Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the few remaining landmark structures from the U.S. Naval Administration era in American Samoa is currently undergoing renovation as efforts continue to preserve an important piece of the territory's history. The project also includes plans to construct a fence around the building to tackle a longstanding litter problem beneath its surrounding awning. 

And, while the PNRS Board approved the proposed improvements, the debate has highlighted the enduring importance of preserving one of American Samoa's last remaining links to the U.S. Naval Administration era and ensuring that any changes made today respect its historical significance for generations to come.

THE RENOVATION PROJECT

Located in the heart of downtown Fagatogo, it was originally constructed in 1917 during the Naval Administration period as a U.S. Navy radio communications station. The facility played a vital role in maintaining communications between American Samoa and other U.S. military and government outposts across the Pacific. 

The historic building is now home to the Office of the Territorial Registrar, a division of the Department of Legal Affairs under the Attorney General's Office.

Last week, Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde appeared before a public hearing of the Project Notification and Review System (PNRS) Board to seek approval for additional improvements to be incorporated into an existing land-use permit for the project.

The Attorney General told board members that the project is being carried out in two phases. She explained that Phase One, which is already underway, focuses on renovating and restoring the interior of the historic building. Phase Two would involve improvements to the exterior, including the installation of a new roof, the addition of a gutter system, and the construction of a perimeter fence.

According to Tauiliili-Langkilde, the exterior upgrades are intended to complement the ongoing interior restoration while helping to preserve the building's long-term structural integrity. She noted that the improvements would provide greater protection from the elements, help prevent rainwater damage, and reduce future maintenance needs. 

With regard to the re-roofing component of the project, the Attorney General told board members that the existing roof is deteriorating and requires upgrading with stronger, more durable roofing materials capable of withstanding the Territory's harsh weather conditions. 

She noted that there are currently open spaces beneath the eaves that allow rain, wind, and pests, including rats and other rodents, to enter the structure. Closing these gaps, she said, would help protect the building from deterioration while improving its overall security and preservation.

Tauiliili-Langkilde also explained that the installation of a gutter system is an important component of the proposed exterior improvements because the building currently has no gutters to collect and channel rainwater. As a result, water runoff flows directly from the roof onto the surrounding area, increasing the risk of water damage over time. The proposed gutter system would redirect rainwater into the existing drainage network, helping to protect both the building and its foundation.

In explaining the proposed fence, she noted it would enhance security and assist in addressing the persistent littering problem around the property. 

The sheltered area beneath the building's surrounding awning has become a popular gathering spot for travelers arriving and departing on inter-island ferries to Manu'a and Apia, as well as those waiting to be picked up by family members or transportation providers. Officials say the persistent accumulation of trash in the area prompted the Governor's Office to include the fence as part of the building's improvement and preservation efforts.

Tauiliili-Langkilde further emphasized that the property is situated in one of the busiest and most heavily congested areas of Fagatogo. 

The building faces the main roadway into the downtown area and is flanked by the access road leading to the inter-island ferry wharf. In addition, a secondary access road runs behind the structure and is frequently used by vehicles delivering or collecting cargo, packages, and pallets of goods.

Tauiliili-Langkilde told board members that the proposed fence would help establish a clear boundary around the historic property, improve security, and protect the building from damage caused by the high volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. She added that the fence would also help preserve the site's appearance and integrity while complementing the broader restoration effort aimed at safeguarding one of the Territory's historic landmarks.

PUBLIC CONCERNS

Plans to install a perimeter fence around the building drew the strongest criticism from several members of the public, who argued that such a feature would detract from the historic character and visual appeal of the landmark. Opponents contended that enclosing the structure with a fence would make it resemble a mausoleum or secured compound, diminishing its prominence and aesthetic value in the heart of the town.

One staunch critic, Jim McGuire, a longtime resident who is currently a member of the Zoning Board, described the justification for the proposed fence as superficial and unconvincing. According to McGuire, concerns about travelers using the area beneath the building's awning as a waiting area could be addressed through simpler and more practical measures that would not compromise the building's appearance.

"The government is looking at spending a substantial amount of money on a fence that may not even solve the underlying issue," he said. "A far more practical and cost-effective solution would be for the Registrar's Office to hire a casual worker whose responsibility would be to keep the grounds and surrounding area clean and well maintained. The office could also install signs reminding people not to litter and provide adequate trash bins for public use. It's really that simple.

"Instead of spending taxpayer dollars on a fence that could detract from the appearance of one of American Samoa's historic landmarks, the government should focus on basic maintenance and public awareness. Keeping the area clean, providing proper waste disposal facilities, and ensuring regular upkeep would address the problem without compromising the beauty and historical character of the building."

McGuire, who attended the PNRS public hearing as a member of the public, argued that the historic building should remain as open and visible to the public as possible. He said that, as one of the few surviving structures from the U.S. Naval Administration era, it should not be surrounded by barriers that could diminish public access to and appreciation of an important part of American Samoa's history.

When PNRS Board Chairman Tino Ma'o gave members of the public and the media the opportunity to ask questions about the proposed project, McGuire asked the attorney general whether the proposal should be referred first to the Zoning Board for consideration, arguing that the PNRS Board's primary focus is environmental and land-use matters. 

