milking cows in Mapusaga for the government dairy; but like others before and since, he came ahead to find a job here and prepare for his family's arrival the following year.

Unlike today, Matagi recalled his journey first took him to Suva, Fiji, for several days of layover. "At that time there was only Pan Am [airline]," he said. Finally arriving in Laie, he initially stayed with his wife's sister and family, and soon found work on several projects that younger generations now take for granted, but were much different in those days and played key roles in shaping the future of Oahu.

"The first job I took was moving houses at night time," he said, speaking of the large project that was underway to make room for the expansion of Honolulu International Airport.

"I worked there about two years, but the pay was no good." So he worked for two local contractors of the day — Matalii's painting company and John Keliiliki's construction operation. "They've passed away. We worked on the Wilson Tunnel and the new road to Kaneohe," he said. "After that we worked on the Marine Base in Kaneohe, and then I went to Kwajalein for three years."

Matagi's career also included a stint at Cackle Fresh egg farm — back when there were actually chickens there, and then his eventual painting job at BYU-Hawaii, from which he retired.

He added long before that he used to help the LDS labor missionaries build the BYUH campus: "I used to paint inside, and up on the roof." Later, he helped paint a number of the LDS chapels in Laie, and would also help paint "teachers houses for extra money."

Soon after Matagi arrived in Laie, he made arrangements to live on the lot on the corner of Lanihuli and Iosepa Streets, and his wife — the late Folole Matagi and six of their children (two others previously passed away) joined him.

"Nobody stayed here in those days. There was nothing but watermelon and lo'i [taro patches] from here to the university. We built our own house in the front, a Hicks home. We made a garage to stay in while it was being built." The family only recently replaced that home with a more modern one where Matagi now lives in an attached studio.

"There weren't many houses in Laie in those days," Matagi recalled. "There were also only about five or six Samoan families. We helped with the Hukilau. We pulled the net, and the kids and my wife, they used to dance over there."

"There was no more market. Only the post office was over there," he said, pointing up Lanihuli Street.

After getting established in their Laie home, five more children were born and all but the oldest Matagi daughter attended Kahuku High. His children include:

Fa'agai Leuga (Utah), Paisa and the late Manu Maxwell (Kahuku), Quincy and Ida Mize (Utah), Felita Mahelona Matagi and Ward (California), Susie Torres (Laie), Hazel Nihipali (Big Island), Elvis (Maui), and Jeany Saldaña (California).

Asked how many grandchildren he has, Matagi replied "plenty." The number is actually 55 grandchildren and 73 great-grandchildren. Some of his younger brother's children and grandchildren also live in Koolauloa.

"Laie has changed a lot," he continued. "Now we've got plenty of houses." Matagi also said he's been back to Samoa many times over the years. "I went to the dedication of the [Latter-day Saint] temple, both the first and the second times."

Asked the secret of his longevity, Matagi quickly replied, "Maybe because I keep the [Latter-day Saint] Word of Wisdom. I also like to eat Samoan food: Taro, palusami. I still walk, but not too far now days"; and he also still regularly attends the Laie Temple every Friday.

Asked what he likes about his life in Hawaii, Matagi said, "Im glad to stay in Laie. Laie is a good place for family. We made the right move from Samoa."