Talofa Lava!
My name is Peter Jack Emanuelu Petersen, AKA PJ, and I am the founder of ANAMUA. I am 29 years old, born & raised in Honolulu Hawai’i, and I am a proud Samoan! My father hails from the villages of Faleapuna and Lufilufi in Upolu, and my mother, from the villages of Vatia and Afao in Tutuila. Growing up my parents emphasized the importance of serving God, family, and community with excellence throughout my life.
My grandparents were also a great influence on my life, especially in regard to culture and tradition. My fascination for our Samoan Culture was planted in my heart through the values they taught me, teaching me Fa’asamoa or “the Samoan way”.
At a young age I’ve always enjoyed arts and creations, and actually started ANAMUA by making specialty leis. Now having expanded my portfolio to creating custom traditional and modern pieces, I pray that the values ingrained in me by my parents and grandparents would be reflected in the works of my hands, and that God would be glorified through it all.
ANAMUA was inspired by the Samoan phrase “Aso Anamua” which means “Ancient of Days”. It is a constant reminder of what one of my earlier mentors, Aunty Sue Manuma, taught me: when dressing in traditional attire, we must pull out the beauty of old Polynesia, and put it into your la’ei (attire) — “preserving our past to inspire our future”.
“Aso Anamua” also refers to God, the Creator of all things, and Whom all things are created for. We believe that we are called to use our creative talents in arts and culture to serve our clients with excellence, through a ministry of love. When we serve others through our gifts and talents, we are representatives of who God is in our lives.
Anamua began in O’ahu, Hawai’i, serving our local families since 2015. Today, we find ourselves traveling the nation, and expanding our service to various Pacific Islanders in multiple cities throughout the United States. Our book of business has expanded to include small business owners, corporate heads and high-profile individuals in the sports and entertainment industries, along with many respectable social media and cultural influencers. Rooted and connected by our belief in God, the cultures of Polynesia are exemplary of humility, servant-hood, and respect for our elders, our families, our communities, and guests.
We hope that you are inspired by our heart to lead as an example of the values we were raised by, perpetuating our culture for generations to come. As ANAMUA continues to grow, we look forward to serving our people around the world through our cultural gifts and talents. Until then…