July 22, 2026 — Governor Pulaaliʻi Nikolao Pula welcomed representatives from the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices to American Samoa for a two-day site visit and working session as part of the Territory's participation in the Policy Academy to Advance Data Dashboards Measuring Student and System Success.

American Samoa is one of only seven states and territories selected nationwide to participate in the 18-month initiative, which supports governors in developing a data dashboard that measures student and system success through meaningful, actionable data.

The visiting delegation included representatives from the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices, including Seth Gerson, K-12 Policy Director, and Devon Nir, K-12 Education Senior Policy Analyst, along with Ann Duffy, Principal Consultant with Education First, the initiative's technical assistance provider. 

Participating agencies included the Governor's Office, American Samoa Department of Education, American Samoa Community College, Department of Commerce, Department of Health, Samoan Language Commission, and the Workforce Development Board. The initiative is coordinated through the Governor's Office, with Executive Advisor for Education Lorena Seu serving as the Territory's Policy Academy project lead. 

The site visit focused on advancing a centralized data dashboard, which will bring together information across government agencies to support informed decision-making and provide a more comprehensive understanding of student and system success. During the working sessions, participants identified priorities for measuring progress, strengthened collaboration across agencies, and established next steps for developing the Territory's dashboard.

NEW ASTCA BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED

July 24, 2026 — Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula has appointed Molitogi .T Lemana to the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA).

This appointment is effective immediately as of the date of this General Memorandum and shall be for a term of two (2) years, or until replaced by the Governor of American Samoa.

As an educator, Mr. Lemana recognizes education as a powerful tool for empowering youth and emphasizes the importance of integrating technology into the classroom. As a member of the Board, his insight will help guide the expansion of digital access and infrastructure, ensuring that advances in connectivity directly support students, families, and schools across the Territory.

AMERICAN SAMOA CANCER CONTROL PLAN 2025–2030 LAUNCHED

July 7, 2026 — The American Samoa Cancer Control Plan 2025–2030 was formally launched during a two‑day series held at the American Samoa Community College Multipurpose Center. It was hosted by the Department of Health under the leadership of Director Dr. Saipale Fuimaono.

Governor Pulaali’i delivered the keynote address, beginning with a moment of silence in honor of all individuals affected by cancer and loved ones lost to the disease. He extended appreciation to every department, agency, and organization represented, commending their shared commitment to improving health outcomes.

He encouraged continued collaboration as the Territory entered the implementation phase and reaffirmed the government’s full support for the initiatives outlined in the plan.

Dr. Vaatausili Tofaeono, Executive Director of the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, provided an overview of the history of cancer planning in the Territory, noting that American Samoa has been without a formal plan for years.

He expressed sincere appreciation for every partner whose efforts brought the new plan to fruition and outlined four key priorities for 2025–2030; strengthening policy and systems, achieving measurable targets, ensuring accountability through performance monitoring, and advancing cultural innovation through Samoan‑led solutions.

The event continued with presentations on the Cancer Control Plan, the American Samoa Cancer Registry, and non‑communicable diseases, followed by open discussions, Q&A sessions, and breakout groups focused on prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and survivorship and quality of life.