Regional
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — (December 5, 2025 with last update: December 8, 2025) As a key partner, UNESCO supports this important gathering of more than 200 historians, artists, curators, educators, students, community leaders, and policymakers from across the region—reinforcing the Organization’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — StarKist Samoa canneries’ initiative to build two new housing facilities to provide accommodations for Samoa’s guests workers working at the cannery is applauded and highly commended by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.
StarKist Samoa, is...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A leaked 19-page Government Media Protocol obtained and verified by the Samoa Observer outlines sweeping new restrictions on how journalists may question the country’s leaders.
The document begins with a requirement that all media submit their questions a full day before...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is commemorating National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day for this year’s 83rd anniversary, and released the following statement:
“This year, December 7th is once again on Sunday. While there was war in much of the world, it was a peaceful and lovely...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An award winning Tongan short film could possibly be up for an Oscar nomination. 'Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue' premiered last year and has been shown at 20 international film festivals around the world.
Out of 17,000 films submitted to the prestigious Sundance Film...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa's Prime Minister had an achilles tendon operation during his two-month absence in Aotearoa, according to the Samoan High Commission.
The country's High Commissioner to New Zealand Afamasaga Fa'amatalaupu Toleafoa said that he flew from Wellington to Auckland to...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A Samoan news anchor has won an Emmy for her coverage of the 2023 wildfires that broke out on Maui in Hawai'i.
In August 2023, the wildfires engulfed Maui Island, destroying the town of Lahaina and killing up to 102 people.
Tamara Vaifanua, who spoke to Pacific Waves has...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa will host the next round of the Atoa Samoa talks in 2026, according to a press release issued by the Samoa government. A tentative date for the inter-government meeting is scheduled for early March.
American Samoa Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula and Samoa’s Prime...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In part two of this exclusive interview following the press conference held by Punialava‘a, one of Samoa’s most iconic family bands who were in the territory to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, Executive Director of the Samoan Language Commission...
Apia, SAMOA — (November 24, 2025) More than 60 youth participants from Savaii communities gathered at the Jet Over Hotel last week Friday for a ‘Talanoa session’ on mental health. SVSG Youth led the outreach program for young people in Samoa, and last week’s Savaii Talanoa session was the second...

![Artwork presented at the Tafesilafa‘i Exhibition. [photo: ©UNESCO] Tafesilafa‘i Exhibition](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/2121.jpg?itok=9Ry1ggiU)



![Lea Tupu'anga Mother Tongue's writer and lead actor Luciane Buchanan (second from left) and director Vea Mafile'o (far right) [Photo: Vea Mafile’o] Lea Tupu'anga, Luciane Buchanan and others](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/7733_n_jpg_copy.jpg?itok=HfrIYGqy)
![La'aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Schmidt [Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii] SAMOA PM](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_pm_schmidt.jpeg?itok=f6vDD9qH)
![U.S based Samoan news anchor, Tamara Vaifanua has won an Emmy award for her coverage of the Maui wildfires. [Photo: supplied ] Tamara Vaifanua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tamara_vaifanua_.jpeg?itok=WXe5dJ33)
![Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt meeting with the American Samoa Governor, Pulalii Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula in Cabinet Room in Sept. where they talked of holding Atoa Samoa talks in 2026. [photo: Samoa Government] Samoa PM and American Samoa Governor](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_and_pm.jpg?itok=ghxVGbol)
![Two local fans of Punialava'a (center) pose proudly with the group after the press conference held at the DDW Restaurant last week Monday. [courtesy photo] Punialava'a with local fans](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/punialavaa2_0.jpg?itok=cSYjM49G)
![This ‘Talanoa’ not only brought young people together and created safe spaces for them to discuss their social challenges and reflect on effective strategies, but also allowed them to explore ways to help their families and communities. [photo supplied] Samoa Support Group](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_support_systems.jpeg?itok=61s16Q_y)