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Jonathan “Tana” Lepule lives his life according to the Samoan proverb of the path to mastery in service. The path to leadership is through service.
For him, service is not a job, a career or a calling. It’s a lifestyle ingrained in him by his late parents, Rev. Sepulona Atafa Lepule and Talo Atafa Lepule.
Lepule’s leadership spans over 30 years working with Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Pacific Islander Festival Association, Cal State Fullerton / Weaving an Islander Network for Cancer Awareness, API Initiative, UC San Diego / Community Health, US Bureau of Census, Union of Pan Asian Communities / Health Department and more. This has proven invaluable in providing access to resources for Samoans, Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders in San Diego and beyond.
“Tana is proactive,” said Rev. Faafouina Solomona of the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church in San Diego. “He always promotes the needs of our community and makes sure we don’t miss any information and resources. He does all of this with the greatest humility. We are indebted to him. “
Lepule, 50, lives in Chula Vista. He grew up in National City, where he attended Las Palmas Elementary, National City Middle School, and Sweetwater High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in humanities from San Diego State University.
He is known for his humility, humor, and effectiveness in working with diverse communities to ensure the problems and needs of Samoans, Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders are addressed not just in San Diego but nationwide. He credits Margaret Iwanaga-Penrose, executive director of the Union of Pan Asian Communities, with promoting leadership early in his career.
“Her vision was to raise the voices of the Hawaiians and the Pacific islanders,” said Lepule. She did not keep leadership opportunities to herself. She pushed me into leadership roles to support communities. She knew the population and our needs were growing, but we weren’t at the table with the decision makers. She looked after me to give our communities access. “
1.6 million Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people live in the United States, according to the latest report from the US Bureau of Census. Samoans are the second largest population group. Native Hawaiians come first. Knowing the numbers and problems is not enough to gain trust and collaboration with Samoans, Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander communities. It takes cultural respect and competence as well as long-term relationship building.
Lepule encourages others to build a community. He is known for mentoring teenagers from Samoan, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands whenever the opportunity presents itself. That includes touring her around Washington DC while wearing a t-shirt and shorts, between suit-and-tie meetings when the weather fluctuates in the mid-1940s.
“My parents showed me the importance of humility, especially in leadership, through the Samoan principle that the person in the foreground is not more important than those who support them,” said Lepule.
Solomona agrees. “I see Tana’s commitment and lifestyle as a continuation of his parents’ work in the community. As they were, he shares and gives from his heart. We need people like him to maintain our community. “
One of the most recent events aimed at ensuring the health of local Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders was held this past spring during a COVID vaccination effort. As part of the Southern California Pacific Islands COVID-19 Response Team, Lepule helped coordinate vaccination delivery. The host was the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church of San Diego. At first they thought 300 would attend. With just two days’ notice and during a major storm, about 600 people showed up to receive the vaccine.
What made the event so successful was that everyone involved came from the community.
“I try never to forget where I come from,” said Lepule. “When the opportunity presents itself, I will involve my community.”
He involves his community at all levels and continues to advocate that others take their seats at the decision-making table, just as his parents and mentors have taught him to do. O le ala i le pule o le tautua.
About this series
Alicia DeLeon-Torres works for the Nemeth Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations. She also served as commissioner for the California Attorney General’s Civil Rights Commission for Hate Crimes and the San Diego City Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a weekly column written by members of the UT’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experience, accomplishments, creativity, or references.
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