American Samoa Overview Country Overview American Samoa is located in the South Pacific and comprises seven islands including Ta'u, Olosega and Ofu, known as the Manu'a group which are volcanic in origin and dominated by high peaks. The harbour of Pago Pago is the crater of an extinct volcano and a spectacular cable-car ride above the harbour offers breathtaking views. On the north coast of the island, a mountain-pass ride from Fagasa, is the Forbidden Bay, claimed to be one of the most beautiful in the South Pacific. A 2-day cruise around the islands usually includes an overnight stay in a local Fale (Samoan home) on the unspoiled island of Savaii. Food and entertainment go hand in hand at the Samoan feast, fia fia, where suckling pig, chicken and fish, breadfruit, coconuts and mango are served during performances of traditional dancing, organised regularly by several establishments. Visitors can take advantage of the richly stocked fishing waters by hiring fully-equipped boats, available through hotels or tour agents. Skindiving, snorkelling and surfing facilities are also excellent. General Information Area: 201 sq km (77.6 sq miles). Population: 68,688 (2002). Population Density: 341.7 per sq km. Capital: Pago Pago. Population: 3,518 (1990). GEOGRAPHY: American Samoa lies in the Pacific Ocean approximately 3700km (2300 miles) south-west of Hawaii. It comprises seven islands: Tutuila, the largest with an area of 53 sq miles; Ta’u, Olosega and Ofu, known as the Manu’a group; and Aunu’u, Rose and Swain’s. The Manu’a group is volcanic in origin and dominated by high peaks. Rose and Swain’s Islands are uninhabited coral atolls located to the east and north respectively of the other two island groups. Government: US External Territory (Unincorporated). Gained a measure of self-government in 1977. Head of State: President George W Bush since 2001. Head of Government: Governor Tauese Sunia since 1996. Language: Samoan, but many islanders speak English. Religion: Half of the population are Christian Congregational. There are also Roman Catholics, Latter Day Saints and Protestants. Time: GMT - 11. Electricity: 110V AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are in use. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 684. All outgoing calls must go through the international operator. Mobile telephone GSM 1900 network operated by Blue Sky (website: www.blueskypcs.com). US-style (non-GSM) network operated by American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (website: www.samoatelco.com). Roaming agreements do not exist at present. Fax Hotels have facilities. Internet Main ISP is American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (see above for website). Internet cafes exist. Telegram Facilities are available at main towns and hotels. Post American Samoa is part of the US postal system and the same standard postal rates apply. The main Post Office in the Lumana’i Building in Fagatogo is open 24 hours. There are also branches in Leone and Faguita villages, open Mon-Fri 0800-1600 and Sat 0830-1200. Press The island’s own English-language newspaper is the News Bulletin, published from Monday to Friday. The Samoa Journal and Advertiser and Samoa News are also published in English. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No/2 Yes Australian Yes No/2 Yes Canadian Yes No/2 Yes USA 1 No/2 Yes OtherEU Yes No/2 Yes Japanese Yes No/2 Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 60 days beyond period of stay required by all except: 1. nationals of the USA holding other proof of identity (bearing a photograph), a valid onward or return ticket for stays of up to 30 days and proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay. Note: Pago Pago is not a port of entry to the USA and passengers proceeding to the USA must comply with the appropriate regulations. VISAS: All nationals may visit American Samoa for up to 30 days, provided they have a valid passport or other valid travel document authorising return to the country of origin or to some other country, a round-trip ticket, nad sufficient funds for the duration of stay. Travellers wishing to stay for more than 30 days should obtain special advance permission from the Immigration Officer, Government of American Samoa, Pago Pago, Tutuila. The request should include the name of the local sponsor or advance hotel reservation or other purpose of visit. Permission to remain on the islands is given for 30-day periods only. Note: 2. All nationalities must be in possession of a valid passport, documentation for onward travel, sufficient funds to cover their stay and a confirmed accommodation reservation. Application to: US Consulate in plenty of time for prospective visits of more than 30 days (or Consular Section at US Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Temporary residence: Apply to Immigration Department in Pago Pago. Money Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. See the USA section for information on denominations, travellers cheques and exchange rates. Currency exchange: Exchange facilities are available at the airport and through trade banks. ATMs are located at the banking branches of the Bank of Hawaii and the Amerika Samoa Bank. Credit & debit cards: American Express is widely accepted whereas MasterCard has more limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of local and foreign currencies. