Na molimaunina e matua le fa’amanuiaina o fanau uma lava sa auai i le polokalame lona 39 a le Arts Council mo le tuuaga lenei o aoga, ina ua fa’aalia a latou taleni eseese i le tapunia ai o le polokalame i le fa’aiuga o le vaiaso na te’a nei.

O siva fa’a Samoa, vaneina o mamanu i laupapa ma ogalaau, lalagaina o galuega taulima e pei o pulou i launiu ma laufala, atoa ai ma le a’oa’oina o isi vaega o le atunu’u a Samoa, o ni isi ia o vaega na mafai ona fa’atinoina e fanau i le aso fa’ai’u o le polokalame, ao molimauina e matua.

O le Tausala o Amerika Samoa ia Suluga Tafaoali’i Taliau na saunoa i le saunoga fa’apitoa o le aso, i se mae’a ai o se sauniga puupuu na taitaia lava e le aufaigaluega a le Ofisa a le Arts Council e fa’amaea ai polokalame a le fanau.

A o le i tu’uina atu e le Tausala o Amerika Samoa lana fautuaga i tama’ita’i ina ia toaga e laufofoga fiafia pe a o o i le taimi latou te fa’atinoina ai siva fa’a Samoa, sa ia momoli le fa’afetai i matua e tusa ai o le latou lagolagoina o polokalame a fanau, aemaise ai o le tatala mai o le avanoa e a’oa’o ai e fanau le isi lenei la’asaga o lo latou olaga a’oa’oina.

“E auala eseese mai lava aoaoga fou mo outou, ae o le itu taua, ua mafai ona outou a’oa’oina isi mea fou e fesoasoani i lo outou ola taumafai, pau la’u fa’amalosi ia te outou tama’ita’i o lo o a’oa’oina siva Samoa, ia taumafai e laufofoga fiafia pe a o o i le taimi tou te sa’asa’a ai”, o le saunoaga lea a le Tausala o le atunu’u.

Na fa’atumulia matua i totonu o le Fale Samoa a le Ofisa o le Arts Council, ina ua lolofi atu i le molimauina o vaega fa’ai’u o le polokalame, a o fa’atinoina e le fanau a latou siva e taualuga ai le 5 vaiasoa o le latou aoaoga, e pei o le sasa, mauluulu, aemaise ai o pese fa’a Samoa na fa’aali ai le tomai o tama’ita’i talavou i le fa’atinoina lea o soo se taga o siva fa’a Samoa.

Na taua e se sui o le Ofisa i le fa’aiuina o le polokalame e fa’apea, o le agaga autu o le malo, ia faaaoga pea polokalame nei e fesoasoani ai i le a’oa’oina o fanau ia latou iloa fa’atino isi gaioiga o le soifuaga fa’a Samoa.

O le mae’a ai o le sauniga e fa’ai’u ai le polokalame, na tufatufaina ia loa fa’ailoga mo fanau uma e silia i le to’a 50 na auai i le polokalame atoa.

O fa’ailoga e aofia ai ato na saunia e le Ofisa o le Arts Council, o lo o tu’u uma ai totonu galuega sa fa’atinoina e fanau i totonu o le 5 vaiaso, e pei o pulou sa lalagaina i le launiu ma le laufala, o laupapa o lo o vaveina ai mamanu eseese, atoa ai ma isi lava vaega sa mafai ona latou galulue ai i le taimi o le polokalame.

Na taua e le susuga a Toetu Siaki, o se Tama mai Fagaalu e to’a 2 ona alo sa i ai i le polokalame e fa’apea, o le itu taua o le polokalame lenei, ua mafai ai ona tofo tupulaga fanau i le isi la’asaga o le soifuaga fa’a Samoa, ma fa’amasani ai loa i latou mo le aga’i i luma o le olaga o le tama ma le teine Samoa.

Ae na taua e le ali’i o Abel Viliamu e fa’apea, o le mea aoga sa mafai ona ia a’oa’oina i le 5 vaiaso o le polokalame, ua mafai ai ona ia iloa vane mamanu i le laupapa, ma lalaga le pulou launiu, o galuega e le o mafai e lona tama ma lona tina ona fa’asino atu ia te ia.

Se tasi o tama’ita’i talavou sa auai i le polokalame a le Arts Council mo le tu’uaga lenei o aoga, i le taimi na tauaao atu ai e le Tausala o Amerika Samoa ia Suluga Tafaoalii Taliau lana meaalofa.

[ata AF]

Ua fa’amaonia mai e le afioga i le ali’i Komesina o le Matagaluega o le Puipuiga o le Saogalemu Lautele lona faia o se suiga fou, ina ia taofia ai le toe tutupu mai o Ova Taimi e le o mana’omia a le Matagaluega.
 
O se tasi o ia suiga e pei ona saunoa le afioga a Save Liuato Tuitele i se fa’atalatalanoaga ma le Samoa News i le taeao ananafi, o le le mafai lea ona faia e se leoleo o se su’esu’ega fa’asaga i se mataupu tau solitulafono, se’i vagana ua ia tu’uina atu i ai le fa’atanaga.
 
Saunoa atili Save e fa’apea, talu ona tofia o ia e le afioga i le ali’i kovana e avea ma Komesina o Leoleo, o lo o galulue malosi pea lona Ofisa e mata’itu tulaga o ova taimi a leoleo, ma va’ava’ai i auala e foia ai le toe tutupu mai o ova taimi e le o mana’omia, ina ia mafai ai ona fa’asaoina mai tupe a le Matagaluega, ae fa’aalu i ova taimi o lo o tatau ma talafeagai mo soo se taimi e tula’i mai ai manaoga i totonu o le matagaluega ma le atunu’u.
 
“O le tele o ni isi o ova taimi lea ua tigaina le matagaluega e totogi i le taimi nei, o ova taimi sa tutupu i tausaga ma nofoaiga ua mavae, e pei o le mataupu a se tasi o Leoleo e faigaluega i le Ofisa i Tafuna, a manava le ali’i lea, ona alu lea i lo latou aiga, mulimuli ane ua toe fo’i atu i le Ofisa i Tafuna ma toe faigaluega e aunoa ma le mana’omia o ia e faigaluega, e le o pisi fo’i le Ofisa, o ituaiga ova taimi la nei ua amata ona matou mata’ituina lelei ina ia mautinoa, e le toe tula’i mai ova taimi nei i le lumana’i”, o le saunoaga lea a Save.
 
Saunoa atili fo’i le afioga i le ali’i Komesina o Leoleo e fa’apea, e i ai isi ova taimi o leoleo e mafua mai i le le fa’atinoina o galuega i le taimi faigaluega, ae fa’atoa tuli oso lava e fa’atino i le taimi o le a manava ai, ma le manatu ina ia maua ai itula e galulue ova taimi nei.
 
“O le isi vaega to’atele o Leoleo, e feofeoa’i lava i le aso atoa e leai ma se galuega e faia, ae latalata loa ina manava, ona fa’atoa tulioso loa lea e faia a latou su’esu’ega i ni isi o mataupu o lo o fa’aauau i ai a latou su’esu’ega, fai mai e mana’omia le fa’amae’a o su’esu’ega i mataupu ia, ae o le fesili, aisea na le o ai i le taimi atoa sa usu atu ai i le galuega e su’esu’e le mataupu lea, a o lea fa’atoa tulioso e amata le su’esu’ega ua oo i le taimi e manava ai”, o le isi lea saunoaga a Save.
 
Sa ia fa’amanino atili e fa’apea, ua ia taofia uma lava le toe faia o ni su’esu’ega i mataupu tau solitulafono, se’i vagana lava ua logo muamua atu o ia e fa’atatau i se su’esu’ega o lo o faia, ona fa’atoa ia tu’uina atu lea o le fa’atanaga e fa’atinoina ai lea su’esu’ega.
 
E ese mai i ova taimi e pei ona saunoa le ali’i Komesina, o lo o fa’aauau pea ona totogi e le matagaluega ma le malo ova taimi mo leoleo uma o lo o galulue i ni isi o polokalame a le malo e aofia ai taimi o sisiga fu’a i le 2015 ma le 2016.
 
Na taunu’u mai i le Samoa News faasea a ni isi o Leoleo i le tuai lea ona maua o a latou ova taimi, ae na saunoa Save e fa’apea, o lo o fa’agasolo pea ona tu’uina atu e lona Ofisa fa’amaumauga i ova taimi o leoleo i le Ofisa o Tagata Faigaluega a le malo mo le fa’agasoloina o pepa e totogi ai itula ova taimi.
 
I lona toe taliu mai ai i le atunu’u i le aso Faraile na te’a nei talu ona toesea mo se taimi umi, na fa’afetaia ai e Save le tautua a le matagaluega o Leoleo i soo se matafaioi, aemaise lava ali’i ma tama’ita’i leoleo o lo o galulue i le ao ma le po i le puipuia lea o le saogalemu o le atunu’u lautele.

