Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Port Administration Director Barney Sene presented his Vision 2030 framework during a town hall meeting hosted by the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening last week, emphasizing from the outset that a vision is not a plan, but the guiding direction for the Territory’s future transportation infrastructure. The meeting, held at the Pago Pago International Airport conference room and attended by roughly 50 business and community leaders, offered the most detailed public explanation to date of Sene’s long‑term modernization blueprint for American Samoa’s seaport and airport.

Sene began by clarifying the difference between a vision and a plan. "A lot of people confuse vision with plan," Sene stated. "A vision is where we want to go. A plan follows behind a vision we develop after it's funded, then we potentially make it a reality. So this is a vision, plans come after."

He elaborated that a plan outlines specific steps, timelines, and budgets, while a vision defines the destination. Vision 2030, he said, is intended to give the Territory a clear sense of where its transportation systems must evolve over the next 10 to 50 years to support economic growth, safety, and resilience. Sene emphasized that for any plan to succeed, there must be a vision. He quoted the saying, "A plan without a vision is called chaos, so if there's chaos, perhaps there is no vision."

His presentation focused first on the proposed changes to the Pago Pago International Airport. He walked attendees through the major components of the vision, beginning with improvements to passenger flow and processing at the airport. Sene said the current layout no longer meets the needs of modern travelers and must be redesigned to reduce congestion, improve accessibility, and streamline Customs, Immigration, and Health screening. The vision also calls for significant upgrades to the airport terminal, including expanded holding areas, improved amenities, and more efficient airline operations.

Sene noted that these changes are essential for meeting international aviation standards and preparing for future increases in passenger traffic. Sene recalled that during the 1960s, 70s, and well into the 1980s, multiple airlines served American Samoa, creating a level of traffic that today’s airport layout was never designed to handle. He pointed to the congestion that now overwhelms the terminal on Hawaiian Airlines flight nights, especially in the baggage claim area, as evidence that the facility is operating beyond its intended capacity. Yet when he approached the Federal Aviation Administration about expanding the airport, he said the agency initially responded that such upgrades could not be justified because there was no documented growth, no increase in flight frequency, and no measurable demand that would warrant expansion.

The new terminal at Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) will relieve current capacity constraints and deliver a modern passenger experience. The new terminal is planned at approximately $250 million, with a footprint designed to roughly double existing terminal space. He said that about half of the funding for the terminal expansion has already been identified, with the remainder still in development through federal channels. Sene noted that the current airport terminal is roughly 80,000 square feet, a footprint he described as far too small for the territory’s long‑term needs.

The new terminal proposed under Vision 2030 will be nearly double that size, he said, because the project is designed with a 50‑year horizon in mind. Sene said that construction will be carried out in three phases, with Phase 1 scheduled to begin by the end of this year, no later than the beginning of next year. The Ports director said that one of the highest priorities in the new terminal design is the construction of an Air Traffic Control Tower. He noted that despite being an internationally designated airport, Pago Pago International Airport remains the only U.S. airport without its own control tower. As a result, all aircraft movements in and out of the territory are currently directed remotely by air traffic controllers at Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport—a situation he described as both unusual and long overdue for correction.

Sene anticipated public questions about why construction has begun on a new parking lot even though no work has started on the terminal itself. The reason, he explained, is that the footprint of the new terminal will extend over the existing entrance road and a portion of the current parking area. Because of that, the parking lot must be relocated first to clear space for the expanded terminal design. He added that the redesigned terminal will include amenities such as arrival areas, immigration and customs clearance, baggage claim, waiting and boarding areas, TSA facilities, check-in areas, rental car services, and a Samoan fale guest house.

