Local News
![Members of the American Samoa Employees' Retirement Fund Board appeared before the House Retirement Committee yesterday to discuss Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) issues. [photo: AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Retirement%20Board_0124.jpg?itok=4h08NB_1 "Members of the American Samoa Employees' Retirement Fund Board appeared before the House Retirement Committee yesterday to discuss Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) issues. [photo: AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The ASG Employees’ Retirement Fund (ASGERF) will be considering a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees sometime this year. There are enough funds in the Trust to cover a COLA for retirees, according to ASGERF officials, during a hearing yesterday before the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 38-year-old man who was convicted of stealing — and later selling — a tool box containing tools belonging to a mechanic has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine as a condition of his 7-year probation sentence.
Andrew Apelu was convicted of stealing — a felony, punishable...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A professor at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines has taken issue with a US government study warning against the use of coconut oil, pointing out that a “recent study on Samoans, demonstrated that a coconut diet gives healthier outcomes than a western...
![Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele. [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Taimalelagi%206450_2.jpg?itok=HV309tNf "Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Port Administration Department is planning to conduct a captain’s licensing certification program later this year in June and members of the community will be allowed to enroll in the courses that'll take about four-weeks, says Port Administration director...
![One of the First Place winners for the DOE's 21st Annual Elementary Mathematics Competition SY 2017-2018 is Jasmine Mondelo, an 8th grader at Manumalo Academy. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Jasmine%20Mondelo.jpg?itok=O8nUhdXB "One of the First Place winners for the DOE's 21st Annual Elementary Mathematics Competition SY 2017-2018 is Jasmine Mondelo, an 8th grader at Manumalo Academy. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Fale Laumei in Utulei was full to maximum capacity with proud parents, family members, friends, and teachers as the local Department of Education hosted the awards ceremony for this year's Territorial Math and Science Fair competitions.
For the high school division,...
![[photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Georgina%20and%20Kirsten.jpg?itok=oYPNUYjx "[photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Classmates Georgina Alofa and Kirsten De Lara claimed the Top 2 spots (1st and 2nd place, respectively) — overall — in the Level 6- 8 Division during the 2017-2018 Territorial Science Fair competition held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium last week.
This year's...
![Some of the CCCAS elders, with Chairman Rev. Elder Mamoe Eveni Jr. (right) during court proceedings between the CCCAS and Secretary General Rev. Amaama Tofaeono in June 2017. [SN fie photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/CCCAS%20ministers_1.jpg?itok=I3V8vGpT "Some of the CCCAS elders, with Chairman Rev. Elder Mamoe Eveni Jr. (right) during court proceedings between the CCCAS and Secretary General Rev. Amaama Tofaeono in June 2017. [SN fie photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It’s been almost a year since the matter between the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS) and their elected General Secretary Rev. Dr. Amaama Tofaeono was before the Trial Division of the High Court of American Samoa; and while the case is still...
![DPS officials after the House Public Safety hearing last week, where issues at TCF and the Fire Division were discussed. [photo by AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DPS%20officials_0073.jpg?itok=ZbsubCrU "DPS officials after the House Public Safety hearing last week, where issues at TCF and the Fire Division were discussed. [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Firemen who were assigned to guard inmates at the Territorial Correction Facility (TCF) have been returned to their regular jobs, according to Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson during a hearing with the House Public Safety committee last week.
Rep. Manumaua W....
Honolulu, Hawai'i — Cultural mediation is being recommended as a way to address differences between the local alia fishers and the US longliners based in American Samoa, as there’s a “misunderstanding” between the two fisheries in the territory, according to Danika Kleiber of the Pacific Island...
![This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DRC1_0.jpg?itok=JJL0hq_S "This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Red Cross personnel and volunteers deployed to American Samoa following last month’s Tropical Storm have returned to the US, with their disaster recovery work completed and turned over to the local Red Cross as registration for assistance at the Disaster...