I had the opportunity to visit the Island of Pago Pago when Hawaiian Airlines invited me on a FAM, (Familiarization Tour for Travel Agents.
The best time to travel here is in December- March. FAM's
are always in the off seasom Months so we went in the summer.
Independent State of Samoa Capital City is Apia. These Islands are ruled by a Polynesian Chief.
They have a Constitution based on both English Common Law and local Customs. The currency is the Tapa, (about 3.5236 Tabas = $1.00 USD).
American Samoa has of six Islands in the South Pacific. The People who live here are called Polynesians. It is the United States' southern most Territory.
Samoa is part of the Oceania group of Islands. It is just below the equator and it gets very warm here.
The currency used here is the United States Dollar.
A MYTH:
The Samoans believe that this is the Ancient land of Tagaloa, (a pagan god). He came down and formed Man and Earth. The rest of Samoan Families and the linage of Tui Manu'a Ruled by the rules of this belief.
HISTORY:
Settled as early as 1000 B. C., Samoa was ''discovered'' by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan Archipelago. The US occupied these Islands.
PAGO PAGO:
I flew to Hawaii on Canadian Airlines and met the other Travel Agents at the Airport. I had to wait two hours before we could board Hawaiian Air. We landed at the International Airport. Our Guide took us to a special Passport Control Counter that had a sign that said, ''This is only for the use of VIP's''. That certainly made us feel special.
Once we point out our luggage to a Red Cap our Guide took us to the Tour Bus. As we were getting on the Bus she gave us each a Lei made out of Sharks Teeth.
Pago Pago ,(pronounce Pango), is on Tutulia Island. It is a Port City and is the Capital City. It is a beautiful City with Mouny Alava as a background to the Pago Pago Harbor.
We stayed at the Rainmaker Hotel.
WHAT WE SAW:
The first thing you'll notice is that the Samoan Men are very tall had built like a wrestler. Many of them are working as Bouncers at the Bars and Disco's in Honolulu.
We took a tour of some other Hotels. We saw the Fale Pula Bed and Breakfast Hotel. After our tour we had lunch in their Pule Restaurant. Motu o Fiafiaga is a very nice Motel. We toured the Hotel and had dinner in their Dining Room. The Mexican food that they served us was delicious. The last Hotel we saw was the Ta'alolo Lodge & Golf Resort. It is a gorgeous property and I wished that we were staying here. After we toured the Hotel we had dinner in their Gourmet Restaurant. The Seafood was so good that I was naughty and used a piece of bread to get every last drop of the juices that were left on my plate!
One day when we were going back to our Hotel before sunset I looked at the Trees and saw hundreds of Bat hanging from every tree!
We went to see Tusipa & Litani Ahoia of Nu'uuli Village. After we saw the ancient Village we walked up to the Waterfall. When we came back anyone that wanted to could feed the eels. we then had a demonstration of how to make their handicrafts, art, and food. We had lunch here called a umu, (food cook above the ground), and had a Polynesian feast that included Chicken, Pork, a variety of Seafood and root Vegetables. Fresh Fruit was served for dessert. A Polynesian Band, (that played guitars and Ukuleles), serenaded us. Before we left we were given a lavalava, (a piece of material to tie over your bathing suit. It's made of light cotton and tie die..
We walked along the Harbour that has a beautiful view. Then we saw Government House, (we couldn't see the Mansion), but we had a wonderful view of the Harbor and the Rainmaker Mountain, (it has a flat top like the Mountain in Cape Town).
The Jean P. Haydon Museum has an iron roof. We saw the exhibits on the History of Samoa. There were Canoes, Tools and Handicrafts.
The High Court of American Samoa (everyone calls it the Court House), looks like the Mansions that you see the southern part of the USA.
We drove along the coast to see the National Park. The vegetation was awesome. We saw the Vatia Village and the Bat Caves.
One day we were given the choice of going golfing or going deep sea fishing. I went deep sea fishing. I caught a Tuna and I was so excited it almost went back into the water.
We walked along the beach and the water was so clear we could see the fish and corals below it.
We went to Mt. Vaea to see the Cave Pool, Waterfalls, a few blowholes and the tomb or Robert Louis Stevenson, (a famous Author from the USA), who lived and died here. We stopped at the Savaii's Letolo Plantation to have a glass of fresh Coconut Juice and to see an Ancient Pyramid.
The Sadie Thompson Building is where Somerset Maugham stayed, (in the 1920's), and he wrote Rain while he stayed here.
OUR TRADITIONAL FEAST AND FOLKLORE SHOW:
We sat at on long table that was decorated with flowers and large green leaves. We sat on the some woven straw mats on the floor to watch the Show and to have a Samoan Feast.
The feast is the ''umu'' and that means food that mean it is cooked under the ground in a clay oven. Hot rocks are put beside it and the heat of hot rocks and the food is steamed to cook it.
When the food was ready it was put into the leaf. We dinned on a mixture of vegetables, roots, suckling pig, chicken, fish and a varity of sea food that was cooked in coconut milk. Tropical Fruit was served for desert.
After we finished eating we saw the show. Our Guide told us to watch the Dancer that is in the centre of the stage because that is the best dancer.
We saw the Standing Dance, (me’etu’upaki). Only Men dance and play the Slit Drum, (it looks like a Congo Drum). They are dancing a war dance.
The Men Dancers wear a short wrap around skirt made of bark cloth and hold clubs that look like ping pong paddles. There are both Mena and Women in the Choir.
The Women and Girls wear a bark cloth sarong when they sing and dance.
We saw some Girls and Women dance the ''me’etu’upaki'' where they use their hands to show how beautiful they are. There are drums that beat and poems sung in the background.
In one dance the Women formed a circle and danced around a fire.
The show end with the dancers and singers coming on stage and singing the ''fakatapu''. They don't move but they sing about how loyal they are to their Country and King.
There were a lot more dances and songs but I just wanted to give you a taste of what we saw.
WHERE WE ATE:
Every morning we had breakfast at our Hotel. I told you where we ate at the other Hotels.
We went to Sook's Sushi Café to eat Japanese Food.
The Hong Kong House served delicious Chinese Food.
WHERE WE SHOPPED:
I shopped at the open Market and at Fagato Plaza Mall.
WHAT I BOUGHT:
I bought on Sharks Tooth on a black woven cotton chain for my Husband, Son and Daughters.
I bought a Kava Bowl, (not to make that nasty drink I tasted in Fiji), but to put my candle in.
I bought two Lavalava's for my Daughters and T-shirts for my Husband, Son and Grandson.
I bought 2 Tortoise shelled combs for my Friend MM.
WHAT TO BRING:
A Passport and another picture ID, (I use my drivers licence).
Bug Spray, (I use Deets Oil).
Light cloths, running shoes, sandals, a bathing suit with a cover.
MY CONCLUSION:
We were only here for 7 days and 6 nights. I would have loved to see some of the other Islands.
Comments are always welcome.
©LL2003
