The death of Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili II is being mourned by Samoans in Hawai'i who say his passing marks the loss of a great man who was loved by his people.

"Officially, his kingdom consisted of what was once Western Samoa and is now known simply as Samoa," said Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who first met Malietoa 30 years ago when he visited Samoa as a Fulbright Scholar.

"People there as well as in American Samoa highly revered him, and Samoans everywhere are united in mourning his passing."

Malietoa died Friday night in a hospital in Apia at age 94. His Highness Malietoa had been head of state since 1962, helping provide stability as the island nation became the first Polynesian state to become independent.

He was the world's third-longest reigning monarch and had represented his country in travels around the world. His list of state visits included those to China, West Germany, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom and other nations. During his reign, Samoa became one of the first Western nations to reach out to China.

He also traveled several times to Hawai'i, where he was embraced by the state's Samoan population. Although he officially represented Samoa, the close cultural ties between that country and nearby American Samoa meant he was welcomed by all Samoans here, people said.

"He epitomized things that Samoans are very proud of, said La'ie resident Max Purcell, who lived down a hill from Malietoa's residence when he was a youth. He said Malietoa was a very merciful man who wielded his power and authority well and also was respected in other South Pacific countries. He equated the impact of Malietoa's death to the feeling Americans had when President John F. Kennedy died in 1963.

"Malietoa's passing will have the same impact on many Samoans throughout the world. His funeral will be a huge one."

Others had similar recollections of Malietoa, saying he had a regal air about him, yet was very approachable. Don Rivers, a part-time Honolulu resident, said his highness also was held in high esteem by residents of American Samoa.

"Whenever there was any kind of little problem, he would try to solve it," Rivers said. "He was like a glue that kept both islands together."

Several entertainers from Hawai'i have visited Samoa and got to know Malietoa, including the late Don Ho, who Hannemann said was treated by the monarch with the utmost respect and honor. Hannemann said in his own case, Malietoa put him immediately at ease when they met for the first time.

"Here I was in my early 20s," he said. "He made me feel so comfortable. He never put up any pretensions about the fact that he was a monarch. I think that's why people loved him."

Hannemann's brother Gus said the same was true when he accompanied Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to Samoa, where the actor received a title from Malietoa.

Gus Hannemann remembers that Malietoa, on a visit to Hawai'i, would make sure security people assigned to guard him got late-night meals, or that the monarch wouldn't hesitate to lend golf clubs to him and other visitors.

"Although we are from different Samoas, we all honor him," he said. "It's a sad day for us."

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.