1 Moody Pago Harbor
2 Cross Island Bus Trip to Vatia
3 Flag Day 2011 Fautasi race
4 Samoan Rhythmic Clapping
5 Genealogy: The Orator's Skill
6 Gridiron Football Championship, 2010
7 The Breaking Energy of Waves
8 American Samoa Flag Day, 2013
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Moody Pago Pago Harbor
The Great Harbor in Pago Pago is a tale of adventure, exploration, discovery, heartbreak and romance. Here she shows her colors as day descends to dusk. Iconic Rainmaker plays the light of a setting sun only to watch arise the night beams of cargo ships, ocean going yachts and the measured wanderings of Portuguese fishermen.
Somerset Maugham found the place. His Sadie Thompson defined the cusp of time between Victorian England, empire, the Great War and the moral freedom of the Roaring Twenties. All that and more is still the allure of Pago Pago.
CROSS ISLAND RAINFOREST BUS TRIP TO VATIA
Not a hiker? Take a bus from the market place to Vatia. $2.00 one way. Enjoy a video tour of the Vatia segment in preparation of your personal experience and learning adventure.
FLAG DAY 2011 FAUTASI RACE
Here in American Samoa we take our national sport, long boat racing, serious.
This 4 minute video is an emotional 2011 Flag Day Fautasi Race ride of anticipation, hope, jubilation and reflection.
Two of the seven teams, Nuuuli Satani and Samoana High School were especially inspired: Nuuuli by the untimely death of their captain and Samoana by an aging boat builder of venerable wisdom and an energetic young captain who asserted that the impossible is possible; that the power of spirit is an unmeasurable force.
Enjoy American Samoan fautasi fever from race beginning to an unlikely, 1st and 2nd place finale.
SAMOAN RHYTHMIC CLAPPING
Samoan rhythmic clapping is a music art form. Hand clapping, body slapping, gestures, percussion, actions, voice and beat convey emotion and story telling. In unison, the performers align to a beat with transitions that signal new actions and themes. The performance is punctuated with contrapuntal rhythms; often a division between the men and women of the group.
At American Samoa's Flag Day Arts Council 3 nights of performances, several groups performed their Sa Sa's (sah' sa) We were excited when a new group took the stage. After a while the challenge was to decipher the story telling action and gestures.
Here's your turn to figure it out!
Genealogies: The Orator's Skill
The Samoan culture highly respects rank and status. They are the values of generational knowledge and leadership. And the organizational skills necessary for the great voyages of Polynesian discovery.
When a village high chief dies, families show their respect by exchanging works of material art such as the fine mat and printed cloth. The orators of the families, adorned with the symbols of their knowledge, the whisk and staff, extol the deceased chief with eliptical words of praise and respect.
Learn more about Samoan customs, arts, oratory and the relationship between chiefly rank and status and the great voyages of the Pacific by listening to the podcasts.
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Gridiron Football Championship 2010
More than 300 Samoan heritage players have played in the National Football League, Canadian League, European league and Arena Professional Football. Today there are 34 players on NFL rosters.
Football came to American Samoa before World War II when American service men were stationed in the territory. Today there are 7 varsity high school teams, 6 high school junior varsity teams, 24 Pop Warner league teams for boys 8 to 14 years old and 8 flag football teams for boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
This video highlights the 2010 High School Championship game between Fagaitua High School and eventual winner, Tafuna High School. Three thousand knowledgeable fans supported their teams at the game.
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American Samoa Flag Day, 2013
The long boat racing tradition reminds us of the Polynesian voyaging past. But the boats are of a whaling and trading origin; Lighters that brought goods through perilous reef breaks from ocean going vessels.
Today the 40 crew long boats, or fautasi, highlight the entire festive days.
This video captures the race's excitement as villages vie for bragging rights of strength, courgare, stamina and dedication.