E ui e le i tu’uina mai se fa’aiuga aloaia e le Fa’amasinoga Maualuga e talia ai pe teena le maliliega lea ua mae’a ona sainia e le malo ma le Pule o le pisinisi o le Le Aute Bar, e pei ona tolaulauina i luma o le fa’amasinoga maualuga i le taeao ananafi, peita’i o se tasi o vaega o lenei maliliega, o le malie lea o le malo e tali ioe Tumuatasi Lefatia i le moliaga mama o lona umia fa’asolitulafono o pulufana mo se a’upega e le fa’atagaina i Amerika Samoa, ae latou talosaga i le fa’amasinoga e solofua isi moliaga o lo o totoe ai i le pepa o le tagi sa latou fa’aulu, lea e aofia ai ma le moliaga mamafa o le umia fa’asolitulafono lea o vaega o le fualaau fa’asaina, le ituaiga o le aisa.
 
O le vaiaso fou lea sa fa’atulaga e le fa’amasinoga e faia ai le fa’amasinoga autu o le mataupu a Lefatia ma le malo, ae talu ai o lea ua taoto i luma o le fa’amasinoga maualuga fa’amaumauga o le maliliega a itu e lua, ua atagia mai ai loa le le fa’ataunu’uina o le fa’amasinoga autu lea sa fuafua e amataina i le vaiaso fou.
 
E 4 moliaga na ulua’i tu’uaia ai e le malo le ua molia, ma o ia moliaga e aofia ai le moliaga mamafa e tasi, o lona umia fa’asolitulafono lea o vaega o le pauta fa’asaina o le aisa, atoa ai ma moliaga mama e 3 o lona umia fa’asolitulafono lea o se a’upega e le fa’atagaina.
 
I lalo o le maliliega lea ua sainia e le malo ma Lefatia, ua malie ai le malo e tali ioe le ua molia i le moliaga lona 2 lea ua toe teuteu e le malo, o le umia fa’asolitulafono lea o ni pulufana.
 
I le tali ioe ai o Lefatia i le moliaga lona lua e pei ona toe teuteu e le malo, sa ia ta’utino ai i luma o le fa’amasinoga e fa’apea, i se taimi o le aso 19 Mati 2015 ina ua osofa’i e leoleo lona fale, e mafua mai i se poloaiga sa sainia e le fa’amasinoga e saili fa’amalosi ai lona fale ma ana meatotino, sa maua ai o ia o lo o ia umia ni pulufana se 25 o le ituaiga fana o le ‘.22 caliber’.
 
Na ta’utino atili le ua molia e fa’apea, o pulufana e pei ona taua, sa maua lea i lalo o se nofoa sa i totonu o le potu moe o lona fale. Ua ta’utino fo’i le ua molia e fa’apea, ua fa’atamala tele o ia ina ua le alu e talosaga se laisene mai le Komesina o Leoleo, ina ia tusa ai ma le tulafono lona umiaina o pulufana sa maua e leoleo i lona fale.
 
Ua malilie itu e lua e finau i le fa’amasinoga mo se fa’asalaga fa’asaga ia Lefatia, peita’i ua malamalama le ua molia, e le mafai ona toe suia lana tali ioe ua tu’uina atu i le fa’amasinoga maualuga, pe afai e tu’uina mai se fa’asalaga a le fa’amasinoga ae le tusa ai ma lona mana’o.
 
Na fesiligia e le afioga i le ali’i fa’amasino sili ia Michael Kruse le loia a le malo ia Tyler Danzel, poo lenei maliliega aufa’atasi o se mea moni lea ma talafeagai mo manaoga a tagatanu’u o Amerika Samoa, ae na tali le ua molia “ioe”.
 
Na fa’ailoa atili e Danzel i luma o le fa’amasinoga maualuga, le mae’a lea ona ia tu’uina atu o se tusitusiga e fa’amatala auiliili ai le mafua’aga ua ala ai ona manatu le malo e tali ioe Lefatia i le moliaga e pei ona taua i totonu o le maliliega.
 
Ua talosagaina e le afioga i le ali’i fa’amasino sili le Ofisa Fa’anofovaavaaia, ina ia tapena muamua se ripoti e uiga i lenei mataupu atoa ai ma le ua molia, ona fa’atoa mafai ai loa lea ona tu’uina mai se fa’aiuga a le fa’amasinoga, pe talia le maliliega ua tu’uina atu pe leai fo’i.
 
O le moliaga o le umia fa’asolitulafono o pulufana o se a’upega fa’asaina, o se solitulafono A i le fa’atulagaina o solitulafono mama, lea e mafai ona fa’asala ai se tasi i le toese mo le umi e le silia i le tasi le tausaga, atoa ai ma le fa’asala i se fa’asalaga tupe e le silia i le $1,000.
 
O lo o tumau pea tuutuuga o lo o tatala ai Lefatia i tua e fa’atali ai le aso 14 Oketopa o le tausaga nei, lea ua fa’atulaga e toe valaau ai lana mataupu.

Apia, SAMOA -- Samoa’a Ministry of Health (MOH) Chief Executive Officer  Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, says that the Foods Pacific Limited’s Farmer’s Style Corned Beef using chicken hearts as a flavor enhancer when the product is made, this is according to reports by the Samoa media, as Samoa News questions sent it the Director General last week has not been answered. According to the Samoa Observer, Leausa was to meet with a representative from the company to verify other issues.
 
He stated that the company has admitted they use  chicken hearts as a flavour enhancer. Last month the Ministry of Health issued a recall notice stating that “physical verification & examination of the corned beef product carried out by our Food Safety Officers found unusual meat products.” Leausa told Samoa News last month the process resulting in the recall of Farmers Corned Beef was initiated after public complaints of contamination of the corned beef with flesh or tissues suspicious that its not beef. Physical verification & examination of the corned beef product carried out by our Food Safety Officers found unusual meat products.
 
This week he told the Samoa Observer that the label on the corned beef does not fit the ingredients they have given (on the label) because obviously there is something else other than beef.  Leausa also stated that the company has assured the Samoa Government that with their other corned beef they make they will not do that again. He said that the claims from the company has left them suspicious.
 
He further explained that their main concern is the safety of members of the public and they want to make sure there is no long term effect that will trigger another disease from the corned beef. He said that those are issues and that is why the Ministry of Health are not rushing their decision as they are following the revised Food Bill. He said that because the Since the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa in Vailima and the hospital laboratory cannot verify the tissues, Leausa said samples are being sent to New Zealand for testing. 
 
In the meantime, the recall notice on the product stands.  According to the Farmers Style Corned Beef label under ingredients, it states beef, water, salt and sodium nitrite.  The label also says the beef is from New Zealand but it is processed and packed by a Fijian company.  In the meantime, Foods Pacific Sales and Marketing Manager Domestic and Export, Mohit H Shrrivastav, says that its over 40 years of business operations and this is the first time his type of situation has occurred, on the Fiji times. He said that the matter is with the Samoan Ministry of health who are doing their investigation and they respect that. He said that as soon as the results are out then they company will be informed. Foods Pacific exports its canned meat products, which includes corned beef and corned mutton, to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Wallis & Futuna, Tuvalu, New Zealand and Australia.
 
THE FOOD ACT
 
The Food Act 2015, Part 2 Section 7, False descriptions of food highlights that;  
 
(1) A person must not falsely describe food intended for sale. 
 
(2) A person must not sell food that the person ought reasonably to know is falsely described or is likely to cause physical harm to a person who relies on that description  
 
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 8,000 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three (3) years, or both. 

When Jayleen Chun of Leone was selected to be the ambassador for the Sosaiete o Faafafine i Amerika Samoa (SOFIAs) earlier this year in April - when she was crowned the 2016 Ms. SOFIAs - the long time educator announced that her platform will include the hosting of the “3-Fs”.
 
A “Festival” to promote fa’afafine pride, a search for “Funding” through grants, and hosting a “Forum” or conference so members of the local fa’afafine community can have a place to share their concerns and voice their opinions.
 
Tomorrow, Chun will make good on one of her promises, as she helps to spearhead the first ever “Fa’afafine Pride Festival” which will be held at the Suigaula ole Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 
According to Chun, the mission of tomorrow’s “Family Fun Day” is to “celebrate the contributions of the Samoan fa’afafine in our community, through an exhibition of talents and creativity.”
 
Additionally, the event aims to “educate the general community about the needs, issues, and various aspects of fa’afafine culture,” as well as “create an environment for networking and outreach for service and community opportunities for fa’afafines, their families, and friends.”
 
Lastly, the Festival will “foster support an advocacy towards equality and diversity in American Samoa.”
 
Tomorrow’s event is free of charge and will kick off with a trade fair that includes vendors selling everything from arts and crafts, to food items and other services like floral arranging tips, and hair and make-up ideas.
 
As of yesterday, Chun said they had already confirmed booth spaces for over 21 vendors.
 
Entertainment will be provided and will include ‘mini shows’ like the “Hat and Headgear” show, a “Hair” show that promises to dazzle the audience with unique - and creative - hair styles, and an “Island Wear Fashion” segment that will feature one-of-a-kind designs and patterns.
 
The highlight of the day will be the ‘SOFIAs Teen Diva Pageant’ that is open to all fa’afafines between 15 and 21 years of age.
 
The contestants must be enrolled in high school or college, and as of yesterday, a total of five contestants were already confirmed to compete.
 