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500. Duty Free The following items may be imported into American Samoa without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 454g of tobacco; 1 US Gallon or 5 bottles of alcohol; a reasonable amount of perfume. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 20 Martin Luther King Day. Feb 17 Presidents’ Day/ Washington’s Birthday. Apr 17 Flag Day. May 26 Memorial Day. Jul 4 Independence Day. Jul 16 Manu’a Day. Sep 1 Labour Day. 13 Oct Columbus Day. Nov 11 Veterans Day. Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 19 Martin Luther King Day. Feb 16 Presidents’ Day/ Washington’s Birthday. Apr 17 Flag Day. May 24 Memorial Day. Jul 4 Independence Day. Jul 16 Manu’a Day. Sep 6 Labour Day. Oct 11 Columbus Day. Nov 11 Veterans Day. Nov 25 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from, or within six days of transitting, infected areas. 2: Immunisation against typhoid is generally advised. Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Hepatitis A and B occur and vaccination is recommended. Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis have been reported as have epidemics of dengue fever. Health care: There is no reciprocal Health Care Agreement with the UK. Health insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers. Travel - International AIR: The international airline is Samoa Air (SE) (website: www.samoaair.com). Other airlines operating between American Samoa and other destinations in the South Pacific include Hawaiian Airlines and Polynesian Airlines. Air passes: The Polypass (offered by Polynesian Airlines) allows the holder to fly between the Southern Pacific destinations of American Samoa, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga; Honolulu (Hawaii) and Los Angeles in the USA; Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia; and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in New Zealand. The pass is valid for one year. Once a reservation has been made and travel begun, all travel must be completed within a maximum of 45 days. Tickets will be issued against the Polypass by any Polynesian Airlines office (a valid passport is also required). For further information, contact Polynesian Airlines (website: www.polynesianairlines.com). Approximate flight times: From Pago Pago to London is 25 hours, depending on route taken and stopover times. A typical journey would probably involve stopovers in Los Angeles and Honolulu. International airports: Pago Pago (PPG) is 11km (7 miles) from the city. Buses and taxis are available. Regular scheduled trips are available plus charters and sightseeing. Airport facilities include duty-free shops and a restaurant. Departure tax: None. SEA: The international port is Pago Pago (Tutuila), which is served by a number of passenger/cruise and cargo lines. Cruise lines include P&O and Orient Line. Travel - Internal AIR: Samoa Air (tel: 699 9106; fax: 699 1958; e-mail: alavigne@samoaair.com; website: www.samoaair.com) operates daily scheduled flights to Apia, Maota, Ofu, Olosega and Ta’u carrying up to 18 passengers. SEA: There is a weekly ferry service from Pago Pago to the Manu’a Islands. A government-run excursion boat sails regularly around Tutuila, calling at the north coast villages of Afono, Vatia and Fagasa. Contact the local authorities for details. ROAD: There are 150km (93 miles) of paved roads and 200km (125 miles) of unpaved or secondary roads throughout the islands. