Local News
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](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/edwina_award.jpg?itok=btJp2AyV "[l-r] Pita ‘Pete’ Tanielu, with his mother, Sapapali’i and sister, Edwina last Saturday at Lions Park during the Rotary Club of Pago Pago and Hawaiian Airlines’ 10th anniversary memorial service of the deadly Sept. 29, 2009 earthquake/ tsunami victims. Edwina is seen holding her scholarship award presented by Laura Lafoia Ava Tesimale, co-founder of US-based One Global Family Foundation (OGFF). [photo: FS]")
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...
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...
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...
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 -...
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](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/2020_ttoy_014.jpg?itok=F6l-joN2 "[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 yesterday, at the ASDOE main office where the TTOY 2020 selection was announced. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]")
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...
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...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is fighting back against a call by Chicken of the Sea International (COSI) - producer of Chicken of the Sea canned tuna - for the US Congress to eliminate once and for all the federal 30A-American Samoa Economic Development Credit (ASEDC).
COSI...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A concerned mother is asking for the public’s help in locating her son, whom she hasn’t seen or heard from in months. Ali'itama Bartine Tarrant, 28, departed Florida earlier this year in April (Easter weekend) enroute to American Samoa.
According to his mother Denise...