ASCC Fine Arts Department focuses on Samoan/ Pacific material
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Fine Arts Department at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) presented its student showcase for the spring 2023 semester with a production of the sho

![Cast members of the recent ASCC Fine Arts Department production "Lefusina" relax after a vigorous performance. The play, written by former ASCC faculty member Dr. Sybil Johnson, combined Western and traditional Samoan elements to tell a fairy tale type story with a distinctly Samoan angle. The play spotlights the Fine Arts Department’s direction to showcase more material with a Samoan or Pacific emphasis. [photo: J. Kneubuhl] Cast members of "Lefusina"](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ascc_lefusina_4_cast.jpg?itok=F7NBuiBj)

![Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata speaking at the recent Congressional Caucus event where she emphasized the importance of fishing to the Am Samoa economy in the face of proposed federal new restrictions threatening the fishing-based economy in the South Pacific. [courtesy photo] Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_at_event.jpg?itok=B-Zv5ow7)



![Lisa Tautalatasi Tuato’o, an ASCC alumnus who has gone on to become Director and Chief Petroleum Officer of the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM), will provide the Keynote Address at the College’s 78th Commencement Ceremony, taking place this Friday, May 19th, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Kanana Fou Gymnasium. [courtesy Photo] Lisa Tautalatasi Tuato’o,](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lisa_tuatoo_bio_picture_5_2_2023.jpg?itok=vk97mcIm)

![Fathers taking the lead in the Mother's Day's skits performances. Notice that some fathers look happier about this than others. [photo: Piui Simi /Samoa Observer]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/more_fathers_web.jpg?itok=JiyvUTMF)
![58-year-old Antonina Ioane of Aua, American Samoa and Lepea, Samoa dances the taualuga after she was crowned StarKist Samoa’s 60th Anniversary Tina Lelei Beauty Queen on Thursday, May 11, 2023 during the StarKist’s pageant honoring mothers of the company. Mrs. Ioane has worked for StarKist Quality Assurance Department for nearly 20 years. She is married to her manamea of 35 years, Maselino Ioane, and the couple has three children. Their two youngest daughters live in American Samoa while their eldest is a helicopter pilot with the US Marines. [photo: L. Poasa] Antonina Ioane](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tina_lelei_winner_4968_web.jpg?itok=Kgog82Oz)