The panel of judges will include Patricia Tautai of Tautai Car Rentals, Labor Day Atanoa of the Dept. of Education, and the reigning Mr. American Samoa Folasa Allen.
 
Chun invites everyone to bring the kids, as there will be a water slide and four game booths. For 50-cents a game, kids can have fun and enjoy a day out with the family.
 
“All the activities tomorrow are open to the public and it’s all about giving back to the community,” Chun said.
 
Day 2 of the Festival will be Friday, August 5th from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale Laumei) in Utulei.
 
Admission is $10 per ticket and activities will include a competition between the east and west.
 
The Eastside Team will be comprise fa’afafines from Nuuuli village heading eastward, while the Westside Team will feature divas from Tafuna heading westward.
 
The four categories of competition will include a “creature couture” - which is a creation of three “out of this world” looks inspired by an insect, a fish, and a bird.
 
The second category is a song competition, whereby the participants are required to remake or create a rendition of a Samoan song that incorporates a blend of the four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass).
 
The third category is the “contemporary siva” competition, where a dance routine must be choreographed to produce a mixture of the traditional Samoan siva and modern dance.
 
Lastly, the final category is the “poetic choral recitation” which must include a production of a poetic choral (group) performance inspired by the work of Maya Angelou.
 
A panel of five judges will select the winners for the Day 2 competition and only three have been confirmed - for now. They are: Kuki Tuiasosopo of the American Samoa Community College, Zena Iese of the Dept. of Youth and Women’s Affairs, and Sandy Satele of StarKist Samoa.
 
The names of the other two judges were not available as of press time yesterday.
 
“We would love to see everyone come out and participate,” said Chun.
 
More information on the two-day Festival can be obtained by calling Jayleen Chun at 733-8901, Sefi Leiatumauga at 731-6570, or Nani Uso at 252-0138.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata traveled off the Hill on Wednesday afternoon to meet with several Law Enforcement Officers from American Samoa who were in Washington as part of their annual training, which includes instruction from the House Committee on Homeland Security.
 
 “I am always happy to make time and meet with our law enforcement officers and other first responders,” said Amata.  “Their dedication to the communities they serve is self-evident through the sacrifices they make each and every day on our behalf, and I am honored to assist them in any way I can as a Member of Congress,” continued Amata.
 
The Law Enforcement Officers from American Samoa who were in Washington for training included, Chief of Police Tauese Sunia; CPT Paul Leuma; Customs Inspector So'oso'oali'i Savali; Special Agent Jolene Mageo, DHS; Special Agent Paia Toeava; Special Agent Leslie Tua, OTICIDE; Special Agent Tauamo Fe'a, DHS; and Jake Fano, Admin Assistant, DHS.
 
 “I want to thank Police Chief Tauese Sunia, and his officers for taking time to meet with me regarding some of the issues they are concerned about, and for their service to our beautiful home. With the recent outbreak of blatant and horrific attacks against police officers across the nation, we must do all we can to ensure the safety of our Law Enforcement Officers, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to make sure that we are doing just that,” concluded Amata.

I le silia ai i le 3 masina o lo o totoe ona taunu’u loa lea i le aso o le sailiga tofi a le atunuu i le aso 8 Novema 2016, ua fa’aalia e le Ofisa o Palota le silia i le to’a 17,000 le aofa’i o tagata ua mae’a ona lesitala o latou igoa mo le palota, e ui o lo o tatala pea le lesitalaina o tagata palota e le i tapunia.

O le fonotaga a le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga ma lana Kapeneta i le aso ananafi, na maua ai le avanoa o le Komesina o Palota ia Uiagalelei Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei e fa’amanino ai tulaga ua i ai tapenaga a lona Ofisa mo le palota.

Na amata le folasaga a Uiagalelei i lona fa’ailoa lea i le Kapeneta suiga ua ausia e lona Ofisa, i auala e fa’atinoina ai faiga palota a le atunu’u, ina ia lelei ma vave, ma taofia ai le toe tula’i mai o fa’aletonu sa maitauina i tausaga ua mavae.

“O le polokalame lea ua fa’aaoga e lo’u Ofisa e teu malu ai fa’amaumauga a tagata palota, atoa ai ma le auala e faitauina ai palota ina ia sa’o lelei ma atoatoa, ua faia ina ia taofia ai le toe tula’i mai o fa’aletonu sa tutupu i faiga palota o tausaga ua mavae, lea e 2 aso o tau lau fa’amae’a le lisi palota sa i ai”, o le saunoaga lea a Uiagalelei ma ia taua ai le palota o le tausaga e 1988 a o avea o ia ma tagata faigaluega i le Ofisa o Palota, lea e atoa aso e 2 o tau lau fa’auma pusa palota.

O ni isi o polokalame ua fuafua le Ofisa o Palota, o aoaoga mo i latou e fia galulue i le aso o le palota, atoa ai ma fonotaga ma Pulenu’u fa’apea ai Fa’alupega o afioaga ta’itasi, mo le fa’amanatuina i ai o le latou tiute i lalo o le tulafono i le aso o le palota.

“O ai uma tagata e fia galulue i le aso o le palota, o le masina o Oketopa lea ua fa’atulaga e faia ai se a’oa’oga fa’apitoa mo outou e fia tusi talosaga mai, ina ia fa’amanino atu auala uma e fa’atinoina ai le galuega”, o le saunoaga lea a Uiagalelei, ma ia fautuaina ai soo se tasi e fia galue ina ia piki le pepa fa’atumu mai le latou Ofisa.

Ae mo tiute tauave a Pulenu’u ma Fa’alupega, o le a faia se fonotaga fa’apitoa a le Ofisa o Palota ma le Ofisa o Mataupu Tau Samoa i le isi lua vaiaso o lo o lumana’i nei, mo le fa’amalamalamaina o tiute tauave a ali’i mautofi i le aso o le palota.

Saunoa Uiagalelei e fa’apea, e taua tele le sao o ali’i mautofi i le aso o le palota i soo se afioaga, aemaise ai nofoaga eseese uma ua fuafua e fa’atutu ai fale palota e 45 ua fa’amoemoe e aga’i i ai tagata mo le faia o a latou palota.

“O ali’i mautofi uma i le atunu’u, o i latou ia e fesoasoani malosi i le aufaigaluega e fai palota, atoa ai ma le puipuiina lea o le saogalemu ma le nonofo lelei o tagata uma i le aso o le palota”, o le saunoaga lea a Uiagalelei.

Mo le fa’aaogaina o atigi pusa mo le palota, e 3 atigi pusa ua fa’amoemoe e fa’aaoga i le aso o le palota, o ia atigi pusa e fa’apitoa mo le palotaina o le Kovana ma le Lutena Kovana, Faipule i Uosigitone, atoa ai ma le Faipule a le itumalo i le Fono Faitulafono a le atunu’u.

“E talosaga atu i le atunu’u aemaise sui o le Kapeneta ma ali’i mautofi, e le mafai ona matou fa’atinoina lenei galuega pe afai tatou te le galulue fa’atasi, e matua mana’omia lava la outou lagolago mo le fa’ataunu’uina ma le manuia o le sailiga tofi a le atunu’u i lenei tausaga”, o le saunoaga lea a Uiagalelei.

Mo i latou i Manu’a o lo o fia lesitala mo le palota, ua fa’amoemoe le Ofisa e auina ni o latou sui i Manu’a mo le fa’ataunu’uina o lea auaunaga.

I le talanoaina ai o le mataupu i faiga palota, sa fautuaina ai e le ali’i kovana afioga i Fa’atonusili o Matagaluega ma Ofisa Tumaoti a le malo, ina ia silasila toto’a i tagata faigaluega ia ua fa’amoemoe e ave a latou aso livi i le aso o le palota, ae fa’amoemoe e galulue i le Ofisa o Palota mo le faiga o le palota.

“E le o se mea amiotonu lea faiga ua maitauina i ni isi o tagata faigaluega a le malo, o le fai o le livi ae alu faigaluega i le aso o le palota, o le mafua’aga tonu lena na ala ai ona ave le avanoa i Faiaoga e avea ai i latou ma tagata fai palota i le aso o le palota, aua e na o le 10  masina o lo o galulue ai i latou, ae fa’aaoga lea avanoa e maua ai se isi tupe fa’aopoopo mo latou, ae le o le toe tuli oso atu ai fo’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo e fao avanoa ia, ae lelei pe a tu’u pea le avanoa i isi tagata e aofia ai ma faiaoga latou te mauaina ai ia galuega”, o le isi lea saunoaga a le ali’i kovana.

Na fautuaina fo’i e le ali’i kovana le tofa Uiagalelei ma lona Ofisa, ina ia saili se avanoa latou te fa’amalamalamaina ai i luma o le atunu’u mataupu uma e fa’atatau i le faiga palota, e fa’aaoga i ai le tautua a le Televise a le malo, le KVZK-TV, ina ia mautinoa e malamalama uma le atunu’u i tulafono ma gaioiga e moomia ona faia i le aso o le palota.

