Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga — during a Friday press conference at the Governor’s Office conference room — gave an update on the first repatriation flight, which arrived on Feb. 1st, with all 159 passengers now going through the required 14-quarantine at the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed that it was American Samoa’s governor, who requested and the airline agreed to suspend flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago through Apr. 30th.
Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga’s Jan. 30th continued COVID-19 emergency declaration...
Pago Pago, American Samoa –The Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) today announced the launch of its new My TBAS Mobile App, a banking app that allows customers to access their banking at anytime, from anywhere, directly from their mobile phone. The mobile app offers banking on the go, for...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young man accused of private peace disturbance (PPD) and damaging his father-in-law’s house entered into a plea agreement with the government last week in District Court.
Vincent Avei, who has been released on his own recognizance, was initially charged with PPD and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young man convicted of stealing from his former employer has been sentenced to 20 months detention, as a condition of his 5-year probation term.
Execution of his jail term was suspended for Lautala Filisi, who was formerly employed by T&K Mart in Tafuna. He will...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 10th Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG) meeting, "Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty," adjourned Thursday, January 27th, 2021, with a feeling of great pride and accomplishment. Aside from the PLG members' issues, one of the most unique highlights was connecting...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in American Samoa has reached another milestone in its history when it officially became a Mission.
The opening ceremony to celebrate this long journey was held at the Iakina Church in Iliili Wednesday morning, which was attended by...
by Ausage Fausia
Samoa News Reporter
House Representatives are very concerned after they were told that it has been three years since American Samoa launched the Hawaiki undersea fiber optic cable and none of its 200 gigabytes (GIGS) of bandwidth has been sold.
According to the director of the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Suicide among juveniles was one of the issues raised by Sen. Fonoti Ta’ifa Aufata during the Senate Judicial Committee confirmation hearing as Public Defender for Michael White — a father of four children.
Young people committing suicide is the latest hot topic issue in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG Employees Retirement Fund officials voiced their support for a Senate bill, which seeks to increase the contribution by the government and employees to the government’s pension plan, saying that it’s long overdue.
“Payout is $23 million in just benefits alone [...

![Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga (left at head table), along with Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale (right at head table) along with members of the COVID-19 Task Force before the start last Friday, Feb. 5th) of the governor’s press conference at the Governor’s Office conference room. [photo: FS] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga, Lt. Gov.Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale and COVID-19 task force members](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_n_repat_update.jpg?itok=zVvPoUYC)




![[graphic: Gov’s Office] PLG logo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/plg_logo_amsamoa_copy.jpg?itok=c0GhZruZ)
![Gov. Lemanu P. S Mauga was among the dignitaries attending the official opening ceremony for the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in American Samoa becoming a Mission. [photo by AF] Gov. Lemanu P. S Mauga and other dignitaries](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/7_day_adv_church_n_gov_lemanu_9999.jpg?itok=RtEAXvqw)
![Retirement Fund Office executive director, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (left) and ASG Employees Retirement Fund board of trustees chairman, Vaanatiu Tofala Iafeta (right) posed for a Samoa News photo this week after a Senate Retirement Committee hearing. [photo: FS] Retirement Fund Office executive director, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (left) and ASG Employees Retirement Fund board of trustees chairman, Vaanatiu Tofala Iafeta](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/asgerf_officials_0.jpg?itok=L8Uv1Tih)
![Acting Public Defender Michael White during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday this week. Youth suicide — a major issue in American Samoa — was raised during his hearing. White told Senators, “Sometimes it’s easier for someone from the outside, to look in, to help a parent understand what’s going on.” (See story for details elsewhere in today’s issue) “If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed or hopeless and needs someone to talk to, call DoH Suicide Hotline - 220,” the DoH statement says. “Help is available. You are loved and not alone. Talk to someone today.” [photo: FS] Acting Public Defender Michael White](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pd_michael_white.jpg?itok=Has-yAFw)
![Retirement Fund Office executive director, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (left) and ASG Employees Retirement Fund board of trustees chairman, Vaanatiu Tofala Iafeta (right) posed for a Samoa News photo yesterday after a Senate Retirement Committee hearing. [photo: FS] Retirement Fund Office executive director, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (left) and ASG Employees Retirement Fund board of trustees chairman, Vaanatiu Tofala Iafeta](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/asgerf_officials.jpg?itok=_iMjWdmK)