Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  American Samoa prepared last week to remember the victims of the cataclysmic tsunami that on September 29, 2009 took the lives of 34 in American Samoa, 149 in Samoa and 9 lives in the Kingdom of Tonga plus millions of dollars of damage in the area — an eyewitness who was at Pago Pago Harbor told his story of what he actually saw that morning.

Hobo Jameson was working for the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), where the generators are located on the mountain side. "It was shocking for me to see, the sea had suddenly disappeared after the earthquake. It was more like sucking into the middle of the harbor.

Jameson said, he ran up higher to see to where the water had disappeared.

"It went into a huge dark hole, in the middle of the harbor. Sea water from the harbor had all sunk inside that hole, it was pretty scary for me." he said.

Even the water from the entrance into the Pago Pago harbor, instead of going out of the harbor, went inside this hole in the middle of the harbor.

Not long after that, Jameson said, "I heard a hollow sound like water was bubbling boiling and suddenly blown out from the dark hole with so much energy that pushed everything on its way inland.”

There were casualties at the far corner of Pago Pago Harbor when elderly women were caught up by the waves at the old government office that served them there at the edge of the bay. 

Workers on the top floor of the Pago Plaza building witnessed first hand how the wave took all the vehicles, and buildings in its way.

It's a day to remember how people in the whole of Samoa came together to help each other — east and west Samoa — one archipelago.

First cousins Aigafaalagilagi Mua (left) and Railagi Mua holding a framed photograph of their namesake, Grandmother Aigafaalagilagi Faauma So’oalo-Mua taken with Aigafaalagilagi when she was a toddler. A candle was lit for her as one of the victims of the 2009 Tsunami during the memorial service at the CCCAS Siona le Mauga, in Leone, last Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.[photo: Asi A. Fa’asau]

One of the heroes who saved a blind grandmother that morning, at Aleipata in Samoa, said: "I knew there were old ladies inside this guest house. I ran here after the first wave, and I saw from a distance this blind mother was sensing out her cane. 

“The other wave was about to arrive when I took a lavalava, and wrapped it around our bodies to the middle post of this guest house.  The second wave hit us really badly, that our feet were dangling sidewards, but we both held on to each other hoping the house would stay."

After the waves, he took the blind mother to dryer lands, he said.

A local tourist in Samoa also was caught while asleep inside a beach fale at Aleipata. All he remembered was looking at a circle of water going up and down at full speed. The other side of this whirlpool were cars, washing machines, tin roofs and all sorts of sharp debris.

2023 TSUNAMI REMEMBRANCE CHURCH SERVICE

The 34 victims who lost their lives in the 2009 devastating tsunami were remembered and honored in a memorial service organized by the Office of the Governor held at the CCCAS Siona le Mauga Paia, Leone last Friday morning, marking the 14th anniversary of the tragedy.

Father Kelemete Pua’auli (far left) and relatives of Helen Seui who lost of her life in the 2009 tsunami after the memorial service at the CCCAS Siona le Mauga, Leone last Friday. [photo: Asi A. Fa’asau]

The service was led by Rev. Iese Faavaoga and was attended by Acting Governor Tlauega Eleasalo Ale, Fono leaders President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, and members of the Fono, District Governors, directors and other government officials.

Relatives of the 34 victims were also present and seated in a reserved section of the chapel.

The prayer was conducted by Rev. Fetuao Mua, an ordained pastor and graduate of Kanana Fou Theological Seminary, who lost his mother in the tragedy.

Acting Governor Talauega E.V. Ale spoke on behalf of government and emphasized the importance of remembering those whose lives were lost on this day 14 years ago and also acknowledged all those who risked their lives trying to help them.

He stated that some members of the public in the areas of island that were hit by the tsunami put themselves in harm’s way to try and save some of the victims. Some had succeeded in warning their villages of the imminent danger.

He also paid tribute to the village aumaga and first responders from government agencies who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the tsunami looking for the bodies of the victims and trying to reinstate some sort of normalcy to the affected parts of the island, which resembled war zones.

The Acting Governor acknowledged the Togiola administration which was in office at the time, for rebuilding everything that had been destroyed and assisting the bereaved families that had lost loved ones.

“There is absolutely no room for complacency,” Talauega stressed. “We must learn from this tragedy and always be prepared because we never know when another natural disaster will strike.”

Talauega also mentioned the recent Disaster Resilience Summit which highlighted the need to prepare communities for disasters in these times of unpredictable weather patterns. The summit was attended by participants from the mainland and other islands of the Pacific.

“I hope to see the day when the Fono passes legislation and the governor signs it to make September a public holiday, a day of remembrance for those who perished on this day 14 years ago and also to remind us to always be prepared,” Acting Governor Talauega declared.

Hymns of the service were provided by the CCCAS Siona le Mauga Paia, Leone choir and the Leone Koluse Paia Catholic Church choir.

The sermon was delivered by Catholic priest Father Kelemete I. Pua’auli after which a moment of silence was observed, then the names of the 34 victims were announced while their relatives lit candles in their memory.