Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard (1946 – 26 May 2024) was an American Samoan academic, writer, poet, and environmentalist. She was the first Samoan to become a full professor in the United States.[1][2]
Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 Utulei, American Samoa |
| Died | (aged 78) Vaivase-uta, Samoa |
| Occupation | Academic, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Poetry |
Life and career
editSinavaiana-Gabbard was born in Utulei village, Tutuila, American Samoa, in 1946.[1][3] She was educated at Sonoma State University, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Hawai'i.[4] Her PhD thesis was on Traditional Comic Theater in Samoa: A Holographic View.[5] She taught creative writing as a faculty of the Department of English, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa,[4][6] from 1997 until her retirement in 2016. In 2002 she published her collection of poetry, Alchemies of Distance.[7][8]
In August 2020 she was named by USA Today on its list of influential women from U.S. territories.[1]
Sinavaiana-Gabbard moved to Samoa after she retired.[9] She was stabbed and killed at the GaluMoana Theater in Vaivase-uta, on 26 May 2024, at the age of 78.[9][10] Playwright Sia Figiel was charged with her murder.[11][12]
She was the paternal aunt of American politician Tulsi Gabbard and sister to politican Mike Gabbard, a member of the Hawaiian Senate. [13]
References
edit- ^ a b c Murphy-Marcos, Coral; Schnell, Lindsay (14 August 2020). "Politician Tulsi Gabbard, 'West Side Story' star Rita Moreno among influential women from U.S. territories". USA Today. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ Kerry Howley (June 11, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard Had a Very Strange Childhood". New York. Vox Media.
- ^ Madsen, Deborah L. (2015). The Routledge Companion to Native American Literature. Routledge. Page 45. ISBN 9781317693192.
- ^ a b "Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard". Poetry Foundation. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ Caroline Sinavaiana (1992). Traditional comic theater in Samoa : a holographic view (PhD). University of Hawai'i.
- ^ "Margaret Mead Was Wrong - Page 2". 3ammagazine.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "RATTLE e-Review: ALCHEMIES OF DISTANCE by Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard". Rattle.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "The warrior and her poetry". International Examiner. 20 December 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Samoan novelist and playwright charged with murder". Talanei. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Prof. Gabbard was a respected academic
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (28 May 2024). "Playwright charged for gruesome murder". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Outpouring of grief following death of acclaimed Samoan poet and writer". RNZ. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Samoan author accused of killing Samoan writer who was aunt of former US politician Tulsi Gabbard". AP News. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.