Le Komesina o le Ofisa o Palota, Uiagalelei Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei i le taimi sa ia fa’amalamalama ai i luma o le Kapeneta sauniuniga a lona Ofisa ua i ai mo le faiga palota.

[ata AF]

Pictured here are all American Samoa Seventh Day Adventist Pastors with Pastors Peter Roennfeldt, Wayne Krause, Nick Kross & Faafetai Matai who are from the Seventh day Adventist Trans Pacific Union Mission.

They are here for the Pacific Reach Movement/Church Planting Seminars for this whole week.

These seminars are designed to help train local church members on how to plant churches & fulfill the greatest commission of Christ; which is to Make Disciples.

New England Patriots running back Joey Iosefa (No. 47) on the sidelines during the first day of training camp yesterday.

According to former American Samoa resident Rick Petri, Joey “broke a couple of nice plays.”

Iosefa is a 2009 graduate of Fagaitua High School and graduated from the Univ. of Hawaii — Manoa before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015.

FA’AAUAU PEA GALUEGA FA’AMAMA A LE MALO
 
Ua molimauina le to’atele o tagata mai fafo ua latou fa’aalia le tulaga matagofie ua i ai laufanua o Amerika Samoa i le taimi nei, pe a fa’atusatusa i le 20 tausaga talu ai, i le mama ma le fiafia o tagata e teuteu fa’amatagofie tafa ala.
 
Ona o lea tulaga, na talosagaina ai loa e le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga lana kapeneta i le vaiaso nei, e manaomia pea le fa’aauau o galuega fa’amama a le malo i vaega eseese o le malo, ina ia mautinoa e fa’atumauina pea foliga mama ma le matagofie o Amerika Samoa.
 
Na fa’amatala ma le agaga fiafia e Lolo i luma o lana kapeneta, se talanoaga sa latou faia ma se tasi o tina sa malaga mai i Amerika, ina ua fa’aalia e lea tina lona agaga fiafia ma le fa’afetai i ta’ita’i o le malo ma le atunu’u atoa, ona o le matagofie ma le mama o laufanua o le atunu’u, ae sa matua sili ona mataga ma tele ai le otaota i le 20 tausaga talu ai, ina ua fa’atoa malaga mai lava i le atunu’u i lena vaitau.
 
Na taua e Lolo e fa’apea, afai o lo o lagona e tagata mai fafo tulaga matagofie o le atunu’u, e tatau fo’i i tagatanu’u o Amerika Samoa ona latou lagonaina le taua o le ola tu mama atoa ai ma le galulue o tagata uma e teuteu fa’amatagofie laufanua lanu lauava o Amerika Samoa.
 
FA’AFETAIA KOVANA FESOASOANI MALO MO LE FA’ALELEIA O FALEAOGA
 
I le toe sauni atu ai o fanau aoga mo le toe amataina o aoga mo le tausaga aoga fou lea ua faamoemoe e amata i le faaiuga o le masina nei, na fa’afetaia ai e le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga sui o lana kapeneta, ona o galuega lelei o lo o fa’aauau pea ona latou faia, e ala i le fa’amamaina lea o faleaoga i totonu o le atunu’u, i lalo o le polokalame o le Fa’atamafai o Faleaoga.
 
“O lea ua toe sauni fanau mo le amataina o aoga i lenei tausaga aoga, ma ua toe manaomia ai la outou fesoasoani e ala i le fa’amamaina o faleaoga, o le agaga taua o polokalame o lo o tatou faia, e mafai ai ona momoli atu i fanau se fa’ata’ita’iga lelei mo lo latou lumana’i, e le tau fa’atali le fa’aleleia o faleaoga poo mea o loo moomia i faiaoga, ae mafai e soo se tasi e aofia ai ma le malo ona fa’atinoina mea uma o lo o moomia, e ala i le galulue fa’atasi o tagata uma”, o le saunoaga lea a le ali’i kovana.
 
O le polokalame lenei o le Fa’atamafai o Faleaoga, o ni isi nei o suiga fou sa faia e le faigamalo a Lolo ma Lemanu, e fesoasoani ai i le matagaluega o aoga i le fa’aleleia atoa ai ma le fa’amamaina o faleaoga.
 
I le talitonu ai o le ali’i kovana i le manatu lenei, o le tiute o le malo o le fesoasoani lea i manaoga uma e tutupu mai i vaega eseese o le malo, sa ia fa’atula’i ai loa se fa’ata’ita’iga sili, e ala i lona talosagaina o fa’atonusili ina ia taulamua i latou i le faia o galuega lelei, e ala i le galulue e toe vali ma toe fa’amama faleaoga o lo o moomia le fa’aletonu.
 
“Ia avea galuega nei o ni fa’ata’ita’iga mo fanau aoga, afai fo’i e matutua i latou, latou te fa’ata’ita’i i mea lelei sa faia, ma latou toe faia fo’i i isi tupulaga o lo o mulimuli mai”, o le saunoaga lea a le ali’i kovana.
 
I se ripoti mai le matagaluega o aoga i le aso ananafi, ua taua ai le sauni uma o faleaoga mo le fa’aaogaina e fanau i le taimi e toe amata aloaia ai aoaoga i le faaiuga o le masina nei.
 
Na taua e le sui faatonusil o aoga a le malo ia Faauifono Vaitautolu e fa’apea, e leai se faaaliga mai le Matagaluega o le Soifua Maloloina e fa’ailoa mai ai ni faleaoga e le tatau ona tatalaina, lona uiga la, o lo o tulaga lelei faleaoga uma mo le toe amataina o aoga a le fanau.
 
O se tasi lenei o fa’afitauli sa fetaia’i ma le ofisa o aoga i ni nai tausaga e lei mamao atu, o le toe tolopo lea o le amataina o aoga mo le isi vaiaso, ona o tulaga faaletonu i faleaoga
 
“Ua mae’a ona faia le asiasiga a le Ofisa o le Soifua Maloloina fa’apea ai ma le Ofisa o Galuega Lautele a le malo, ma ua fa’ailoa mai i a latou asiasiga tulaga lelei o lo o i ai faleaoga, e le o i ai fo’i se faleaoga o tula’i mai ai se fa’aletonu”, o le saunoaga lea a Vaitautolu.
 
TELE ISI POLOKETI A LE MALO UA FUAFUA E TATALA MA FA’AULUFALE
 
A o le i mae’a gaioiga a le malo mo le tausaga tupe tuai lenei 2016, ua fa’alauiloa e le ofisa o le kovana le i ai o poloketi sa galulue mai ai le malo i tausaga ua mavae ua fa’amoemoe e fa’aulufale ma tatala i se taimi e le o toe mamao.
 
O ni isi o ia galuega e aofia ai auala, faleaoga, atoa ai ma fale fausia e pei o le falepuipui i Tafuna.
 
Mo le Falepuipui i Tafuna, o se vaega tupe na tu’uina mai e le Ofisa o le Initeria o lo o fausia ai, ma ua fa’amoemoe e tatau ona fa’aulufaleina ae lei tapunia le tausaga tupe lenei i le faaiuga o le masina o Setema.
 
Na taua e le Komesina o Leoleo i le Samoa News i le vaiaso nei e fa’apea, ua mae’a atoa le galuega, pau le tulaga o lo o fa’atali i ai o le tatalaina lea ma fa’aaoga loa. Sa ia taua fo’i le manaia tele o le falepuipui fou lea ua mae’a nei ona fausia, atonu o le a foia ai le fa’afitauli o lo o masani ona tula’i soo mai, o le sosola soo lea o pagota i tua, e mafua mai i le faaletonu o le falepuipui o lo o i ai.
 
O isi galuega ua fuafua le malo e tatala ma faaulufale, o galuega o faleaoga ma auala. Na taua i se ripoti sa faalauiloa i le fono a le kapeneta i le vaiaso nei e fa’apea, o le toatele o aoga i le atunu’u ua tofu uma lava ma faleaoga fou, o ni isi o ia galuega ua mae’a, ae o isi galuega ua toeititi mae’a isi, ae o isi galuega fa’atoa amata.
 
O le agaga atoa o le malo e pei ona taua e le ofisa o le ali’i kovana, ia tofu uma aoga ta’itasi ma faleaoga fou, ina ia mafai ai ona foia le faafitauli o le faaletonu o faleaoga, fale’ai atoa ai ma fale taele i ni isi o faleaoga.

Air New Zealand has operated its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to Samoa for the first time, with flight NZ296 touching down at Faleolo Airport at 1pm Wednesday (Samoa time) afternoon.
 
Air New Zealand Chief Sales and Commercial Officer Cam Wallace says operating the 787-9 aircraft on the Auckland – Apia route will allow the airline to deliver a more consistent inflight product offering on the route.
 
 “The Dreamliner aircraft has proven to be popular with our customers since we first introduced it thanks to a raft of onboard features such as lower cabin altitude, higher humidity, larger windows as well as our signature inflight products like our Premium Economy and Business Premier seat options,” says Wallace. 
 
The airline currently flies daily between New Zealand and Samoa using a combination of Boeing 787-9, 777-200, and Airbus A320 aircraft.  While the Dreamliner will initially operate a small number of services, it will be a more regular sight in the Apia skies from early November when it will operate most of the airline’s wide-body services to and from Samoa.
 