It will also include additional office space, stores, restaurants, and a post office, transforming the facility into a small airport mall or Airmall Courtyard. The goal, he said, is to monetize the terminal more effectively, especially on the three weekly flight nights when passenger traffic is at its peak. By creating more commercial activity inside the airport, the government hopes to generate new revenue streams that can help sustain long‑term operations and improvements. Waiting areas providing views of the aircraft gate to allow passenger arrival will be available. He noted that more than 90 percent of passengers arriving on commercial flights are local residents, a stark contrast to Honolulu, where roughly 70 percent of inbound travelers from the U.S. mainland are tourists. That difference matters, he said, because in Hawai‘i it is the tourists who effectively subsidize the cost of airfare from the mainland. With American Samoa’s flights dominated by local travelers, the burden falls almost entirely on residents. Sene emphasized that if the territory wants more competitive fares and a healthier tourism economy, it must find ways to draw more visitors to the islands.

Sene said the broader airport property development plan also includes construction of new hotels, a convention center, and a large solar farm capable of generating up to 29 megawatts of power. The goal, he explained, is to create a more complete visitor experience while simultaneously lowering long‑term utility costs through renewable energy. These additions, he noted, are designed to support tourism growth and make the airport precinct a more economically productive hub for the territory. The Ports Director stated that one of the most significant economic benefits of the airport redevelopment will come from the planned construction of a large solar farm capable of generating more than 20 megawatts of power.

He noted that customers currently pay between 44 and 48 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity—among the highest rates in the United States. With the solar project online, he said, the cost could drop dramatically to around 13 cents per kilowatt hour. Such a reduction, he emphasized, would provide major relief to airport operations and the many businesses that depend on the facility. Sene said that when he first introduced the idea of building a convention center, many questioned why he was prioritizing that project instead of focusing on tourism.

His response, he noted, was straightforward: the government has spent the last 34 years trying to grow tourism, yet the territory has still been unable to create the level of demand needed to sustain the industry. He revealed that the proposed convention center would be located in the Industrial Park area across from the Veterans Memorial Stadium, occupying roughly 400,000 square feet and capable of hosting conferences with 1,500 to 2,000 participants. Such events, he explained, would require approximately 2,000 hotel rooms—far more than the territory currently has. To meet that need, Ports Administration plans to work with outside investors to develop 800 to 1,000 rooms, while the local private sector would build the remaining 1,000. Sene added that these visitors would not only explore Tutuila but would also want to visit Aunu‘u and the Manu‘a Islands, which is where the new high‑speed ferries already on order will play a critical role in supporting inter‑island travel. The proposed vessels—two high‑speed, low‑emission catamaran‑style ferries designed to operate significantly faster than the MV Manu‘atele —will reduce the current 6–7-hour journey to approximately two hours. So if they leave early in the morning, they can spend the whole day sightseeing in Manu'a and be back at about three o'clock in the afternoon.

To make this a reality, a ferry building and wharf will be built at Pala Lagoon to connect the new fast ferries to the airport. Sene also tied the airport redevelopment to a broader vision for a new sports park, which includes replacing the Veterans Memorial Stadium with a larger, state‑of‑the‑art facility capable of seating up to 10,000 spectators. He said Ports Administration would take the lead in securing the funding needed for the project, after which the completed stadium would be handed back to the Department of Parks and Recreation for management and operations. Sene said the sports park concept also incorporates a new soccer venue, noting that while the upgraded stadium will host gridiron, rugby, and athletics, soccer matches will be played at the Football Federation of American Samoa’s new FIFA‑funded pitch. The facility, to be built to international standards, will be located between the new stadium and the Tony Solaita Baseball Field. A public pedestrian park is also planned in this area. With all three sporting venues located within walking distance of one another—and directly across from the planned hotels and the convention center—the area is designed to function as a compact, multi‑purpose events district.

Sene added that the convention center itself will include a gymnasium and an aquatic center, with the gym occupying the ground floor to accommodate gymnastics, weightlifting, and powerlifting, while conference facilities will be housed on the upper floors of the three‑story structure. He emphasized that the entire development is being planned with the 2035 Pacific Games in mind, positioning American Samoa to host major regional competitions. The town hall concluded with Sene reaffirming that the Territory must think beyond short‑term fixes and begin preparing for the next generation of transportation needs. “This is about where we want to be—not just next year, but ten to fifty years from now,” he said. “A vision gives us direction. The plans will follow.”