Olaf Nelson was a Samoan nationalist businessman who opposed New Zealand colonial rule in Samoa in the 1920s. He was born to a Swedish trader father and Samoan mother. By the 1920s, he had become one of Samoa's most successful businessmen and owned many trading stores and property. However, he grew to dislike colonial rules and voiced opposition to New Zealand administration. He was a founding member of the second Samoan Mau movement and twice exiled to New Zealand in 1928 and 1934 for his support of the movement. Nelson played a key role in rallying support for Samoan independence before his death in 1944.