A fautasi race originally set for tomorrow as the culmination of the American Samoa Government sponsored “People, Air, Land and Sea” (PALS) activities, has been postponed to Thanksgiving week following a request by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga.

The postponement of the race was learned at a scheduled news conference on Wednesday where fautasi boats captains were in attendance in order to go through the race route with media.

However, an official of Commerce Department, the lead ASG agency overseeing the race, informed Samoa News that the news conference had been cancelled and the race postponed, after a request from the governor.  The official referred questions to DOC director Keniseli Lafaele.

Responding to Samoa News questions asking him to verify the postponement— and the reason for the change—Lafaele first pointed out, “At the conclusion of any Samoan 'fiafia', the 'taualuga' is danced.”

“In these three months of festivities — starting with the Coast Weeks in September, adopt a stream in October, and now the Farmers Fair in November - Governor Lolo thought it only appropriate to highlight the conclusion of PALS activities with the 'taualuga' of all water sports in the Samoas — the 'faigamea i le tai', the fautasi or long boat race,” he said.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience this short notice may have caused the captains and crews who have been preparing for the race this Saturday.  But we believe the final prizes will be worth the wait,” he said Wednesday afternoon.

“We encourage all crews and captains and village supporters to upkeep the happy spirit of ‘Motu o Fiafiaga’ and in appreciation of the spirit of Thanksgiving to conclude our PALS 2013 activities with a bang,” he said, adding that the fautasi race is now set for Nov. 27, the day before Thanksgiving 2013.

The 2013 Territorial Farmers Fair, hosted by the Department of Agriculture, to be held at the Su’igaula ole Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei is also set for Nov. 27 from 8a.m.-5pm. and will continue on Nov. 28. from 8a.m. - 12noon.

The fautasi race route will be identical to the one used in the 2013 Flag Day Fautasi Regatta competition, with the starting point in Pago Pago (fronting ASCO Motors) - heading out to the mouth of the harbor to the buoy off the Aua village coast line, where boats makes a turn towards the buoy off Lauli’i coast before turning again, heading back into the starting point, which is also the finish line.

Other ASG entities working with DOC on the PALS events and activities are the AS-EPA, DWMR and Agriculture.