Local News
![Congresswoman Amata and other members of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. [photo: courtesy]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata%20and%20Indian%20Affairs%20committee.jpg?itok=2oW8LaIv "Congresswoman Amata and other members of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. [photo: courtesy]")
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata and the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs examined two legislative solutions to localized concerns, one in Alaska and one on Native American lands throughout the country.
“Much like American Samoa, other Insular...
![[courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Bluesky.jpg?itok=X9Bt7trm "[courtesy photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Bluesky management team invited Special Olympics Amerika Samoa committee chairperson Tafaimamao Tupuola, as well as athletes Sina Falaniko and Hanipale, to accept a $1,000 cash donation at the Bluesky main office.
The money will assist athletes representing American...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_114.jpeg?itok=_dAxczO_ "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea has ordered the sponsor of a man from Samoa who was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend to come forward and fulfill his responsibility under ASG Immigration laws, by paying the defendant’s return airfare to Samoa and restitution...
![FEMA’s William “Billy” Penn, who lives in Texas is the author of this Op-Ed. He is seen in this photo drinking a cold ‘niu’. He has worked on countless disasters as an external affairs specialist throughout the United States and Alaska. This was his first trip to American Samoa for Tropical Storm Gita. [photo: FEMA]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Billy%20Penn%20OpEd.jpg?itok=MXBi2tw1 "FEMA’s William “Billy” Penn, who lives in Texas is the author of this Op-Ed. He is seen in this photo drinking a cold ‘niu’. He has worked on countless disasters as an external affairs specialist throughout the United States and Alaska. This was his first trip to American Samoa for Tropical Storm Gita. [photo: FEMA]")
MANU’A ISLANDS, American Samoa — What a pleasant surprise for a country boy from Texas to step into this island paradise. It hurt to see so many homes damaged and property destroyed but the people we saw seemed happy. Where were the ones who had lost so much?
FEMA came to help. With excellent...
![[courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Talofa%20Air%20reply%20%28long%20cap%29.jpg?itok=pJOpLR1z "[courtesy photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This photo taken earlier this week shows a Talofa Airways aircraft with two firefighters in the rear at Faleolo International Airport. The airline’s chief executive officer, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter has dismissed any claims that one of the plane’s engines had problems or...
![A look at the winning entry for the 2018 Malofie Congressional Art Competition, entitled "My Traditional Wear", submitted by Katie Godinet of Samoana High School. Amata and her staff, in partnership with the AS Dept. of Education and the SOFIAS, judged submissions earlier this month. [photo: courtesy]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Art%20winning%20entry%202018.jpg?itok=omzKMMhq "A look at the winning entry for the 2018 Malofie Congressional Art Competition, entitled \"My Traditional Wear\", submitted by Katie Godinet of Samoana High School. Amata and her staff, in partnership with the AS Dept. of Education and the SOFIAS, judged submissions earlier this month. [photo: courtesy]")
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced the winners of the Malofie Congressional Art Competition. This year’s first place winner is Samoana High School’s Katie Godinet with her artwork entitled “My Traditional Wear.” The second place winner is Da In Myung of South Pacific Academy...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 55-year-old man from Leloaloa was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Nu’uuli after allegedly raping and molesting a 10-year-old girl several times. According to court documents, the man is alleged to have given the girl money each time after the alleged sexual encounters...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Am-Samoa-Fagatogo_Dock_0.jpg?itok=gTBmZjgs "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Four fishermen who spent hours huddling together on their capsized boat off the coast of American Samoa have been rescued.
Large swells overturned the 33 foot fishing vessel at three o'clock on Wednesday morning.
At daybreak, one of the men swam under the boat and...
![Deputy Treasurer for Revenue, Keith Gebauer [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Keith%20Gebauer.jpg?itok=iV9Qigw7 "Deputy Treasurer for Revenue, Keith Gebauer [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The new miscellaneous excise tax — increased from 5% to 8% — as well as changes to the way import beer is taxed, became effective Tuesday this week, after the Fono approved the bill earlier this year.
In a Feb. 27th memo to freight forwarders, importers, and shipping...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_110.jpeg?itok=KZxNThtk "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of assaulting his girlfriend is facing three counts of third degree assault and one count of public peace disturbance — all misdemeanors.
Besides allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Aveia Levasa is also accused of assaulting a cousin who was trying to...