Air New Zealand was the first airline globally to take delivery of the 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in 2014. In addition to operating a range of long haul services, the airline’s current fleet of seven Dreamliners now also fly to a number of Pacific Island destinations including Nadi and Nuku'alofa as well as Rarotonga and Papeete from late October.

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx stayed over night in Pago Pago over the weekend enroute from Australia back to the United States. He held a private breakfast meeting with Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga before his US government plane headed back to Honolulu and then on to Washington D.C.
 
Foxx had made a refueling stop-over in Pago Pago the morning of July 31 (Sunday) enroute from Honolulu to Australia and was hosted by the governor and other ASG leaders at Sadie’s by the Sea hotel.
 
Lolo told Samoa News last Friday afternoon that several issues were raised during that meeting including the relocation of the jet fuel tank facility, located at the airport next to the parking lot; federal cabotage law impacting American Samoa; airport funding; and USDOT funding for local roads.
 
Also discussed at the meeting is the 325 acres of land, initially dedicated for the airport, that the US Federal Aviation Administration claims was transferred to other ASG agencies without FAA approval. This land has since been used for various purposes including housing, Tafuna Industrial Park, government facilities and commercial leases.
 
“It was very important that the Secretary of Transportation was made aware of these issues facing American Samoa,” Lolo said in a phone interview with Samoa News. “Also important is that some of these issues are affecting FAA funding for our airport.”
 
Lolo expressed sincerely appreciation to Foxx for making the time to stop in Pago Pago for refueling and to have a chance to hear directly on issues from local leaders that impact American Samoa especially FAA funding and USDOT money  for major road projects in the territory.
 
The governor said that he was informed last Friday morning that Foxx was making another stop in Pago Pago enroute to Honolulu and this time, the US Transportation Secretary was staying overnight.
 
Foxx, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, arrived Friday night and stayed overnight at Tradewinds Hotel, where he held a private breakfast meeting with Lolo, who was accompanied at the meeting by First Lady, Cynthia Moliga;  Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga; and Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele.
 
While the nearly 90-minute breakfast meeting was ongoing, news reporters as well as other senior members of the governor’s staff, waited  in the hotel lobby, where Taimalelagi later gave a briefing on the outcome of the meeting.
 
And Taimalelagi delivered “good news” regarding funds for the jet fuel tanks relocation project. See tomorrow’s edition for details.

O le fa’ai’uina ai ma le manuia o se tasi o polokalame sa fa’atautaia e le Matagaluega o Tupulaga Talavou, Tina ma Tama’ita’i sa fa’agasolo mo le 2 masina, i le a’oa’oina lea o le gaosiina o le Elei, ua atagia mai ai le fa’atuputeleina pea lea o le sao a le Matagaluega mo le atina’eina o olaga o tupulaga, tagata ta’itasi, atoa ai ma aiga, i le a’oa’oina lea o i latou i tomai eseese e mafai ona amata se tama’i pisinisi e maua ai tupe mo le aiga.

E to’a 5 i latou sa mafai ona fa’au’uina mai i le polokalame lona 6 o le “Elei Training”, lea na fa’ai’uina i le aso Faraile na te’a nei, ma tufatufa ai tusi pasi a i latou na mafai ona ausia la’asaga uma o le aoaoga, e pei o le ausia o itula e tatau ai ona auai i le aoga, aemaise ai o le fa’atinoina lea o galuega e fa’ailoa mai ai le gafatia ona gaosi le elei.

O se sauniga puupuu sa fa’ataunuuina i le nofoaga autu a le Matagaluega na mafai ai loa ona fa’ai’uina lenei polokalame.

O le susuga ia Tou Fa’amausili Collins, o ia lea o le Matua o Faiva sa gafa ma le a’oa’oina o i latou ua fa’ai’uina la latou aoaoga, lea e silia i le to’a 20 i latou na auai i le amataga, ae na o le to’alima na mafai ona fa’ai’uina ma maua tusi pasi.

Na taua e Collins i lana saunoaga e faapea, o le tomai ua mafai ona ia a’oa’oina, ua ia manatu e toe fa’asoa atu i soo se tasi o lo o ia fia maua, ina ia mafai ai fo’i e i latou ua ia a’oa’oina ona fa’aauau le tufaina atu o le poto ma le tomai i le gaosiina o le elei, ma to’atele ai lava tagata o le atunu’u e atamamai i lenei galuega.

“O le meaalofa lenei na aumai e le Atua ia te a’u, o le mafua’aga fo’i lena ou te fiafia ai e tufa atu i soo se tasi e aofia ai le vasega fa’au’u, ina ia maua ai e i latou le poto ma mafai ai ona latou gaosi le elei ina ia fa’atau atu, ma maua ai tupe e fesoasoani ai i aiga, pe mafai fo’i ona tatala ai se tama’i pisinisi a se aiga e fesoasoani ai i le atina’eina o le aiga”, o le saunoaga lea a Collins.

Sa ia fa’amalosi i le au fa’au’u ina ia fa’aaoga tatau le taleni ua latou maua, e atina’e ai aiga ma fesoasoani ai i soo se tasi.

Na taua e se sui o le vasega fa’au’u ia Poka Matalima e fa’apea, e leai se manatu e lesitala lona igoa i le vaega, ae sa alu atu e momoli lona to’alua sa auai i le vaega, ae lu’i ai o ia e se sui o le Ofisa e lesitala lona igoa.

“Ou te le iloa tusi se ata, ou te le iloa fo’i fai se galuega o le elei, ae ina ua amata ona ou aoga e ala i le fesoasoani mai a le faiaoga ia Collins, sa amata ai loa iina ona tupu le fiafia i lo’u loto, ma ou naunau ai loa ina ia fa’aauau pea lo’u auai i le vasega”, o le saunoaga lea a Matalima.

“O lea ua ou iloa gaosi le elei, ma o la’u moemitiga la lea ua i ai, o le a ou fo’i i lo’u aiga ma amata loa sa’u tama’i pisinisi elei, e mafai ona fa’atau atu ma maua ai se tupe mo a’u ma lo’u aiga. E taua aoaoga faapenei ua mafai ai ona ou maua lenei tomai, ua ou sauni fo’i e fa’asoa atu lenei tomai i isi o lo o fia maua se fesoasoani”, o a Matalima lea.

I le tulaga o tagata e to’atele sa auai i le amataga o le aoaoga, na taua ai e Matalima e fa’apea, e mafua ona fiu ma fa’avaivai gofie le tagata i aoaoga faapenei, ona o lo o i ai lona mafaufau o le taimi lava e amata ai le aoga, o le taimi fo’i lena na te iloa ai fai le elei, peita’i, e tatau ona onosa’i, fa’alogo ma maitau aoaoga uma o lo o a’oa’o mai e le faiaoga, ina ia lava se taimi e fa’amasani ai ma avea ai loa le tagata aoga o se tasi ua matua lava lona a’oa’oina.

Na taua e sui e to’alua o le Ofisa ia Paulia Pelenato ma Ramona Toeaina le fa’aauau pea o polokalame a le Matagaluega, e fesoasoani ai i tagata o lo o fia maua le tomai i galuega eseese e pei o le kuka, elei ma le tui teu, ina ia mafai ai ona fesoasoani i tagata mo le amataina o se tama’i pisinisi e fesoasoani ai i le aiga.

Saunoa Toeaina e fa’apea, o polokalame uma o lo o fa’atinoina e le matagaluega, o lo o faia fua uma i lalo o le fesoasonai mai o le ali’i kovana, ona o le manatu ia aua ne’i i ai ni fa’afitauli e taofia ai tagata mai lo latou auai i nei polokalame.

O i latou e to’alima na faamanuiaina i le polokalame e aofia ai Poka Matalima ma lona faletua ia Alieta, Tali Anoa’i, Vaoita Faumuina ma Katalina Fetalaiga.

Se vaaiga i le au fa’auu, faiaoga ma sui o le Ofisa o Tupulaga Talavou i le mae’a ai o le fa’auuga i le aso Faraile na te’a nei.

[ata AF]

Alieta Matalima i le taimi na ia tauaaoina ai lona tusi pasi mai le Matua o Faiva o le aiga, le susuga a Tou Fa’amausili Collins.

[ata AF]

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa’s Police issued an official public apology to the village council of Vaimoso and other villages that were mentioned in connection with threats made against gangs during a previous police conference headed by Samoa’s Police Spokesperson, Maotaoali’i Kaioneta Kitiona. At this week’s police press conference, Maotaoali’i was absent as he is overseas and leading the conference was Su’a Muliaga Tiumalu who apologized to the villages.
 
Last week Maotaoali’i issued a stern warning to the gangs who are creating problems in the town area of Samoa and made it clear that the Police have been trained to combat gang related issues that have been arising in Samoa in the last few weeks. According to Maotaoali’i, the young men involved are from the villages of Lepea, Vaimoso, Taufusi, Lalovaea, Taugamanono, Lauli’i, Vailele, Letogo and Tufuiopa.
 
