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NATIONAL PARK MOVES INTO NEW HEADQUARTERS IN PAGO PAGO

The National Park of American Samoa has relocated to their new headquarters and visitor center in the Pago Pago Harbor area. The facility now welcomes visitors at the MHJ Building (across from the Pago Way Gas Station) on the second floor.

After the earthquake and tsunami event of September 29, 2009 completely destroyed the old facility, the national park staff moved to temporary quarters in the Haleck Building in Ottoville. Following United States National Park Service emergency funding, a lease agreement, and major renovations the national park staff just moved to their new facility.

“The new location returns us to the harbor area, closer to the park, and enables us to better perform our duties of working with the villages to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources within the national park” said Mike Reynolds, Superintendent. “We are also closer to the cruise ship dock and can once again welcome cruise ship visitors to our facility,” Reynolds added.

The new headquarters will soon be home to new exhibits as well. These exhibits will help locals and visitors alike learn about the cultural and natural world of American Samoa. They will be installed this summer. The park added a classroom facility to better accommodate the environmental education needs of the students of American Samoa and a science laboratory to make available to the many scientists who study natural and cultural resources in the territory and national park.

This lab was designed to complement the scientific lab the park already operates in Ofu, Manu’a by allowing scientists to work on both islands.

Access to the building is available through the stairs from the front of the building on the first floor and via a ramp from the second floor access on the back of the building. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30am. It will be closed during weekends and Federal holidays.

For more information about visiting the National Park of American Samoa, call 633-7082, email NPSA_Info@nps.gov.

(source: National Park of American Samoa)