Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Unless the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) and ASG are able to cough up $78.1 million to the American Samoa Government Employees' Retirement Fund, they cannot "fully own" the American Samoa branching unit of Hawaiki Cable.
This is according to...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga updated lawmakers — in his oral presentation of the State of the Territory Address in Samoan — on Hawaiki cable and thanked the ASG Employees' Retirement Fund board for their assistance and investment in securing it.
Lolo says the government now...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman who was pulled over for a traffic violation ended up being arrested and is now criminally charged after police allegedly found paraphernalia in the vehicle, and ‘ice’ in her pocket.
Lili Apolo made her initial appearance in District Court this past Monday, where...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government received $5 million for its insurance claim for damage to government infrastructure following Tropical Cyclone Gita in February last year, according to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga in his State of the Territory Address on Monday before a joint...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Of the 12 students named as 2019 Pacific Symposium for Science and Sustainability (PS3) semi-finalists, only one is from American Samoa. The rest are from the Aloha State.
Koneferenisi Purcell, a 17-year-old senior at Manumalo Academy, placed 5th during last year's 31st...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The four faipule assumed to have not fully supported the re-election of Savali Talavou Ale as House Speaker for the next two years, were not given chairmanship or membership roles in any of the 16 standing House committees for the 36th Legislature, which officially...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government ended fiscal year 2018 — which closed on Sept. 30, 2018 — with a “positive” General Fund balance of $3.97 million, according to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, speaking about ASG’s financial status as part of his State of the Territory Address at...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the three former DPS officers facing charges in an alleged drug operation at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) appeared in District Court yesterday morning for a preliminary examination.
The matter has been continued to Jan. 23
Faavae Papatu's defense...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “An oversupply of crude oil and a weak demand is causing a drop in the wholesale price of fuel,” declared Sione Kava, the petroleum officer with ASG's Office of Petroleum Management in releasing yesterday the new maximum allowable price (MAP) or wholesale price,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate now has its full membership of 18 senators, after traditional leader Logoai Siaki Logoai was sworn-in for Manu'a #1 by Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr., yesterday morning.
The ceremony was held during a Senate meeting led by Senate President Gaoteote Tofau...

![Hawaiki Submarine Cable System route. The small line branching off the main cable route is the American Samoa branching unit. [SN file photo] Hawaiki Submarine Cable System route.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hawaiki-cable-system-map_9.25.2017-1_0.jpg?itok=KYWHPQHM)


![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo] Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov._lolo-headshot_7.jpg?itok=l-NEzqlY)
![Koneferenisi Purcell, the only student from Am. Samoa named as a semifinalist in the 2019 Pacific Symposium for Science and Sustainability (PS3). [photo: BC] Koneferenisi Purcell](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/kone_purcell.jpg?itok=envzsjLv)
![[l-r] Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, and Chief Justice Michael Kruse, at the start of Monday’s official opening of the 36th Legislature — a joint Fono session at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium. [photo: FS] [l-r] Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, and Chief Justice Michael Kruse,](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono_opening_1874_0.jpg?itok=e5aZUGh2)
![[l-r] Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, and Chief Justice Michael Kruse, at the start of yesterday’s official opening of the 36th Legislature — a joint Fono session at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium. [photo: FS] [l-r] Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, and Chief Justice Michael Kruse](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono_opening_1874.jpg?itok=cACuKJDc)


![Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr., administered the oath of office yesterday morning for traditional leader Logoai Siaki Logoai, as the new senator for Manu’a #1, filling the seat left vacant following the death of Sen. Galeai Moaliitele Tu’ufuli last October. Logoai's swearing-in went through as planned — despite public objections voiced by ranking chiefs of Ta'u and Faleasao that Logoai was not selected according to Samoan cultural protocols of the Manu’a #1 district. [photo: FS] Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr., administers the oath of office to Logoai Siaki Logoai](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sen_logoai_1846.jpg?itok=6Va4EUfZ)