Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a Feb. 11th letter to all shipping agents, Port Administration’s Harbor Master, Silila F. Patane, announced new protocols and requirements for all incoming vessels, also making it clear that the “American Samoa Government’s only legal sea port of entry is the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A hearing was held last week Friday before the House Human and Social Services Committee in response to concerns from faipule about the alarming rise in suicide — especially among youth — in the territory.
The hearing was chaired by Swains Island faipule, Su’a Alexander...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ALL public schools are once again closed for Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 — today — due to impending weather conditions, according to the DOE Director. All school staff and faculty are to report to work as usual.
The South Pacific Academy has also announced it will be closed...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — AST Telecom, d/b/a Bluesky Communications, along with senior company executives are named as defendants in a $20 million lawsuit filed earlier this month at the federal court in Honolulu in which the locally-based telecom provider is accused of violating US Federal...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 66-year-old man from Vatia accused of sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl is asking the court to set his case for trial.
To protect the identity of the victim, Samoa News is withholding the name of the defendant.
The defendant, who has been in custody since his arrest,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite a lot of criticism before his confirmation hearing, the House of Representatives has given the green light to Muavaefaatasi John Suisala to serve in the Lemanu and Talauega cabinet after they approved his nomination as Director of the Department of Human and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Before the Director for the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo was approved by the House of Representatives last week, several faipule told her that the changes she had already made within the department affected some of the department’s longest...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of violating a court order when he went to his wife’s house and allegedly assaulted her while he was intoxicated was arrested two weeks ago.
To protect the identity of the victim, Samoa News is withholding the names of all parties involved.
The defendant, a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After being stranded in the US for many months due to border closure, “people lost hope” but the first repatriation flight on Feb. 1st “brings so much, not only to our family here but our people who are stranded, that there is hope, that our governor is bringing us home...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — From the Director of Education Dr. Samasoni Asaeli, ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED today for safety and security reasons. This is due to the severe changes in the weather. All school Administrators and staff (teachers) please contact your respective schools for more...


![Government officials appeared before the House Human and Social Services committee last week to discuss the issue of suicide in the territory. [photo by AF] Government officials before the House Human and Social Services committee](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/suicide_hearing_0900.jpg?itok=bhYHe5-_)
![[Nat'l Weather Service Pago Pago graphic] Nat'l Weather Service Pago Pago graphic](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tues_weather_graphic.jpg?itok=qwDCAtP8)
![This screen shot shows one of the several photos, compiled and embedded in court documents by local plaintiffs in their lawsuit against AST Telecom d.b.a Bluesky Communications. Plaintiffs allege AST Telecom violated FCC laws by hanging and attaching communication wires to plaintiffs’ trees on their land in Alega village. [screen shot from plaintiffs’ filing] Cable wires in trees at Alega](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/bluesky_wires_copy.png?itok=6ycVRgRW)
![American Samoa High Court building [SN file photo] American Samoa High Court building](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/high_court_116.jpg?itok=ROEh3-Iz)
![Representatives getting ready for a House Session last week. [l-r] Reps. Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, Vaioata E. Amituana’I, Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau, Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase, Manumaua Wayne Wilson and Lua’itaua Gene Pan. [photo by AF] [l-r] Reps. Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, Vaioata E. Amituana’I, Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau, Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase, Manumaua Wayne Wilson and Lua’itaua Gene Pan.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/faipule_0945.jpg?itok=Ero5ynbo)
![Faipule Ape Mike Asifoa asked Pulou Alaimalo to explain why the governor ordered the roll back for the government workforce and Pulou Alaimalo explained that the roll back was made because of violations of the law. [SN file photo] Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hr_head_pulou_0152.jpg?itok=EkqGzBnU)

![Seen in this photo taken last Friday morning after the TTFAAS “Thank You” Wave along the main road at Utulei are (center) Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga — and First Lady Ella, who was among the repat-passengers, and local members of the Tagata Tutu Fa’atasi Alliance of American Samoa (TTFAAS) as well as some of the other 159 repatriated passengers who returned home on the first-repatriation flight from the US on Feb. 1st. [courtesy photo] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga — and First Lady Ella at Thank You wave](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_and_ttfaas.jpg?itok=YTCzVo3z)
