American Samoa News

NASA has eight new astronauts - its first new batch in four years. The Class of 2013's Christina Hammock is a scientist with NOAA in American Samoa, Nicole Aunapu Mann, a major in the Marines, is an F/A-18 pilot serving at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Md.

Samoa Air is a little airline with a big idea. Back in April, the company made news with the announcement of its unique pricing plan: individual airfares would be determined according to each passenger's weight.

The five scholarship recipients are pictured with their parents, in random order: Taisamasamaoletuimanu'a Toatelegese and Adolf Petaia from Nu'uuli Voc-Tech, Meripa Poloai from Leone High School, William Leo from Kanana Fou HS and Hillary Chong from ASCC.

Decolonization and the territory's political status, economic development and the federal Essential Air Service program are some of the issues discussed by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs executive director Nikolao Pula during a meeting held over the weekend in Honolulu.

Treasurer Dr Falema'o Phil Pili, who was keynote speaker at the Filipino Community's Celebration of 115 years of Independence.

Depending on Federal Aviation Administration inspection and the acquisition of liability insurance under Inter Island Airways, the ASG Sega'ula aircraft will be re-branded under the banner of "Manu'a Air" with the hope of launching Ofu air service in August this year, says Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, the governor's executive assistant.

A New Zealand air force Orion has been called in to assist in what is being described as an apparent sinking of one of two mystery boats that were ordered out of Samoa two weeks ago.

Hammock, of Jacksonville, was one of eight candidates selected when NASA announced its newest astronaut class Monday.

Samoa is one of the world's most obese countries. Now, its national airline is popping its veritable pants button, too.

The American Samoa Power Authority yesterday issued a statement warning the public about a fraudulent check scheme that may potentially affect local customers.

FIRST VENTURES CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC. is selling FM translator K266BH/SHERIDAN, AR to MICHAEL E. WILKINS' SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS MEDIA for $25,000.

American Samoa Community College student Mona Chang, from Faleniu, is at the University of Arkansas working in a Research Experience undergraduates program where she is doing a ten week project on the impact of pork production for the territory on land use in the United States.

Christina M. Hammock, 34, holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina State University, according to her bio on the NASA website.

Two Americans and a Canadian have been rescued from a vessel that began taking on water this morning 150 nautical miles south south west of American Samoa.

American Samoa will be preparing for Father's Day 2013 which will include special church programs throughout the territory tomorrow, performed by fathers and for fathers, and will include skits about Bible stories and singing.

American Samoa is ranked 10th among the coastal states and territories in safeguarding its marine resources, according to a recently released study conducted by the Marine Conservation Institution and Mission Blue - both based in the U.S. The two organizations say that the 2013 report is the "first-ever quantitive, scientifically rigorous national ... (more)

The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa's Sanctuary Advisory Council has established a Tourism & Recreation Working Group, with its first public meeting set for next week.

There are eight confirmed typhoid fever cases in the territory, according to LBJ hospital Pediatrician Dr. Mike Favazza during a press conference called by the Department of Health yesterday.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has tasked Human Resources Director Le'i Sonny Thompson and ASG's Petroleum Officer, Sione Kava to travel to Tonga to find out about land given to the American Samoa government in the island kingdom, and they will be looking at the land size, logistics, requirements, permissible use, and other specifics, says ... (more)

An expedited way for vendors to clear funds from a personal check used to pay for service has been extended to American Samoa for the first time and this is new to the territory but has been used widely throughout the U.S. and several countries.