![Nine contestants vied for the crown in the 2017 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, with Miss American Samoa (center) winning on Saturday, December 09, 2017 in Nadi, Fiji, ‘in the place where happiness finds you’. [photo: Samoa Events Incorporated (SEI)]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/group.jpg?itok=-T9ecEtR "Nine contestants vied for the crown in the 2017 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, with Miss American Samoa (center) winning on Saturday, December 09, 2017 in Nadi, Fiji, ‘in the place where happiness finds you’. [photo: Samoa Events Incorporated (SEI)]")
![Miss American Samoa, Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai won the Miss Pacific Islands crown for the territory last Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 in Nadi, Fiji ending a 15-year drought. [photo: Samoa Events Incorporated (SEI)]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/winner.jpg?itok=ZVyFCmHE "Miss American Samoa, Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai won the Miss Pacific Islands crown for the territory last Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 in Nadi, Fiji ending a 15-year drought. [photo: Samoa Events Incorporated (SEI)]")
![CONGRATULATIONS: The newly crowned Miss Pacific Islands, Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai of American Samoa at the finale of the 31st Miss Pacific Islands Pageant at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, Fiji. [photo: Miss South Pacific Islands Facebook]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Miss%20Pac%20Am%20Sam%20web_0.jpg?itok=X_ORRNEY "CONGRATULATIONS: The newly crowned Miss Pacific Islands, Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai of American Samoa at the finale of the 31st Miss Pacific Islands Pageant at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, Fiji. [photo: Miss South Pacific Islands Facebook]")
![This Jennings family historical photo provided by Rep. Su’a Alexander E. Jennings, shows a group of Swains islanders in May 1925 on Swains, as the atoll officially became part of American Samoa, following Congressional action. [photo: Jennings family]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Swains%201925%20copy.jpg?itok=QkwQ5hoV "This Jennings family historical photo provided by Rep. Su’a Alexander E. Jennings, shows a group of Swains islanders in May 1925 on Swains, as the atoll officially became part of American Samoa, following Congressional action. [photo: Jennings family]")
![[l-r] US Interior Department staff assistant Joseph McDermott; DOI Office of Insular Affairs director Nikolao Pulal; Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, Douglas Domenech; and American Samoa House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings at the DOI office in Washington D.C. on Nov. 17 where Su’a update DOI officials of the breadfruit development initiative in the territory. The DOI officials are holding packages of gluten free breadfruit flour, manufactured in the territory](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DOI%20meeting-1.jpg?itok=3ePokD3h "[l-r] US Interior Department staff assistant Joseph McDermott; DOI Office of Insular Affairs director Nikolao Pulal; Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, Douglas Domenech; and American Samoa House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings at the DOI office in Washington D.C. on Nov. 17 where Su’a update DOI officials of the breadfruit development initiative in the territory. The DOI officials are holding packages of gluten free breadfruit flour, manufactured in the territory by Su’a’s milling operation. [photo: DOI]")
![Amata speaking in the Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing on revitalizing the Interior Department’s services. [Courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata%20speaking%20at%20NRC%20oversight%20on%20DOI.jpg?itok=NE8CLkXC "Amata speaking in the Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing on revitalizing the Interior Department’s services. [Courtesy photo]")
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dengue-fever-prevention-us%20copy_0.jpg?itok=cw9HlLN8 "[SN file photo]")
Samoa's Ministry of Health is rejecting a call for schools to be closed because of an outbreak of dengue fever.
LHS Interact Club
Sun, 12/10/2017 - 5:32am
On Saturday, The Rotary Club Of Pago Pago hosted Leone High School’s Interact Club for a community service work day at the Pala Lagoon Swimming Center in Lion’s Park. Interact is supervised by Rot
![[photo: FS]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amsterdam_0563.jpg?itok=ZyMQFMYO "[photo: FS]")