He also noted that the board's eight members are government representatives and questioned whether there had been sufficient public input on a proposal affecting one of the Territory's most significant historic landmarks.

"As I mentioned, that building has been there since 1917," the AG responded. "It was there first. If anything, anything new around it needs to go to the Zoning Board. That building was the first on the block, so to speak."

McGuire also argued that the Office of the Territorial Registrar should be relocated to a safer location on higher ground, away from areas vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall or natural disasters such as tsunamis. He pointed out that the building was flooded during the last tsunami, damaging priceless legal documents kept there. He said it has never been disclosed how much it cost the government to send the water-damaged files off-island to be dry-frozen in an attempt to save the ink.

"The Office of the Territorial Registrar is entrusted with preserving some of the Territory's most important historical and legal records, so it should be housed in a facility that offers greater protection from natural hazards," he said. "A more suitable location would be the Lumana'i Building directly across the street."

Responding to this suggestion, AG Tauiliili-Langkilde pointed out that the Lumana'i Building is "privately, semi-autonomously owned" by the American Samoa Development Bank.

"So if we move the Territorial Registrar's Office to the Lumana'i Building, people like you who have used that building since 1975 and me, who have used it since 1993, will have to pay more fees for the use of that building because it's not going to be free," the attorney general explained.

In an interview with McGuire after the hearing, he admitted that he forgot to point out to AG Tauiliili-Langkilde that the Lumana'i Building is owned by a government entity, so it should be possible to negotiate a reduced rental rate in recognition of the vital public service provided by the Registrar's Office. 

"Unlike other government agencies, it is not a major revenue-generating office, yet it is responsible for safeguarding records that are of immense historical, legal, and cultural importance to the Territory," McGuire argued. "Those records deserve to be protected in a location that is secure, accessible, and better equipped to withstand natural disasters.

"The ideal government agency to occupy the building is the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, which is currently leasing office space in Tedi's Building," he said. "Given its location along the main road and adjacent to the Main Wharf, this historic structure would serve as a perfect home for the Visitors Bureau."

He argued that the building's strategic location makes it a natural point of contact for tourists arriving by sea, particularly during cruise ship visits.

"When a cruise ship is in port, passengers typically disembark and walk directly into town. The first place many of them would look for information, directions, and visitor services is the Visitors Bureau," he explained. "Having the bureau located in this historic building would not only provide greater visibility and accessibility for visitors, but it would also breathe new life into the structure and give it a purpose that complements its historical significance."

According to McGuire, converting the building into a tourism information center would create a more welcoming gateway to the Territory while preserving public access to one of American Samoa's most recognizable historic landmarks.

"Instead of fencing it off and limiting its interaction with the public, the building could become a showcase for American Samoa's culture, history, and tourism attractions," he said. "It would be a fitting use for such a prominent and historic property, while the Territorial Registrar's Office could be relocated to a safer and more secure facility better suited for protecting important government records.

"After welcoming visitors to the Territory, the Visitors Bureau staff could share the history of American Samoa as an unincorporated territory of the United States and explain how it was initially administered by the U.S. Navy," he said. "They could then tell the story of the building itself and the important role it played in maintaining communications between American Samoa and other U.S. military and government outposts throughout the Pacific."

He noted that the building's historical significance extends beyond its architectural value and is tied directly to events that helped shape the Territory's history.

Among the stories that could be highlighted, he noted, are the building's vital function as a communications hub during the U.S. Naval Administration, its role in helping authorities respond to the 1918 influenza pandemic, and its participation in the network of radio communications used during the search for famed aviator Amelia Earhart following her disappearance in 1937.

"These are the kinds of stories that visitors would find fascinating," he continued. "They highlight the important role this building and the communications network associated with it played in the history of American Samoa and the wider Pacific. Preserving that history and sharing it with visitors would be a far more meaningful use of the building than simply surrounding it with a fence."

McGuire concluded by urging government officials to postpone any decision on the proposed perimeter fence until a broader public discussion can be held. 

He suggested that representatives from the Historic Preservation Office, Port Administration, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, the Arts Council, preservation organizations, and the public should have an opportunity to weigh in on the long-term future of the historic property before permanent changes are made.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 

Samoa News reached out to Tish Peau, Territorial Archaeologist with the Historic Preservation Office (HPO), to explain why she supported the Department of Legal Affairs' request to construct a perimeter fence around the historic building.

According to Peau, her office approved the request because the proposed fence would be a temporary measure until funding becomes available for a future project to raise the building to street level. She explained that when the structure was originally built, it sat at the same grade as the surrounding area. Over time, however, roadwork, development, and natural changes in the landscape caused the surrounding ground level to rise, leaving the building lower than its surroundings and more vulnerable to litter and drainage problems.

Peau said the temporary fence, combined with the proposed roof replacement and gutter installation, would help protect the historic structure from the elements and address the longstanding litter problem while longer-term preservation plans are developed.

McGuire, however, strongly disagreed with the proposal to elevate the building in the future.

"I think the idea of raising this historic building three or four feet off the ground is unrealistic," he said. "In more than 20 years of real estate appraisal experience in American Samoa and California, I have never seen a historic concrete-foundation building lifted that far. The only practical way to do it would be to dismantle the structure and reconstruct it on a higher foundation in its original form, and that would be extremely expensive."