Local News
![Smugglers beware! Treasury Department's Customs Division has a new trio of "super sniffers" on the prowl. The four-legged agents are the newest members of the Customs K9 unit, which monitors the territory's points of entry. Prior to the trio's arrival last month, Customs only had a set of 4 drug-sniffing dogs. But now they have Kely, specializing in sniffing out firearms; Kinga, trained to detect explosives; and Ruca, a golden retriever trained to sniff out illegal drugs. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/k9_group.jpg?itok=axaKWKnz "Smugglers beware! Treasury Department's Customs Division has a new trio of \"super sniffers\" on the prowl. The four-legged agents are the newest members of the Customs K9 unit, which monitors the territory's points of entry. Prior to the trio's arrival last month, Customs only had a set of 4 drug-sniffing dogs. But now they have Kely, specializing in sniffing out firearms; Kinga, trained to detect explosives; and Ruca, a golden retriever trained to sniff out illegal drugs. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Customs Division of the Treasury Department is going through some changes that onlookers are describing as "positive" and a "sign of more great things to come."
Over the past two months, the two highest positions at Customs have been filled — one by someone from...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/govlolo_0766_0.jpg?itok=rKAQCPGz "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has requested ASG entities to assist their employees who work part time for Hawaiian Airlines with their work schedule as the airline has temporarily retimed flights in and out of Pago Pago to Tuesday and Friday mornings.
The change in Hawaiian'...
![Bruckner Chase during a visit to American Samoa in Sept. 2017. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/chase_nuts.jpg?itok=SwGvvL2i "Bruckner Chase during a visit to American Samoa in Sept. 2017. [SN file photo]")
Ocean City, NJ & Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Professional Ocean Athlete and Ambassador for Oceans and Coasts, Bruckner Chase - Uila o le Sami, who swam from Aunu’u to Pago Pago in 2011 is returning to American Samoa May 11 prior to the summer release of an innovative new NOAA National Weather...
![Organizer Doris Tulifau (right) celebrates after the conclusion of a successful Poetry Slam at ASCC in late April. Joining her are guest speaker Sala Pa’au (left) and Sina Auva’a Hudson of the ASCC Student Services Division. The Poetry Slam, which featured students from ASCC and local high schools, went by the theme “Embrace Your Voice” to empower young people to speak out about domestic and sexual violence. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ascc_poetry_slam.jpg?itok=MZyn7LjG "Organizer Doris Tulifau (right) celebrates after the conclusion of a successful Poetry Slam at ASCC in late April. Joining her are guest speaker Sala Pa’au (left) and Sina Auva’a Hudson of the ASCC Student Services Division. The Poetry Slam, which featured students from ASCC and local high schools, went by the theme “Embrace Your Voice” to empower young people to speak out about domestic and sexual violence. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Local advocacy group the Alliance for Strengthening Families, in collaboration with the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Student Services Division and Health & Human Services Department, organized a “poetry slam” in late April at the College that went by the...
![Lt. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga addressing DPS officers and personnel at the Fagatogo Malae yesterday morning during the official opening of Police Week in American Samoa. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_w-_dps_0080.jpg?itok=5v8BH8EU "Lt. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga addressing DPS officers and personnel at the Fagatogo Malae yesterday morning during the official opening of Police Week in American Samoa. [photo: AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Department of Public Safety personnel, including cops and the Fire Bureau, took part in a parade yesterday morning at the Fagatogo Malae, to mark the beginning of this year's Police Week activities.
Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Peleti Mauga was present and delivered briefs...
![Former Public Defender, Douglas Fiaui [SN file photo]]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/doug_fiaui_0432_0.jpg?itok=wmAh3ACk "Former Public Defender, Douglas Fiaui [SN file photo]]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Public Defender Douglas Fiaui has dismissed claims that he is on vacation, saying he is on leave approved by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and permitted by federal leave law. He handed in his resignation letter last week.
Samoa News had previously reported that Fiaui is...
![Ms. Fala Sualevai as the Acting CEO [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/astca_acting_ceo.jpg?itok=yp2YACOM "Ms. Fala Sualevai as the Acting CEO [courtesy photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASTCA Board Chairman Fai'ivae Iuli Alex Godinet called a special ASTCA Board meeting this past Saturday to select an acting CEO after the sudden passing of former CEO, Talking Chief Puleleiite Li'amatua Tufele, Jr.
The Board unanimously agreed to appoint Ms. Fala...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young woman who stole money from her former employer last year by forging her boss’s signature on three checks is going to jail, but will be released to attend an off island drug treatment program if it’s arranged by her family, who would also pay for it.
Twenty-three-...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Moving up the timetable, the US Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a “flight check” later this week of new antennas recently installed for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Pago Pago International Airport, says FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
And Hawaiian...
![This photo shows the front photo on the brochure for the ASG/DOC “Alia Tele - Super Alia” and what the vessel would look like when built. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/super_alia_2pix.jpg?itok=iUlrb1sr "This photo shows the front photo on the brochure for the ASG/DOC “Alia Tele - Super Alia” and what the vessel would look like when built. [photo: FS]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Commerce Department has launched promotion and a public awareness campaign for the super alia vessel, which is part of the Lolo administration’s efforts to boost local fishery development and provide new employment, while DOC is hopeful they will soon secure funding...