Archive - 2011

The Asi Leulua’iali’i family of Moata’a will never forget this Christmas season.
Last Saturday, the family blessed 24 new matai (chiefs) to serve the family, church and the village.

The titles bestowed included Aemalo, Fogogafa, Falepauga, Taliauala, Toafaiga, Mua’avasa, Fanuasa and Pugalilo.

Rev Dr Taipisia Leilua of the Moata’a Congregation Christian Church of Samoa blessed the new titleholders during a special ceremony on Friday night.

Collecting empty Coke bottles and selling them to the local dairy as a boy is what sparked one businessman's passion for entrepreneurship.

Today Ulu Aiono is a millionaire, having founded successful software technologies company Cogita in 1983. The 57-year-old has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business.

Born in Samoa's capital, Apia, his parents and siblings travelled to New Zealand in 1960 in search of opportunity and set up home in Epsom.

That's where the entrepreneur in him was born, Aiono said.

The American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) will be holding a big swim event called ‘Swim A Mile To Save A Life’ (Auau Le Maila Ia Sefe Ai Le Ola) tomorrow morning starting at 9:00 a.m. at Utulei Beach park with members of the ASAA making a one mile swim.

SENE HUDSON

The High Court yesterday sentenced drug defendant Sene Hudson to three years imprisonment, suspended — and he was placed on three years probation under several conditions, including that he pays a $2,000 fine with half of the amount to be paid in 90 days.

Associate Justice Lyle Richmond, who was flanked on the bench by Associate Judge Mamea Sala, said the $1,000 is in addition to the same amount Hudson’s wife was ordered to pay when she was sentenced more than a week ago for a similar charge.

Two defendants who have been incarcerated for less than a year while their separate cases were going through the court system, were released yesterday just in time to spend the New Year with their families after the High Court yesterday handed down sentencing that didn’t require them to spend any more time at the Territorial Correctional Facility.

Both cases were presided over by Associate Justice Lyle Richmond, who was flanked at the bench by Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr.

MIKAELE AULAUMEA

Indonesia is exploring trade, educational and cultural relations with American Samoa.

Officials from the Indonesian embassy in Washington D.C. recently spent time in the territory.

First secretaries Cahyo Muzhar and Rizal Wirakara met the governor Togiola Tulafono, and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, David Robinson.

Mr Muzhar says he hopes it will be the beginning of a healthy relationship extending over a number of areas.

HONOLULU – The search for a mariner missing on a voyage between Kauai and Oahu was suspended at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday pending any further developments.

The Coast Guard’s search area covered more than 209,000 square miles over a 54-hour period. Aircrews piloting an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point and two Navy P-3 Orion airplane crews from Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, assisted in the search.

The King of Tonga, George Tupou the 5th, wants to establish a private university in Tonga, focussing on renewable energy and the environment.

Matangi Tonga reports the king envisages a university enrolling up to 320 students each year.

He is seeking funding from private foundations, but is also anticipating backing from the US State Department.

It’s thought the university project might be supported by the U.S. military in return for Tonga’s participation in US military operations abroad.

A number of New Zealanders with close links to the Pacific have been recognised among this years New Years Honours recipients.

They include Eseta Fifita Finau and Professor Tony Angelo, who have been made Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Eseta Finau is President of the Tongan Nurses Association of New Zealand and has spent much of her life improving nursing services for Pacific people.

Tony Angelo is a Law Professor at Victoria University in Wellington and has provided legal services to a number of small Pacific states.

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Hundreds of Sunni Muslims gathered in Baghdad Friday to celebrate the withdrawal of American forces, but in a sign of the sectarian divisions that re-emerged immediately after their departure, Shiite Muslims did not join the event.

The celebration took place near the Abu Hanifa mosque, the main house of worship in the primarily Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad. To secure the event, Iraqi troops blocked traffic on roads leading to the mosque and searched people approaching the area.