Local News
![Amata with Ji Hyun Oh and her proud parents. She has been accepted to attend the Naval Academy. [courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata%20with%20Ji%20Hyun%20Oh%20and%20her%20proud%20parents.jpg?itok=NXDdHW1O "Amata with Ji Hyun Oh and her proud parents. She has been accepted to attend the Naval Academy. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata proudly announced that the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, has offered a fully qualified appointment to Miss Ji Hyun Oh to be a member of the Class of 2022.
“I’m very pleased to announce this fully qualified appointment from...
![The fishing alia that drifted from Samoa and ended up in Pago Pago harbor, where it docked behind TAOA. The vessel is now in the custody of DPS Marine Patrol unit, while crew are staying in Lauli’i, awaiting travel documents to return home. [photo by AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fishing%20alia%20vessel_0791.jpg?itok=1Ges65yg "The fishing alia that drifted from Samoa and ended up in Pago Pago harbor, where it docked behind TAOA. The vessel is now in the custody of DPS Marine Patrol unit, while crew are staying in Lauli’i, awaiting travel documents to return home. [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An alia fishing vessel discovered at the Pago Pago dock area behind the TAOA building early Saturday morning at about 3 a.m. is now in the custody of DPS Marine Patrol Unit. Apparently, the alia with its three-member crew aboard drifted away from Samoa on Friday last...
![This photo taken yesterday and provided by the local Department of Education shows students at Peter Coleman Elementary School in Pago Pago lining up outside of a school building before the start of school yesterday. All public schools re-opened yesterday. [photo: ASDOE]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/coleman%20school.jpg?itok=ll49hAvi "This photo taken yesterday and provided by the local Department of Education shows students at Peter Coleman Elementary School in Pago Pago lining up outside of a school building before the start of school yesterday. All public schools re-opened yesterday. [photo: ASDOE]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In preparation for the re-opening of public schools that were closed last week following damage caused by Tropical Storm Gita, the local Department of Education (ASDOE) has established teams to assess the psychological impact that the storm had on students.
All public...
![American Samoa Power Authority crews seen yesterday working on restoring electricity to family homes in Ili’ili that have been without power since last week Friday — after Tropical Storm Gita swept through Tutuila. [photo: courtesy]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Iliili%20electric.jpg?itok=35-j3HvV "American Samoa Power Authority crews seen yesterday working on restoring electricity to family homes in Ili’ili that have been without power since last week Friday — after Tropical Storm Gita swept through Tutuila. [photo: courtesy]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After declaring a State of Emergency due to Tropical Storm Gita, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga issued a Feb. 13 executive order outlining, among other things, emergency procurement and hiring, as the government focuses on post-storm recovery efforts.
Under provision of local...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_94.jpeg?itok=Z7c1Vpe2 "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The High Court has taken under advisement a motion filed by the attorney representing a drug defendant, asking the court for a reduction in bail, last Friday.
Joshua Revelli from the RDA Law Firm represents Cody Wood, while Assistant Attorney General Christy Dunn...
![This photo, courtesy of Faleosina Voigt was posted on social media by ASPA along with the photo caption, “The cause of the power outage at Masefau Elementary School — a fried rat”. It didn’t say when this incident occurred, during or after Tropical Storm Gita — but it highlights the problems ASPA’s crews are facing as they now go from building-to-building, whether a home, school, or place of business. They have to check it out first, before they can turn the power back on. [photo: Faleosina Voigt]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fried%20rodent.jpg?itok=MT-w73Sv "This photo, courtesy of Faleosina Voigt was posted on social media by ASPA along with the photo caption, “The cause of the power outage at Masefau Elementary School — a fried rat”. It didn’t say when this incident occurred, during or after Tropical Storm Gita — but it highlights the problems ASPA’s crews are facing as they now go from building-to-building, whether a home, school, or place of business. They have to check it out first, before they can turn the power back on. [photo: Faleosina Voigt]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — All public schools are scheduled to reopen today, after being closed all last week following damages caused by Tropical Storm Gita, which also resulted in the cancellation of classes at the American Samoa Community College that is also set to resume today.
More than a...
![The remains of Falaula Paulo’s home in Pago Pago after Tropical Storm Gita destroyed it. He says he should have listened to his wife and ‘prepared’ for the coming storm, instead of listening to rumors and friends that it would just be ‘strong winds’. [photo by AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/home%20destroyed%20gita_0758.jpg?itok=5godg3sm "The remains of Falaula Paulo’s home in Pago Pago after Tropical Storm Gita destroyed it. He says he should have listened to his wife and ‘prepared’ for the coming storm, instead of listening to rumors and friends that it would just be ‘strong winds’. [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Some families have admitted that Tropical Storm Gita caught them unprepared, because they underestimated the damage it could cause. One family spoke to Samoa News last week about their ordeal — where their house was left with no walls, no roof, as they fled to a...
![National Weather Service office in American Samoa. [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/NOAA_Pago_Pagoweb_0.jpg?itok=In-K8QJ9 "National Weather Service office in American Samoa. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Complaints and concerns have been raised in the territory about the lack of emergency communication and updates during Tropical Storm Gita that struck American Samoa on the 9th of February. In an exclusive interview with Samoa News, last Friday, Elinor Lutu-McMoore,...
![A home destroyed by Tropical Storm Gita on the west side of Tutuila. [SN file photot]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/west%20side_%20gone%200131.jpg?itok=HqEnynSU "A home destroyed by Tropical Storm Gita on the west side of Tutuila. [SN file photot]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Preliminary assessment disaster (PDA) will be wrapping up soon, says US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public information officer, Victor Inge, who arrived early last week. PDA provides data of damage to public infrastructure as well as homes and business...
![PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - U.S. Army Maj. Ullisses Taymes, Theater Support Group, loads luggage and supplies for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel that have arrived at Pago Pago International Airport to support relief operations for Tropical Storm Gita. The Theaters Support Group is a subordinate unit of 9th Mission Support Command based out of Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii. [courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/web%202nd%209th%20support%20photo.jpg?itok=vMgYC_AS "PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - U.S. Army Maj. Ullisses Taymes, Theater Support Group, loads luggage and supplies for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel that have arrived at Pago Pago International Airport to support relief operations for Tropical Storm Gita. The Theaters Support Group is a subordinate unit of 9th Mission Support Command based out of Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii. [courtesy photo]")
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – When disaster strikes at home, who answers the call to clean up and rebuild? Immediately after a destructive storm, U.S. Army Reserve forces in American Samoa took immediate action to rebuild.
In concert and coordination with various federal, state, local, interagency,...