December 17, 2025
The tour today was focused on the National Park but we also got a lot of insight into American Samoa's history and current day life. Our guide was Nini and she is a college student studying accounting and finance and works as a part-time guide.
Below are some random facts and figures we learned today:
- American Samoa is a U.S. Territory - they are taxed but have no representation or voting rights. They have US passports, social security, medicare, an army base, speak English and use the U.S. dollar as currency.
- On 9/29/2009 an EarthQuake and Tsunami hit Pago Pago, it wiped out the entire downtown area with the exception of a Catholic Church and the Village meeting hall and 189 people died. Remains of destroyed boats still litter the harbor.
- It takes 10 hours by Ferry to go from Western Samoa to American Samoa or a 40 minute plane ride. It's 5 hrs plane ride to Hawaii.
- Toyota & Ford cars are the only ones imported here - any others are imported in private containers and very expensive to get. A sedan cost 23 to 24K, a truck 50k and a van 60K.
- A gallon of Gas currently cost $3.85
- They don't pay sales tax on anything here.
- All the Land is owned by Samoans, foreigners cannot purchase. You have to be married to a Samoan or be at least 50% Samoan by birth.
- Newly married couples are given a piece of family land. To build a typical 3 bedroom house there cost about $25,000.
- Starkist Tuna is canned and packed here exclusively. The tuna is caught here and frozen tuna also comes in from neighboring areas. This is biggest employer on the Island. Workers make minimum wage of $7.25/ hr.
- Government workers are the only ones who typically make a hirer wage on the island.
- From 1900 to 1961 Governors were appointed to the island by the Department of the Interior. In 1961, they started electing their own Governors and Lieutenant Governors for 2 year terms, with 2 term limits.
- Their biggest problem these days is lack of jobs and the introduction of drugs, in particular Meth.
- Lyndon B Johnson is the only American President to ever visit here, the hospital is named after him.
Our tour ended with a delicious spread of fresh fruits, taro chips and dip (bought a can) and a farewell dance. We also got a demo on how to pick a coconut, husk, crack, milk and make cream. Yummy!
Today we took the National Park of American Samoa Tour. It's a unique park - the only one south of the equator and where the U.S. Government doesn't own the land. Efforts to establish the Park go back to mid 1980 over concern about the decline of fruit bats and wanting to protect the tropical rainforests. On October 31, 1988 Congress established the NP of American Samoa. In 1993, a complex arrangement for a 50 year land lease years with seven villages and the Samoa government was signed. We got lucky with our tour - we were expecting an open air bus, but because we were a small group, we got a plush air conditioned van!
This is an usual day, it's our second December 15th! We crossed the international date line last night around midnight and therefore we get to live December 15th, twice in 2 different locations. Freaky Monday! We also lose our 18 hour time difference of being ahead of the east coast of the USA, and will now be behind them in time. Time zones drive me crazy on this trip - trying to coordinate with the folks at home and keeping a relevant calendar!
Today we went to see giant clams and turtles at a protected reef area on the southwest side of Upolu , very near where Return to Paradise is located. We would have done yesterday, but it is protected by a village and like almost everything in Samoa , closed on Sundays. Sunday is just for Church and Family in Samoa ! Our guide was Chief Tupu and he had his son driving one of the vans with 5 of us and his daughter in law driving the other with our 4. He was so animated and ran a first class operation. The SUV was comfy and roomy, he provided snorkel gear and towels, that they handed to you as you came out of the water. His information and insights were fascinating as were the local tales he shared with us. Would highly recommend him and Tupu Tours !