He said that they have reached out to the village councils of the mentioned villages for their help in locating these the youth involved. During this week’s meeting with the Samoa media, Su’a rendered the apology and noted that the leaders in the Police Ministry met with the village councils this week and they have sorted out the matter.
 
There were suggestions by the media in Samoa, that maybe the tone used by Maotaoali’i although threatening sent out a strong message that the police will not tolerate this type of behavior displayed by the youth or gang members, as actions by these so-called gangs have affected people, some of whom were robbed. Su’a responded that there should be respect between the Police and members of the public no matter what. Su’a also confirmed that five young men have been charged with unlawful assembly and it’s punishable with a sentence of up to one-year jail. He did not specify if these young men were charged with robbery and property damage or if this gang has been accused as the culprits.
 
In the meantime, one of Vaimoso’s Village Council High Chiefs, Aulavemai Tafito Selesele has disputed findings by the police that the gang is called O.P.O meaning Oti po’o le ola (life or death) rather it’s O.B.O Original Blood Outlaw.
 
He told Samoa News during a brief interview outside the courthouse on Friday morning, they have dealt with the teenagers from Vaimoso who are involved in this gang and while 19 of them have come forward several of the youth are not originally from Vaimoso rather they rent at Vaimoso. He said that the youth along with their families have come forth before the village, the youth who were involved in the gang, knelt before the village council and they had since been forgiven.
 
The village was expected to hold another meeting Monday (Samoa time) where the families of the gang members will feed the village council. Although the youth have not been penalized — the families have offered to prepare a feast for the council. “The families and the youth of Vaimoso have not been penalized but they have been warned that the council will not give them a second chance. The next time they are caught being affiliated with O.B.O their families will be penalized and the council will not be so lenient.”
 
Aulavemai told Samoa News that their village has created a task force made up of chiefs in their village to conduct inspections during the wee hours of the night to find out if the O.B.O are still making appearances in the village.
 
He said that the youth were told to dismantle this gang as it’s not only illegal but it’s brought shame to the village and families. He said that another predicament faced by Vaimoso is that members of the gangs are young people who had since been banned from their respective villages and had since moved and stayed with their extended families in Vaimoso.
 
“Currently the village council is moving forward with visiting each and every family in Vaimoso to find out if there are any families who have been ousted from their villages and are now living in Vaimoso. During our meetings we urged the families that they should remove these families from the lands of Vaimoso and if the village council finds out there are such people, the families will be penalized.”

HONOLULU — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council last week agreed to a resolution that asks the U.S. government to address a suite of concerns before acting on the proposed expansion on the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (MNM) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
 
Council members Suzanne Case, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources chair, and Julie Leialoha, Conservation Council for Hawaii president, voted against the proposal. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Regional Administrator Michael Tosatto abstained. 
 
The resolution requests a "public, transparent, deliberative, documented and science-based process" to address the proposed expansion, which could prohibit fishing in two-thirds of the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ), i.e., waters out to 200 miles from shore, around Hawaii. The resolution is being sent to President Obama, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Secretaries of Commerce, the Interior and State.
 
The Council’s resolution also requests that the U.S. government address the resources and tools needed to effectively manage and administer an expanded monument and to specify the technical, scientific and socioeconomic costs and benefits from monument expansion on marine resources, residents of Hawaii and the nation.
 
If any designation is made under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to proclaim an expanded monument, the Council recommends that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act process continue to be used to develop, analyze and implement fisheries management in the U.S. EEZ waters enclosed by the monument.
 
Council Executive Director Kitty M. Simonds noted that the Homeland Security Department and U.S. Coast Guard did not receive additional enforcement assets to monitor the Pacific Remote Islands MNM after it was expanded in 2014, despite White House statements that additional enforcement would be provided.
 
Council members John Gourley of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) said promises made by the White House and Pew Charitable Trusts during the 2009 creation of the Marianas MNM were also not fulfilled, such as the construction of a monument visitors' center and increased jobs, tourism and revenue.
 
"Hopefully the federal agency involved with the expansion will work with the Council," said Henry Sesepasara, a special advisor to the American Samoa governor and member of the NOAA Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. In 2009 when the marine monument was established in American Samoa, its 50-mile boundary around Rose Atoll was slightly different from the 50-mile longline-prohibited area established by the Council. This misalignment led to the loss of approximately $237,000 annually to the fishery, until rectified by the Council.
 
All four of the nation's marine national monuments are located in the U.S. Pacific Islands, placing about 30 percent of U.S. waters in the region as large-scale marine protected areas closed to commercial fishing. "No other region in the nation comes close to being that restrictive," said Council Chair Edwin Ebisui Jr. According to National Marine Protected Area Center data, all other U.S. regions are less than a quarter of 1 percent no-take.
 
This past week, the Council also began the process to specify the 2017 catch and transfer limits for longline caught, bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) conservation measures allow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Territories to have an unlimited catch of longline-caught bigeye tuna in the WCPO.  However, since 2014, the federal Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has recommended, and the Secretary of Commerce has approved, a catch limit of 2,000 metric tons (mt) per U.S. Territory of which 1,000 mt per territory can be transferred to federally permitted vessels, such as those in the Hawaii longline fishery.
 
The Hawaii longline fishery utilizes the U.S. quota, which is among the smallest for nations that have historically fished for bigeye tuna by longline in the WCPO.
 
The U.S. quota was reached early in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Hawaii fishery reopened last year with transferred quota from the U.S. Territories. The fishery closed this year on July 22. Catch-per-unit effort of 40 percent higher than normal with greater numbers and larger tuna are reasons the quota was met early. Rulemaking needed for the fishery to utilize transferred quota in 2016 has not been completed by NMFS.
 
The United States is the only nation in the WCPO to have shut down its fishery after reaching its quota. Three reasons for this were discussed: 1) The U.S. strictly monitors its catch and projects when the limit will be reached; 2) The limits are based on historic catches, which may not reflect current operations of some fleets, such as the significant declines in the Japanese fleet, which is awarded the largest quota; and 3) There may be questionable reporting and a lack of equivalent compliance by some countries.
 
 The Council is expected to take action on the 2017 Territorial catch and transfer limits for longline-caught bigeye tuna in the WCPO during its next meeting, to be held Oct. 11 to 14, 2016, in Honolulu.
 
Other actions by the Council last week included agreeing to changes in the membership of the Scientific and Statistical Committee, Advisory Panel and Marine Planning and Climate Change Committee and approving a letter to the Dept. of State regarding Indonesia seafood exports to the United States and Hawaii.
 
The letter recommends that the Department take action as appropriate due to ongoing problems with human trafficking in fishermen slaves, the significant contribution of Indonesian fishing vessels to the overfishing of bigeye tuna in the WCPO, the unreliability of Indonesia's fishery statistics, and the unaccountably high longline bigeye catch limit for Indonesia. Taken together, these have a damaging impact on Hawaii's seafood market and its longline fishing industry, which has become the global standard for environmentally responsible pelagic longline fishing. For more information on the Council meeting including a complete agenda and background documents, visit www.wpcouncil.org or contact the Council at info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.

A o le i fa’ai’ui’u felafolafoaiga a afioga i Faipule o le maota o sui i le taeao ananafi, i se mataupu na vaaia ai le tau si’isi’i o le tai i finagalo fa’aalia o ni isi o sui mamalu, ona o le naunau lava e fa’aleo manatu ma lagona i mataupu e manuia ai itumalo ma le atunu’u atoa, na tula’i ai loa le afioga i le faipule mai le itumalo o Manu’a #2, le afioga a Toeaina Faufano Autele ma fautua e fa’apea, e le tatau ona aia le isi sui mamalu i le finagalo fa’aalia o le isi sui mamalu, aua o i latou uma o lo o nofoia nofoa o le maota fono a le atunu’u, “o sui na filifilia e itumalo ta’itasi latou te fa’aleoina finagalo o tagata o le itumalo”.
 
O le fautuaga a Toeaina i le maota, ina ua tuana’i le taimi na tula’i ai le afioga i le ali’i faipule ia Fatulegae’e Palepoi Mauga, ma fa’aleo lana fa’asea i le aumai soo o le afioga i le Fa’atonusili ia Faleosina Voigt e fesiligia e le maota, i mataupu e fa’atatau i galuega mo le fa’aleleia o auala, aemaise ai lava le itumalo o Tuala-uta.
 
Na tula’i le afioga i le tama’ita’i faipule ia Vui Florence Vaili Saulo ma talosaga i luma o le maota, mo se avanoa e toe aami ai le Faatonusili o le Ofisa o Galuega Lautele a le malo ia Voigt ma ni isi o lona Ofisa, se’i fesiligia le mafua’aga ua tuai ai ona fa’agasolo galuega mo le fa’aleleia o ni isi o auala i totonu o le itumalo o Tuala-uta, e ui o lea ua mae’a ona tu’uina atu e le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga le fa’atanaga e fa’atino ai galuega.
 
O le itula e 8:30 i le taeao o le aso Lulu o le vaiaso nei lea ua fa’atulaga e fa’ataunuuina ai le iloiloga a le Komiti o Galuega Lautele a le maota o sui, ma le faatonusili o Galuega Lautele.
 
