Regional
Honolulu, HAWAII — A group of Hawaii hotels said it will start requiring proof of COVID vaccination for all guests and visitors beginning in October.
Among the hotels requiring the vaccine is Alohilani Resort in Waikiki as well as seven Highgate Hawaii hotels.
Many of the hotel employees will need...
Apia, SAMOA — The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority says tourism in Samoa will not be opening up anytime soon.
Faamatuainu Lenata'I Suifua Faamatuainu was clarifying a statement on Radio Australia quoting him as saying the borders will reopen next year.
He said while there have...
Washington D.C. — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general urging the Supreme Court to reject the exclusion of Americans living in territories from nationwide federal aid programs.
In an amicus brief filed in United States v. Vaello-Madero, a case...
Apia, SAMOA —Samoa's Prime Minister says the world must take urgent action on climate change or low-lying Pacific nations will face a "dire" future.
AFP reports Fiame Naomi Mata'afa gave a stark assessment of the Pacific's prospects if there's not greater effort to tackle global warming at the COP...
Apia, SAMOA — In Samoa, the suspended Officer-in-charge of the Nafanua II patrol boat, Superintendent Taito Sefo Hunt, faces five charges of misconduct over the grounding of the vessel on a reef.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo told Samoa Observer that Taito is facing...
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Every day, David Letele and the workers at his Brown Buttabean food bank are run off their feet. From morning until well into the night, they're busy packing parcels by the hundreds to meet an unprecedented demand.
Letele's central Manukau foodbank is one of many across...
Honolulu, HAWAII — It seemed like a new era for Samoa when it voted its first woman prime minister into office, after more than 20 years under the previous leader.
But the small Pacific nation’s political future is still uncertain, as the fallout from the election continues with potentially power-...
Apia, SAMOA — The chief executive of Samoa's Ministry of Finance has resigned.
The CEO, Leasiosiofaasisina Oscar Malielegaoi, is the son of the country's former Prime Minister.
Leasiosiofaasisina posted a video on social media saying he had been asked by the Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa...
Apia, SAMOA — The future of a Samoa Airways leased Boeing 737-800, which is yet to touch down in Samoa, is being considered by the new government.
The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, said the previous government did not take the advice from key government stakeholders not to bring in the...
Apia, SAMOA — The former prime minister of Samoa has accused Jacinda Ardern of being behind the recent political crisis in Samoa, suggesting she had wanted to install a female prime minister.
“I am starting to get suspicious maybe New Zealand is behind all of this,” said Tuilaepa Sa’ilele...




![Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa warns rising seas are already swamping tiny atoll states in the Pacific [SN file photo] Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fiame.jpg?itok=DX06GqA7)
![Nafanua II patrol boat seen at the dock in Pago Pago earlier this year. [SN file photo] Nufanua II](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_police_boat_mv_nafanua.jpeg?itok=ZG292nAS)
![David Letele, right, and his food bank workers are run off their feet packing parcels to meet unprecedented demand during a resurgence of the pandemic in New Zealand. Letele's central Manukau food bank is one of many across Auckland confronting a food crisis where vulnerable families are having to wait as long as a week for help. Currently, Auckland and the Northlands are still at Level 4, while the rest of New Zealand is at Level 3. [photo: courtesy David Letele] David Letele, right, and his food bank workers](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/nz_food_banks.jpg?itok=zjSE5-ss)
![Upon Fiame’s official confirmation, Tuilaepa conceded but he continued to criticize. He claimed New Zealand was behind the end of his reign, calling it a “feminist plot” led by New Zealand and its leader Jacinda Ardern. [SN file photos] Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and Fiame Naomi Mata'afa](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tui_n_fiame_web_7.jpg?itok=Z_Tk9zgs)
![Last week the Minister of Finance told local media there were some trust issues with the CEO because his father, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, led the opposition. [photo: Facebook] Leasiosiofaasisina Oscar Malielegaoi](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/leasiosiofaasisina_oscar_malielegaoi.jpeg?itok=X4xhXXr4)

![New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been accused of interfering in Samoan politics by the former PM. [photo: Robert Kitchin/AP] New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/nz_pm_jacina_ardern.jpeg?itok=rOi0hPyF)