Ta'u, MANU'A ISLANDS — Manu’a Flag Day Farm Fair underway at the Manu’a High School gym is one of the events for Manu’a Cession Day, commemorating the ceding of the island group to the United States after the last King of Manu’a, Tuimanu’a Elisara signed the Deed of Cession of Manu’a in 1904.

The official Manu’a Cession Day ceremony gets underway tomorrow morning on Ta’u island, with flag raising and prayers, as well as a speech from Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga. A representative for Manu’a will also address the celebration, and there will also be a welcoming ava ceremony.

“I encourage you all to take time this weekend to celebrate the 117 years of the [Manu’a islands] union with the United States,” said Lemanu in a July 12th memorandum, which declares July 16th, Friday, Manu’a Cession Day and also a territorial government holiday.

The governor and other dignitaries are either in Manu’a already or left early this morning for the ceremony. The governor told a cabinet meeting last month that he expects all cabinet members to attend the Manu’a celebration.

A large ASG contingent, including several cabinet members, left Monday night on the MV Manu’atele, and Samoa News reporter/ photo journalist, Leua Aiono Frost, who was on board the sailing to attend the celebration said the trip encountered rough seas but everyone made it safely to Manu’a.

And while ASG workers have tomorrow off, the majority of the private sector is business as usual.

In observance of the Manu’a Cession Day holiday, the Health Department said there will be no COVID-19 vaccination clinics tomorrow.