Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 5 people who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 at the American Samoa Government Quarantine facility in Honolulu and were moved to the Hawaii Quarantine Center may be put back into the ASG Quarantine if their ‘retest’ proves the original tests were false...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Allegations of “bullying and intimidating of current” Human Resources Department employees by the new DHR leadership appointed by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga, are outlined in a draft letter to the governor.
The draft letter from “ASG Career Service affected...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Local attorney Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Ala’ilima-Utu is American Samoa’s new Attorney General, under the Lemanu Administration, after being confirmed Wednesday by the House of Representatives in an 18-0 vote and endorsed yesterday by the Senate in a unanimous vote — also...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation is now charged for violating local drug laws.
Shane Taupau made his initial appearance in District Court last week. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, an unclassified felony...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Catherine Saelua is now serving her third consecutive term as head of the American Samoa Government (ASG) Budget Office, a position she held for the 8 years of the Lolo-Lemanu Administration — after her nomination was approved by the Fono this week.
The House approved...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 40-year-old man convicted of assaulting another man by stabbing his neck with a knife and punching him in the face multiple times is going to jail.
Tafito Matini, who has been in custody since his arrest last year, unable to post a $15,000 surety bond, has been ordered...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate Government Operations Committee, chaired by Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono has been tasked with communicating with the Department of Public Works to find out the status of the new Fono building — as seen in this Samoa News photo taken Wednesday this week.
Status...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Health Department’s acting director Motusa Tuileama Nua told senators yesterday that the first repatriation flight bringing more than 100 residents has been moved to Feb. 1st, from the original date of Jan. 29th.
Motusa made the revelation when he appeared yesterday...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a brief news release early yesterday afternoon, the Fono confirmed that ASG Treasurer, Malemo Tausaga announced that the US Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have approved American Samoa's implementation plan for the disbursement and distribution...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Complaints have reached several senators about director-nominees — including the acting Human Resources director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo — that upon being appointed as acting directors for ASG offices and departments, they brought in their own deputy directors and new...

![The White Sands Hotel in Waikiki where the American Samoa residents are being housed during quarantine. [screenshot from HNN video] White Sands Hotel](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/white_sands_hotel.jpg?itok=-885gZTD)
![Allegations of problems with Pulou-Alaimalo were raised by some senators during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday before she was confirmed. Confirmation is pending in the House. [SN file photo] DHR director-nominee Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dhr_director_nominee_cropped.jpg?itok=GAclRenv)
![American Samoa’s new Attorney General, local attorney Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Ala’ilima-Utu, shaking hands with senators after his confirmation hearing yesterday morning. He was later unanimously confirmed by the Senate while the House approval was made on Wednesday. [photo: FS] Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Ala’ilima-Utu](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/attorney_gen_falefatu.jpg?itok=msbkwVt1)

![Budget Director Catherine Saelua during her confirmation hearing before the House Budget and Appropriations Committee this week. [photo by AF] Budget Director Catherine Saelua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/budget_director_catherine_saelua_0381.jpg?itok=3HXCizEy)
![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_104.jpg?itok=Fl7UHNaZ)
![Progress of work the new fono building. [photo: FS] fono building site](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono_bldg_stat.jpg?itok=qA6K1AtG)
![Health Department acting director Motusa Tuileama Nua shakes hands with senators after his confirmation hearing yesterday morning. He was later confirmed by the Senate while the House hearing and vote is pending. [photo: FS] Motusa Tuileama Nua shakes hands with a senator](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/doh_director_0.jpg?itok=7TWTSYjG)

![Human Resources director-nominee Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo shakes hands with senators following her confirmation hearing before a Senate committee. [photo: FS] Human Resources director-nominee Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dhr_director_nominee.jpg?itok=SRCYiZ8I)