O le isi iloiloga sa tula’i Vui ma fa’atulaga i le taeao o le aso Tofi o le vaiaso nei, i le itula e 8:30 i le taeao, o le iloiloga ma le Loia Sili a le malo, fa’apea ai le Pulesili o le Ofisa o Femalagaaiga, ona o le fa’afitauli lea o lo o tula’i mai i pemita ma tagata o lo o ulufale mai ai i le atunu’u.
 
O isi iloiloga e lua sa talosagaina e ni isi o afioga i ali’i Faipule, o le iloiloga e aami ai le Komesina o Leoleo, se’i fesiligia i le mafua’aga ua tuai ai ona fa’aleleia tulaga o Laisene Aveta’avale mo tagata Amerika Samoa, ina ia mafai ona fa’aaoga e tagatanu’u a latou laisene pe a malaga i atunu’u i fafo e aofia ai ma Amerika, ma taofia ai le fa’afitauli lea na a’afia ai se sui o le Kepanete a le ali’i kovana, ina ua le mafai ona ulufale i se fonotaga sa malaga ai i Amerika, atoa ai ma le talosaga mo se iloiloga ma le Pulesili o le LBJ atoa ai ma le Faatonusili o le Soifua Maloloina, mo le fa’amaninoina o mataupu e fa’aleleia ai le tautuaina o le soifua maloloina o le atunu’u.
 
O le afioga i le ali’i faipule ia Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr na talosagaina le iloiloga ma le Komesina o Leoleo, ae o le afioga i le ali’i faipule ia Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen na talosagaina le iloiloga i le tulaga o le soifua maloloina o tagata.
 
I le mae’a ai ona fa’aleo e afioga i faipule o a latou talosaga mo iloiloga ma talia fo’i e le afioga i le Sui Fofoga Fetalai ia Fetu Fetui Jr sa ta’ita’ia galuega a le maota i le taeao ananafi, na tula’i ai loa le afioga i le ali’i faipule ia Fatulegae’e ma fa’aleo lana fa’asea fa’asaga i le aumai soo o Voigt i luma o le maota, e aunoa ma le fa’atino muamua o galuega a le Fono, ona fa’atoa aami ai loa lea o Fa’atonusili e o mai e molimau i iloiloga.
 
Na taua e Fatulegae’e e fa’apea, talu ona ulufale mai i totonu o le maota fono, o le tulaga sa’o lava e tatau ona taoto i ai galuega a le maota, e fai muamua galuega a le fono e pei o le sailiili o fa’amatalaga o lo o mana’omia e faipule, ona aumai lea i luma o le maota e talanoa i ai sui mamalu, afai loa e mae’a, ona fa’atoa aami loa lea o Faatonusili e o mai e molimau.
 
Ae o le fa’afitauli o lo o tula’i mai, o lea e nofonofo le “LFO” a le Fono e le o faia sana galuega, ma avea ai loa ma auala ua aumai soo ai ni isi o Faatonusili e pei o Voigt. O le “LFO” e pei ona taua e Fatulegae’e, o le Teutupe lea a le Fono Faitulafono, susuga Talalemotu Mauga.
 
Ae na tula’i Toeaina ma saunoa e fa’apea, e le aia le isi faipule i le finagalo fa’aalia o le isi faipule, aua o le galuega tonu lea a le faipule na mafua ai ona filifilia e lona itumalo, o le fa’aleo o mataupu e manuia ai le itumalo ma le atunu’u atoa.
 
“O ai lava le sui mamalu e fa’aali sona taofi i luma o le maota, e le tatau ona aia ai fua le isi faipule, ou te talitonu fo’i, e le o se galuega a le isi faipule le taumafai e taofiofi manatu fa’aalia o le isi sui faipule, o tutusa uma i tatou i totonu o le maota, o sui filifilia o itumalo ta’itasi”, o le saunoaga lea a Toeaina.

Jubilant celebrations of what was said to be Samoa’s first gold medal at the Olympics turned to disappointment and anger yesterday.

The celebration followed a hoax story shared on social media and by some media organizations about weightlifter Vaipava Nevo Ioane winning Samoa’s first gold medal in the 62kgs division final.

The story quickly went viral among the Samoan community. Even a local radio station made the announcement.

But as it turned out, the story was a hoax. It was posted by a website called www.rio2016olympicswiki.com.

The report however took away from a fantastic effort by Ioane who ended the competition in 8th place.

Jubilant celebrations of what was said to be Samoa’s first gold medal at the Olympics turned to disappointment and anger yesterday.

The celebration followed a hoax story shared on social media and by some media organizations about weightlifter Vaipava Nevo Ioane winning Samoa’s first gold medal in the 62kgs division final.

The story quickly went viral among the Samoan community. Even a local radio station made the announcement.

But as it turned out, the story was a hoax. It was posted by a website called www.rio2016olympicswiki.com.

The report however took away from a fantastic effort by Ioane who ended the competition in 8th place.

Speaking from Rio, Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork said he was proud of Ioane’s efforts.

“It was a fantastic effort from Nevo just narrowly missing his last attempts which could have boosted him higher,” Tuaopepe.

“However I am very proud of my lifter he has worked hard over the past 2 years and he deserves the performance.

“This is the first ever male lifter from Samoa to rank in the top 10 at the Olympic Games separate from the women where Ele Opeloge ranked 4th in Beijing and 6th in London. “It was a great start to our team in Rio 2016.”

The next Samoan on the weightlifting stage is Mary Opeloge who is scheduled to compete on Friday.

Speaking from Rio, Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork said he was proud of Ioane’s efforts.

“It was a fantastic effort from Nevo just narrowly missing his last attempts which could have boosted him higher,” Tuaopepe.

E ui o lea ua fa’amavae le Fa’atonusili o Aoga a le malo mai lona tulaga fa’ata’ita’i talu mai le aso Faraile o le vaiaso na te’a nei, ona o lana  tapenaga e tausinio i le nofoa o le atunu’u i le Konekeresi, peita’i e le o taofia ai le tele o sini ma lu’itau ua fa’atula’i e le Ofisa o Aoga a le malo, mo le fa’amoemoe ina ia fa’aleleia ai a’oa’oga mo fanau a le atunu’u i le lumana’i.
 
O ni isi o nei lu’itau sa fa’alauiiloa i le fonotaga fa’apitoa sa faia a le Ofisa o Aoga ma le au fa’asalalau a le atunu’u i le vaiaso na te’a nei, o le fonotaga mulimuli fo’i lea ma le afioga a Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau.
 
O le tausaga aoga e 2018 e pei ona taua e le taitai o le vaega e gafa ma mataupu tau faiaoga ia Diane Ameperosa ua fa’amoemoe e tatau ona o o atu i ai, ua atoatoa uma le agava’a e ausia e faiaoga uma o lo o a’oa’oina fanau i totonu o potu aoga, e pei o le umia lea o fa’ailoga tikeri o le BA, atoa ai ma le maua o le tusi fa’amaonia e aloaia ai le avea ma faiaoga e ala i le ausia o aiaiga uma o lo o mana’omia e fa’atino ai le galuega.
 
O ni isi o lu’itau ua mafai ona ausia e le Ofisa o Aoga, o le 65% o faiaoga uma a le malo i le taimi nei ua umia fa’ailoga tikeri o le BA i tulaga tau a’oa’oga, ma ua ausia e i latou tulaga maualuluga e agava’a ai ona avea ma faiaoga e a’oa’oina fanau aoga.
 
O le vaega e le o i ai ni tikeri BA mo mataupu tau a’oa’oga i le taimi nei, ua mae’a ona lesitalaina le to’atele o i latou i polokalame e saili ai tikeri BA i le Iunivesite o Hawaii atoa ai ma le Kolisi Tu’ufa’atasi a Amerika Samoa, ina ia mafai ai ona fa’atinoina vaega o lo o moomia mo le siitia maualuga o le latou soifua galue i totonu o le Ofisa o Aoga.
 
O lo o fa’apea fo’i ona fa’aauau i le taimi nei feutanaiga a le Ofisa o Aoga a Amerika Samoa, ma le Pulega o le Inivesite o Samoa (NUS) i Le Papaigalagala, mo le fa’amautuina o se avanoa e mafai ai ona auina atu fanau a le atunu’u e a’oa’oina i matata fa’a faiaoga i Samoa.
 
Na fa’amanino atili fo’i e fa’apea, o le fa’ailoga o lo o maua e faiaoga a Samoa mai le NUS, ua mae’a ona fa’amaonia i sailiiliga sa faia, e tutusa lelei ma le tikeri BA i tulaga tau a’oa’oga, i lalo o aiaiga tau a’oa’oga a Amerika.
 
O feutanaiga la o lo o faia ma le NUS, ia mafai ai ona latou ofoina mai polokalmae mo faiaoga i aoga maualuluga, aemaise lava i faiaoga e a’oa’oina mataupu e pei o le Gagana Peretania, Numera ma le Fa’a Saienisi, ma ua fa’amoemoe o se taimi lata mai e sainia ai loa se maliliega e fa’amautu ai talanoaga o lo o taumafai i ai.
 