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: A local service operates between the airport and the centre of Pago Pago. The Aiga bus operates an inexpensive but unscheduled service between Fagatogo and outlying villages. Taxi: Plentiful; the government-fixed fares are displayed in all taxis. Car hire: Available; local companies impose a minimum age of 21 for drivers. Documentation: An International Driving Permit or valid national driving licence will be accepted. Accommodation HOTELS: There is a wide range of bed and breakfast, motel and hotel accommodation available in American Samoa, from international-standard hotels to simple guest-houses. For further information, contact the Office of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). HOUSE-STAYS: Fale, Fala ma Ti (‘Samoan home’). The Office of Tourism will help to make arrangements for visitors who wish to stay in a Samoan household. This will be of particular interest to those who wish to learn more of Samoan customs. Introduction The harbour of Pago Pago, made famous by Somerset Maugham’s short story Rain, is actually the crater of an extinct volcano. Upolu in neighbouring Samoa is sometimes visible. Tula Village is a traditional Samoan settlement. Situated at the far end of the eastern district of Tutuila, it overlooks a coastline of white sandy beaches and reefs that are exposed at low tide. Amanave Village is in an area renowned for the rugged beauty of its volcanic coastline. On the north coast of the island is the Forbidden Bay, claimed to be one of the most beautiful in the South Pacific. It can be reached from Fagasa on a trek or a boat trip. The traditional ‘turtle and shark’ legend is performed in Vaitogi. Mountain excursions are available at nearby Aoloau. Sport & Activities Watersports: American Samoa has many white sandy beaches offering safe swimming, with excellent facilities for diving and snorkelling. The Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary was established to protect the corals reefs and marine life in the area. Diving equipment can be hired easily and a number of companies provide dive courses and cruises to the best sites. Cruises to neighbouring Samoa are also available, and these can include an overnight stay in a local Fale (Samoan home). For further information, contact the Office of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Surfing can be done at Carter Beach, Alofay Bay and Leone Bay. The surrounding waters offer game-fishing for marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and skip jack. Fully-equipped fishing boats can be hired through hotels or tour operators. Kayaking can also be enjoyed. Hiking: The two coral atolls and five volcanic islands that make up American Samoa get twice as much rain as nearby Samoa, which makes American Samoa a lot greener. A number of marked trails lead into the lush interior of the islands, notably to the National Park of American Samoa. Guided trips to the volcanoes are also possible. Other: Several hotels have tennis courts that are open to non-residents and there is a 9-hole golf course on Tutuila. Social Profile Food & Drink: Restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, including American, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Polynesian. There are also various drive-in restaurants. The Samoan feast, fia fia, consists of suckling pig, chicken, fish, palusami (coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in the umu, or pit oven), breadfruit, coconut, bananas, lime and mango. The national drink is kava, which is drunk in sacred ceremonies. If you become intimate with Samoans, you may be invited to a genuine kava ceremony. If you attend a genuine kava ceremony, do not sip until you tip a little kava from its coconut shell cup onto the ground immediately in front of you while saying manuia (mah-noo-ee-ah), meaning good luck. Do not drain your cup. Leave a little and tip it out before handing the cup back to the server. Remember that drinking kava is a solemn, sacred ceremony and should never be confused with a casual round of drinks in Western society. The taste may take a while to acquire. Most places have a ‘happy hour’ serving cheaper drinks (1630-1830). Nightlife: There are many nightspots with music and dancing. Samoan fia fias – feasting and traditional dancing – are organised regularly by several establishments. Samoan village fia fias can be arranged through local tour operators. Visitors are usually welcome at any event in the villages and churches. Shopping: Special purchases include handmade tapa cloth, the puletasi (women’s dress) or lavalava (men’s costume) made by local dressmakers, shell beads and purses, woodcarvings, woven laufala table and floor mats, carved kava bowls, Samoan records and duty-free goods. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700 and Sat 0800-1300. Special Events: During the celebrations around Flag Day, April 17, there are many sporting and singing competitions with events taking place for up to a week. The Inter-Island Tennis Championship takes place around Good Friday. Tourism Week is at the beginning of May and hosts tourism awareness programmes and related activities. Palolo Day, in October/November, marks the annual emergence of the reefworm for mating. The reefworm is a local delicacy and Samoans celebrate this day with parties and music. Mothers Day (Aso o Tina) takes place on the Monday after Mothering Sunday, when the women of the islands parade and congregate in Apia to hear an address by the Prime Minister. Manu’a Cession Day includes many singing and dancing festivities. Social Conventions: Traditional Samoan society is still bound by very strict customs and, despite the younger generation’s dissatisfaction with the old values, they are very much adhered to. The Government issues an official list of behaviour codes for both Samoas. Skimpy shorts or other revealing clothes should be avoided except when swimming or climbing coconut palms, although disapproval of shorts, if they are not too short, is on the wane. Samoan social behaviour conforms to strict and rather complicated rituals, to which the visitor will probably be introduced on arrival, and which should be respected. In the early evening hours, even if swimming offshore, be sure to avoid making any noise that could interrupt the Samoans’ prayer period. Usually three gongs are sounded. The first is the signal to return to the house, the second is for prayer and the third sounds the all-clear. In some villages, swimming and fishing are forbidden on Sunday. A visitor who happens to be invited to stay in a Samoan household should be mindful of these customs. On leaving, making a gift, a mea alofa (literally a ‘thing of love’) of shirts, belts or dress-length fabrics is most appreciated. Samoans are extremely hospitable and visitors may receive more than one invitation to stay with neighbours. However, it is inappropriate to leave your first hosts before a pre-arranged date. Tipping: Not customary. Business Profile Economy: The economy is based mainly on agriculture and fishing, with two tuna canneries providing employment for almost half the workforce; their output accounts for most of American Samoa’s export revenue. Agricultural output is mainly for domestic consumption; a small surplus of fruit and vegetables is exported. Industrial estates have been built in an effort to encourage light industrial development, on which are produced consumer goods such as handicrafts, soap and perfume. The tourist industry is growing slowly; government employment accounts for the bulk of the country’s service sector. The government’s economic priorities have been to tackle lack of infrastructure. Shortage of skilled workers have combined to inhibit economic development which have combined, along with its remote location, to inhibit American Samoa’s economic development. American Samoa is a member of the South Pacific Commission. Business: Lightweight or tropical suits for business visits. Ties need only be worn for formal occasions. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Department of Commerce, American Samoa Government, Pago Pago, 1147, American Samoa, 96799 (tel: 633 5155/6; fax: 633 4195; website: www.asg-gov.com/departments/doc.asg.htm). Climate Very warm, tropical climate. The heaviest rainfalls are usually between December and April. The climate is best during the winter months, May to September, when there are moderate southeast trade winds. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year with warm wrap for cooler winter evenings, and rainwear for the wet season (December to April). History and Government History: For the history of American Samoa before the mid-19th century, see the entry for Samoa (until recently, Western Samoa). US interest in Samoa was prompted by the late-19th century search for a deep-water port in the South Pacific. Control of the islands was eventually divided between the USA and Germany; the USA took Tutuila in order to use Pago Pago Bay as a coaling station. As Washington had no established apparatus for colonial government, the US Navy was put in charge. Despite the US presence, island life remained largely unaffected until the 1940s, when American Samoa acquired great strategic importance in the course of the Pacific war, and was subject to a huge influx of US Marines. After the war, the Americans started to encourage the island towards self-government. In 1956 the first indigenous Samoan governor was appointed, followed a decade later by a new constitution that sought to guarantee the rights of the local inhabitants in matters of land ownership and civil rights. The first full election for the post of governor was held in 1977. The post is currently held by Tauese P Sunia, who narrowly won the gubernatorial elections in November 1996, and was re-elected as incumbent at the most recent poll four years later. Government: The governor holds executive power, and also the right to veto laws proposed by the bicameral legislature, called the Fono. The Fono has an 18-member Senate, elected by the traditional island chiefs to serve a four-year term, and a 20-member House of Representatives, elected by popular vote for a term of two years. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.