Local News

American Samoa High Court building
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 36-year-old man convicted of assaulting another man by poking his neck with a knife and punching him in the face multiple times is going to jail. Anapapa Mulitalo, who has been in custody since his arrest last year, unable to post a $15,000 surety bond, has been...
Rendering of proposed new Fono Building
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House approved last Thursday an Administration bill, which increases member contribution and provides a profit allocation from the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority (ASTCA) to the ASG Employees’ Retirement Fund (ASGERF). The measure, which was introduced...
Apia, SAMOA & Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — I lay on the mat of the open-air bungalow in Apia, Samoa, looking up at a gecko. As its tail quivered, I felt a sympathetic twitch in my leg. Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo III, the sixth-generation Samoan hand-tap tattoo master leaning over me, paused to see if...
[l-r] Pita ‘Pete’ Tanielu, with his mother, Sapapali’i and sister, Edwina last Saturday at Lions Park
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two members of the Tanielu family — Edwina and Blessing — were awarded scholarships from One Global Family Foundation (OGFF) at last Saturday’s Leions Park memorial service commemorating the 10th anniversary of the deadly 2009 tsunami. Their father was among the victims...
Pictured are Taebo Defense instructor Talaleomalie Mortenson (center); Zumba instructor Erica Afalava Magalei (2nd from right); and Angels Against Violence coordinator Tanya Ma’o-Aab (far right), with two program participants
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in an effort to ‘break the silence’ and encourage victims to ‘speak out’ and ‘stand up’, the Angels Against Violence, in partnership with Matson Shipping, are inviting everyone to “kick” it out for domestic violence, with...
American Samoa District Court building
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 46-year-old man from Pago Pago accused of raping his 15-year-old niece was arrested last week and is now in custody. He made his initial appearance before District Court Judge Pro Temp Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde last week. The government claims that the alleged sexual...
American Samoa Executive Office Building
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga signed into law Monday this week, the government’s $421.48 million budget for fiscal year 2020 — which commenced yesterday, Oct. 1st — and includes ASG’s contribution to the Hope House. The Fono made one amendment to the final budget bill -...
American Samoa District Court building
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police arrested a 46-year-old taxi driver from Tafeta last week, for the alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl. Alefosio Solomona made his initial appearance in District Court last week. He is charged with first degree sexual abuse, a class D felony; and endangering...
[l-r] Tafuna High School principal, Tutuila Togilau; Tafuna HS social studies teacher and 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year, Edney Apulu; and Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tafuna HS social studies teacher, Edney Gasmig Apulu, is the 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year. The selection was announced yesterday by Education director, Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, who said Apulu was selected by the TTOY Committee comprising ASDOE assistant directors...
74-year-old Teaga Esekia,
Vaitupu, TUVALU — For 74-year-old Teaga Esekia, a chief from the Tuvalu island of Vaitupu, the ocean is a lifeblood. "Tuvaluans, they have different types of months, not like January to December," said the elderly but agile man, who still climbs coconut trees every day. "They have their seasons...

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