Washington State safety Shalom Luani comes from a large, close-knit family in American Samoa, where he lived until he moved to the mainland United States four years ago in pursuit of his college football dream.
This week, Luani got bad news from home. His uncle and aunt, Kasiano and Telesia Luani, lost their home and car to a devastating fire in Tafuna, American Samoa last Sunday. Kasiano is the brother of Shalom’s father, Penitito Luani.
Shalom and his siblings are very close to their cousins who just lost their home. They spent a lot of time at their aunt and uncle’s house during their childhood, even living there at one point, said Makerita Luani, Shalom’s elder sister.