I am from Hawaii. But I am not Hawaiian. I am full Samoan.
My Pacific Island genes will never allow me to be the most ripped, but I think I can get pretty close to it.
Queequeg was a native of Kokovoko, an island far away to the West and South. It is not down in any map; true places never are.
I am proud of my heritage and have happily taken advantage of every opportunity to educate my teammates and Steeler Nation about American Samoa, both as a player and in the community, through the Troy and Theodora Polamalu Foundation Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Maybe he was Filipino. Was that in Asia? Probably. Asia's out-of-control huge.
I'm from Samoan heritage, and with the rugby in our blood and everything, I always felt I've been tough, and that my tolerance for pain is pretty high.
I am a National Football League player of American Samoan heritage. Because of my status as a professional athlete, I have been blessed to play a role in educating players and fans about the culture and history of America's southernmost territory.
I grew up as a Polynesian kid in the Polynesian community, and I was this skinny white kid.
You hold everybody that's Polynesian or Samoan on your shoulders. You want to do your best to represent that in the best way that you can.
I am extremely proud to be of Tongan and Samoan descent. We are really proud of our culture and, really, just being a minority.
All of my Polynesian counterparts in the NFL with roots in American Samoa understand how the values embedded in our South Pacific culture - community, hard work, perseverance, respect - contribute directly to our success.