“O lo o taumafai fo’i e si’itia le tulaga tau a’oa’oga i le Aoga o Matata Eseese i Nu’uuli ina ia mafai ona to’atele faiaoga e fesoasoani i le ao’a’oina o fanau aoga, ina ia maualuga tulaga tau aoaoga latou te mauaina mo le lumana’i”, o le saunoaga lea a Dr. Asaeli.
 
Sa ia taua fo’i le matua mana’omia e faiaoga o lo o galulue i le Aoga o Matata Eseese a’oa’oga fa’aopoopo, ina ia mafai ai ona si’itia lo latou iloa ma mafai ai ona latou fesoasoani i le a’oa’oina o fanau aoga o le atunu’u.
 
O isi mataupu sa talanoaina i le fonotaga, e aofia ai vaega tupe mai le feterale ua fa’amanuiaina ai le Ofisa o Aoga, atoa ai o le tali mai a le Ofisa o Aoga i ni isi o fa’asea mai matua ma le atunu’u, i le fa’atulagaina o nofoa mo ta’ita’i i taimi o fa’auuga o aoga ua mavae atu.
 
Saunoa Vaitautolu e fa’apea, o suiga e pei ona faia i le uumi o sauniga o fa’auuga a aoga maualuluga, o se vaai mamao lea a le Kovana ma le Matagaluega o Aoga, ina ia taumafai e fa’aitiitia le uumi o sauniga o fa’auuga, fa’aitiitia le tele o lauga e faia, ae taula’i sa’o le polokalame o le aso mo fanau fa’au’u.
 
Sa ia fa’amalamalamaina fo’i le mataupu o lo o fa’asea ai ni isi o le atunu’u ma matua i le auala e fa’atulaga ai nofoa mo ta’ita’i i luma i taimi o fa’au’uga, ma ia taua ai e fa’apea, e le aia le Faatonusili ma le Ofisa i le auala e fa’atulaga ai e le nofoa mo ta’ita’i, o le fa’aiuga lena e faia e le Puleaoga o aoga ta’itasi mo taimi o fa’auuga.
 
I tulaga o tupe maua, ua taua le si’itia o tupe fesoasoani mai le feterale mo le Ofisa o Aoga i le tausaga aoga lea ua savalia nei.
 
Mo se fa’ata’ita’iga e pei ona taua e le sui fa’atonusili o le Ofisa o Aoga ia Filo Jennings, e tusa ma le $16.8 miliona le aofa’i o tupe fesoasoani mai le feterale sa maua mai mo America Samoa i le tausaga aoga ua mavae atu, peita’i o lea ua si’itia i le $17.8 miliona mo le tausaga aoga fou lenei.
 
Ua taua fo’i le si’itia o le vaega tupe lea o lo o fesoasoani ai mo le fa’atupeina o a’oa’oga mo fanau e i ai manaoga fa’apitoa o le tino ma le mafaufau i le aofa’i e $6.3 miliona, aemaise ai vaega tupe e fa’atupe ai le polokalame o le “E-transscript” mo le ofisa o aoga i le aofaiga e silia i le $3.7 miliona, mo le fa’aleleia o le polokalame lea e fa’a faigofie ai ona maua mai togi o fa’amaumauga o suega a fanau o lo o aooga i Iunivesite ma Kolisi i fafo, mo le auina atu o siaki e totogi ai aoga atoa ai ma le fesoasoani i fanau o lo o i lalo o polokalame sikolasipi a le malo.

A special day dedicated to local fishermen is scheduled for next month at the Fagatogo Market Place where local fishermen will have the chance to sell their catch to the public, says Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources director Ruth Matagi-Tofiga.
 
This was one of the issues discussed during yesterday’s meeting at the Market Place conference room hosted by Matagi-Tofiga and her staff with local alia fishermen.
 
The DMWR director said after the well-attended meeting that among the issues of discussions was the importance of data, which was emphasized in terms of managing the resources.
 
The gas subsidy provided by local funding was discussed, in terms of guidelines and procedures, Matagi-Tofiga said.
 
Other issues discussed was the “importance of fish marketing”, and a concern from the local fishermen about the flooding of the local market by larger vessels selling their by-catch at a lower rate, making it difficult for them to sell their local catch.
 
Commerce Department fisheries development officer Tony Langkilde was also present to offer strategies and also to take suggestions by the local fishermen on better marketing of their catch, says Matagi-Tofiga.
 
(As previously reported by Samoa News, the DOC is the current manager of the fish market at the Market Place, dealing directly with local fishermen. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council funded the fish market as part of a larger plan to assist the territory in developing its local boat-based fisheries.)
 
Matagi-Tofiga said a Shipyard Service Authority representative also presented to local fishermen the partnership between DMWR and the government-owned shipyard to carry out repairs for local alia boats.
 
Samoa News notes that the DMWR director said during a Senate committee hearing three months ago, her department has partnership with the shipyard, which has the expertise, to carry out alia repairs. It was also during this 90-minute hearing that Matagi-Tofiga briefed senators on a wide range of assistance DMWR provides for local alia boats.
 
At yesterday’s meeting, Matagi-Tofiga said it was also agreed by local fishermen that a “Local Fishermen Day” will be held at the Market Place parking lot Sept. 10 starting at 6a.m. where all local alia fishermen will sell their catch.
 
“We urge the community to support our local fishermen,” she said. For more information please contact Tepora Lavata’i and Yvonne Mika at 633-4456.

Ua fa’aalia i tusitusiga o le Paketi a le malo mo le tausaga tupe fou 2017 lea ua tauaao atu i le Fono Faitulafono, le fa’aitiitia lea o le aofa’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo mo le tausaga tupe fou i le aofa’i e 2%.
 
I le tula’i mai ai i le 6,771 le aofa’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo o lo o i ai i le taimi nei, ua valaoia e le malo le o o atu i le tausaga tupe fou 2017 ua fa’aitiitia lea aofaiga i le 6,603, tusa lea e 168 avanoa faigaluega ua fa’aitiitia ai.
 
O ni isi o mafua’aga na taua e le afioga i le ali’i kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga i lana tusi sa tu’uina atu i ta’ita’i o le Fono Faitulafono, ua mafua ai ona fa’aitiitia tagata faigaluega a le malo, e le gata ua malolo litaea ni isi o i latou nei, ae ua mae’a fo’i taimi fa’atulagaina o konekarate pupu’u sa galulue ai le isi vaega.
 
Pe afai e o o atu i le amataga o le tausaga tupe fou, o tagata faigaluega o lo o galulue i avanoa fa’a konekarate mo le malo, o le a suia le aofaiga e 1,628 o lo o i ai i le taimi nei i le aofaiga fou e 1,529, tusa lea e to’a 99 tagata faigaluega konekarate ua mae’a a latou konekarate ma ua manatu le malo e le toe fa’afouina.
 
Ae mo tagata faigaluega tumau a le malo, o le a suia le aofai e 5,143 o lo o i ai nei i le aofaiga e 5,074 pe a amata le tausaga tupe fou, tusa lea e to’a 69 tagata faigaluega o le a malolo mai a latou galuega.
 
E pei ona fa’amanino e le ali’i kovana i lana tusi i ta’ita’i o le Fono Faitulafono, e 3 alagatupe o lo o fa’aaoga e le malo e totogi ai ana tagata faigaluega.
 
E to’a 2,643 le aofa’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo o lo o totogi i tupe fa’alotoifale, tusa lea e to’a 653 tagata faigaluega fa’a konekarate ae to’a 1,989 tagata faigaluega tumau. I tupe fesoasoani mai le feterale, e to’a 2,023 le aofa’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo o lo o totogi ai, tusa lea e to’a 1,461 tagata faigaluega tumau ae to’a 563 tagata faigaluega fa’a konekarate. I tupe o lo o maua mai i auaunaga fa’apea ai pisinisi o lo o lisi i fanua a le malo, e to’a 1,936 le aofa’i o tagata faigaluega a le malo o lo o totogiina ai, lea e aofia ai tagata faigaluega tumau e to’a 1,623 ae to’a 313 tagata faigaluega fa’a konekarate.
 
O le paketi e $378 miliona a le malo mo le tausaga tupe fou 2017, ua fa’amoemoe o le 28% o lea aofaiga, tusa lea o le $106 miliona e maua mai i tupe lotoifale, o le isi 26%, tusa lea o le $104 miliona e maua mai i tupe fesoasoani mai le feterale, o le isi 42%, tusa lea o le $157.9 miliona e maua mai lea i tupe o lo o maua i tautua a ni isi o ofisa a le malo, fa’apea ai ma lisi a pisinisi i le malo, ma le 3%, tusa lea o le $9.6 miliona e maua mai lea i tupe mo Galuega Tetele (CIP).
 
O le aofaiga e $69 miliona o tupe lotoifale e alu lea i le paketi Vaega Fa’amalosi Tulafono o le faigamalo, o le $6.9 miliona e alu i le paketi a le Fono Faitulafono, $2.8 miliona e alu i le paketi a le Vaega o Fa’amasinoga, ma le $26 miliona e alu i Polokalame Fa’apitoa o lo o i lalo o le vaavaaiga a le Ofisa a le kovana.