Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Dr. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, the former Executive Director of the American Samoa Resilience Office, has publicly criticized the termination of her contract last month. 

Her last day in office was January 22, 2026, as stated in a letter delivered to her home, which indicated that her termination was effective immediately. The letter cited a review of administrative, operational, and management issues, noting that her roles, expectations, and responsibilities had not been fully met. 

In a post on her Facebook page, Suluai-Mahuka mentioned that she had initially planned to accept the loss quietly and move on.“But in a small place, the coconut wireless moves fast. People started approaching me in public, asking questions I hadn’t planned to answer.” 

However after receiving a call from the media, she realized staying silent wasn’t actually an option.

“There are, of course, more reasons being shared about my removal. It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow. I won’t pretend that being treated poorly didn’t hurt, or that I wasn’t naive to think professionalism would be upheld throughout. “But with time and reflection, I’ve come to terms with this: none of my decisions were illegal, none were unethical, and none went against my values. That matters. “I can sleep at night knowing I acted honestly and with integrity,” said Suluai-Mahuka. 

Furthermore she noted that while she doesnʻt agree with the decision, she remains respectful, as that’s how she was raised, and that’s the standard she holds herself to, even when it’s hard.” 

According to Suluai-Mahuka, during her tenure in office, she achieved substantial progress in a relatively short timeframe with limited resources. She hopes that some of the positive outcomes from her initiatives will continue to benefit the constituents they were designed to serve.

Suluai-Mahuka told local media that she sought an opportunity to meet with the Governor to discuss her circumstances and offered to assist with the transition by providing relevant files and reports; however, she did not receive any response.

Throughout her term, Dr. Suluai-Mahuka reported receiving inquiries regarding personnel and management decisions. Additionally, she was required to submit biweekly reports detailing office activities, a stipulation that she noted was never formally outlined in writing.

Regarding the specific issues related to her termination, she clarified that one employee resigned voluntarily to pursue further education and that she later faced criticism for not allowing him to remain a full-time employee. 

Another employee was separated following the discontinuation of a federal grant; she maintained that this decision was subsequently challenged, even though the employee was offered the next available position. 

Moreover, she highlighted that she was required to submit invoices for prior approval in a manner that appeared to lack uniform application among other executive directors. These invoices were submitted in accordance with the protocol recommended by the office manager, yet she was later held accountable when a vendor was selected.

While recognizing that directors serve at the Governor's pleasure, Dr. Suluai-Mahuka expressed disagreement with the rationale presented for her dismissal. She reiterated her request for an exit interview and her willingness to facilitate a smooth transition for her successor. Throughout this process, she sought to maintain a high level of professionalism and respect; unfortunately she said, she was not afforded the opportunity to conduct an exit interview.