Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tafuna High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) marked a significant milestone with its annual Change of Command Ceremony. Cadet Colonel Olefa Fepuleai handed over leadership to Cadet Colonel Ladenia Lavata'i. This ceremony symbolizes the transition...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On the heels of American Samoa being granted observer status at the Micronesian Island Forum, the U.S. government has agreed to allow U.S. territories to join the Pacific Islands Forum as non-voting associate members, modifying an old policy that previously barred their...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 22 members of the Kanana Fou High School Class of 2024, home of the Stallions, received inspiring and empowering advice from Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga in their Commencement Ceremony yesterday morning.
The ceremony held at the school gymnasium started with the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa delegation for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture is in Honolulu for the event that brings together artists, performers, and cultural ambassadors from across the Pacific region to celebrate and promote the rich cultural heritage of the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Pacific Horizons School's robot entry was accepted and invited to compete at the 2024 MATE ROV World Championship.
The 2024 MATE ROV World Championship event will consist of 82 teams from 17 different countries who will be converging in Kingsport, Tennessee on June 20-...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Commercial flights from Nouméa's international airport have resumed on Wednesday on a limited basis.
The Nouméa-La Tontouta International Airport had been closed to the public since violent and destructive riots broke out in New Caledonia on May 13.
This was mainly due...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and honors the heroic life and sacrifice of Henry Saaga, who took part in storming Omaha Beach.
The D-Day “Operation Overlord” of June 6, 1944, was a tremendous risk by Allied leadership, and took...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa’s participation in the 26th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) taking place this week in Guam, marks a pivotal step towards enhancing regional cooperation and unity among Pacific Island nations, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to address...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Social media is buzzing that just a few months after McDonald’s announced that it would start getting rid of self-serve drink station, thirsty customers are beginning to notice that the perk is fast disappearing from restaurants.
As if this wasn't already a major blow,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he wants New Zealand to be a partner of choice in the Pacific, as other countries make moves in the region.
Christopher Luxon is in Niue ahead of bilateral talks with Premier Dalton Tagalagi, and to celebrate 50 years of...

![The Tafuna High School Change of Command ceremony symbolizes the transition of leadership and celebrates the achievements under Cadet Colonel Fepuleai’s command, while welcoming the new leadership of Cadet Colonel Ladenia Lavata’i. [courtesy photo] The Tafuna High School Change of Command ceremony](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/img_0531_1.jpg?itok=S-P1TwBg)

![Twenty-two graduated from Kanana Fou High School, yesterday morning, June 6, 2024. [photo: AF] Kanana Fou High School 2024 grads](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/kanana_fou_2024_grads.jpg?itok=IG3HyqGu)

![Pacific Horizons School's Navitechers Jiawei Zou testing PHS's underwater robot as Daniel Lee looks on at the Pala Lagoon Community Pool. For the first time American Samoa will be participating in the the 2024 MATE ROV World Championship event, represented by the PHS team. The event is set for June 20- 22, 2024, in Kingsport, Tennessee. [Courtesy photo] Pacific Horizons School's Navitechers](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/_pool_test.jpg?itok=ruOhgSs2)
![AirCalin resumes only a limited number of international flights in what the airline terms as a "light" and "modified" schedule starting from June 5. [RNZ Pacific] AirCalin plane](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/aircalin_copy.jpg?itok=s6F5Ehp8)
![Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata using wet sand from the beach to highlight Henry Saaga's name on the Wall of the Missing in France, the only permissible use for the protected sand on Omaha Beach. [courtesy photo] Amata using wet sand from the beach to highlight Henry Saaga's name](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/using_wet_sand.jpg?itok=0d2T7tRp)

![Some McDonald's locations are now ditching free refills altogether. [photo: Restaurant Business Magazine] self serve drink stand](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/mcdonalds_self-serve_beverage_shutterstock.jpg?itok=NzkvQsGR)
![Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was special to make Niue the first Pacific Island nation he has visited since taking office, since Niue’s citizens are NZ citizens, and New Zealand provides it with aid when asked [photo: RNZ/Giles Dexter] Prime Minister Christopher Luxon](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pm_luxon_copy.jpg?itok=IxbOdmid)