Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Young people learning from tradition at Samoan Arts Summer Program
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 2025 Children’s Samoan Arts Summer Program, created to immerse students in the vibrant cultural heritage of Samoan arts and traditions, concludes after four enriching weeks. Throughout the program, students had fun...

Passenger removed from HAL Thursday flight speaks out
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the two passengers who were removed from a Hawaiian Airlines flight last Thursday due to a bomb threat has threatened to file a lawsuit against several parties, including the Department of Public Safety. Makerita...

Wrestlers win two more gold medals in Palau
American Samoa’s national anthem was played twice on the 3rd day of competition after our wrestlers won two more gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Latana Sopa clinched gold in the Beach Wresting 90 kg and Amo Loe also captured gold...

USS New Orleans lost its bow in WWII but kept fighting. Now the wreckage has been found.
WASHINGTON — On a dark night with no moon and heavily overcast skies on Nov. 30, 1942, the USS New Orleans was one of 11 cruisers and destroyers sailing in formation into the waters near the Solomon Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. “A light...

Nu’uuli stages dramatic comeback in shield match in a day of exciting Rugby Union action
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Spectators at the American Samoa Rugby Union (ASRU) shield match on Saturday were treated to a thrilling showdown as underdogs Nu'uuli staged a dramatic comeback to defeat shield holders Leone Whites, 17–14. The...

Chief Master Sergeant Robert Toaali‘i Siligo Palmer, Jr. USAF (Ret.)
Chief Master Sergeant Robert Toaali‘i Siligo Palmer Jr., USAF (Ret.) November 29, 1940 – July 4, 2025 After 64 years of devoted marriage and 40 years of distinguished military service, United States Air Force Retired Chief Master Sergeant Robert...
Tonga claims shot put gold as 2025 Pacific Mini Games draw to a close
Tu'utafaiva, 28, is mentored by former world and Olympic Games champion Valerie Adams, and recorded a throw of 14.76 metres to claim top spot. Photo: Facebook / Tonga Sports Association & National Olympic Committee Tonga's Ata Ma'ama Tu'utafaiva...

Competitors in the 2022 World Fireknife Championship share their experience.
Keenan Chung swinging the fireknife at the Annual World Fireknife Competition. Photo by Emarie Majors Chee hoos and yessahs echoed throughout the Pacific Theater as the fireknife warriors performed intricate throws and catches with traditional...

Guam's medal count up to 20 at Pacific Mini Games
As the Pacific Mini Games in Palau draw to a close, Guam’s medal tally as of 9 p.m. Tuesday went up to 20, including a second gold for star runner Hugh Kent, this time in the 1,500m race. Tuesday also saw a silver medal for Jordan Baden in the...

Samoa citizen arrives home safely from Israel amid unrest in Middle East
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Ms. Polino Falevaai from The Scientific Research Organization Of Samoa (SROS) who was attending a 10-month training on agricultural research and innovations in Israel has returned home safely on Saturday 28 June, after...

“This is a case I know…I will win in court”
One of the two passengers who were taken off last Thursday’s Hawaiian Airlines flight upon arrival at Pago Pago International Airport and questioned by authorities regarding an alleged bomb threat has shared her ordeal in a FaceBook post. Makerita...
OP-ED: Encore — Proof of Decay at ASGERF
For far too long, the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF) has operated without meaningful transparency or accountability. This op-ed presents my final public statement as a trustee, documenting not only institutional decay...

Trump’s Attack On Long-Standing Principle Of Birthright Citizenship Stands, As Supreme Court Sidesteps Constitutional Issue − For Now
One of President Donald Trump’s first executive orders relating to immigration and immigrants is a direct attack on the long-standing constitutional principle of birthright citizenship. That’s the declaration in the 14th Amendment to the...

Three confirmed dengue fever cases
The Department of Health reports that there have been three laboratory confirmed cases of dengue fever in the territory. The confirmed cases are travelers who recently returned from Samoa where there has been an outbreak of dengue fever. All...

Local artisans gather for “Crafting Success” workshop in Tafuna
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hosted by the American Samoa Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA), the “Crafting Success” workshop was held on June 25th at the TAOA Fale Samoa in Tafuna. The half-day...

The Pacific isn’t remote—it’s simply ignored
Inside the Reef By Joyce McClure Not for the first time, I was asked this past week where I lived before moving back to the mainland nearly two years ago. “Guam,” I replied. “And before that, Yap.” The common response is a blank stare, followed...

Three-star Dallas-area offensive tackle Khalil Sanogo commits to Arizona Wildcats
Arizona's 2026 recruiting class Nathan Allen Position: Offensive line Height, weight: 6-5, 275 pounds Hometown (school): Carlsbad, California (Carlsbad High School) Manoah Faupusa Position: Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6-2, 360 pounds Hometown...

Playwright revisits Margaret Mead's ‘Coming of Age’ backlash
Almost a century after American anthropologist Margaret Mead published her controversial book Coming of Age in Samoa, a playwright has revisited the backlash that she faced after publishing her study. In a stage adaptation titled ‘Exposing...

Arizona bolsters 2026 D-Line with Manoah Faupusa, Keytrin Harris and Prince Williams
Arizona's 2026 recruiting class Nathan Allen Position: Offensive line Height, weight: 6-5, 275 pounds Hometown (school): Carlsbad, California (Carlsbad High School) Manoah Faupusa Position: Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6-2, 360 pounds Hometown...

Samoa journalist surrenders passport after defamation charges lodged
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Samoa Observer is reporting that the president of the Journalist Association of Samoa, appeared in the Samoa District Court Tuesday morning (Samoa time) to answer to defamation charges. Lagi Keresoma, also known as...