Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Manu'a Cession Day will be observed as a holiday in American Samoa on Thursday July 16, 2026. All government offices will be closed and normal activities will be suspended on that day.

Manu'a Cession Day commemorates the ceding of the Manu'a islands to the United States after King Tui Manu'a Elisara signed the Deed of Cession of Manu'a in 1904. It is important that we take time to reflect on the important actions taken by our forefathers and the impact those decisions have had on our lives, the governor said in a memorandum issued last Friday.

Manu’a Cession Day is a reminder that our decisions and actions taken today will reverberate in our future generations.

Employees of the American Samoa Government who are not required to perform essential services shall be excused from their duties. Employees required to perform duties on Manu'a Cession Day will receive holiday wages in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

There will be no Samoa News issue on that day.  Have a safe Manu’a Cession Day and Samoa News will publish again on Friday.