American Samoa - 1 of 2

Pago Pago (pronounced Pango, Pango), first settled 4,000 years ago, now American Samoa is an interesting combination of American influence with ancient customs “in the Samoan way”. Tutuila Island (Pago Pago is the capital) was acquired by the US through a treaty in 1877. A navy base here was primarily used as a fueling station and was vital during WWII. When we arrived, we received the most enthusiastic welcome of any port that we have been to in the last month. It was incredible how excited these people were to greet us and we loved it. We also learned a song and dance on our trip that we got to perform ..that was quite unique (see the video... a longer one exists but you will get the idea).

Known as the “Pearl of the Pacific” (its on their license plates) because of its location between Rainmaker Mountain (a 1,721-foot Natural National Landmark rain-trapping volcanic plug known to capture trade winds and drop over 200” of rain annually, the highest of any harbor in the World, creating a lush, tropical jungle, yes we had rain) and beautiful deep lush valleys and part of a National Park.

One of the US National Parks is located here and we went to the visitors center to understand more about why this was designated a National Park (see photos).

Much of the island is employed by the famous Charlie, the Starkist Tuna. Here they catch, clean, package and distribute canned tuna around the world. It is the number one port in the United States in terms of value of fish landed amounting to $500+ million/year. That’s a lot of fish.

 The Bats and Rats Legend we were told:
Legends and folklore regarding bats and rats is about how they switched roles. A fruit bat and a rat were best friends who shared food and flew together, with the rat riding on the bat’s back. The rat grew envious of the bat's wings and persuaded the bat to trade, offering his long tail in exchange. The rat flew off into the distance, never to return, leaving the bat grounded. The bat, now stuck on the ground, became suspicious, angry, and developed a "rat tail". The story is a cautionary tale about trust, friendship, and the dangers of envy.

There was a tragic tram accident when a plane crash occurred on American Samoa's 80th Flag Day on April 17, 1980 (see photo of monument that commemorates the lives lost). The Flag Day celebration included a demonstration by a group of six paratroopers from the U.S Army Parachute Division from Hawaii. They were scheduled to jump from a U.S. Navy anti-submarine aircraft and land as part of the entertainment successfully dropping the six paratroopers but on the third pass the aircraft flew too low and struck the tramway cable that traversed the Pago Pago harbor. The plane's tail stabilizer was sheared off and it crashed into the Rainmaker Hotel and exploded. Destroying 3 buildings and killed 8 people. Their names are memorialized on this monument we visited.

In 1920, Flowerpot Rock became a cultural symbol representing lovers that were canoeing there sank and turned to stone in local legend and evolved to be is a natural landmark, featuring twin, foliage-topped rock formations that rise from the sea.

The annual canoe races, Fautasi Race, in American Samoa for over 125 years, feature the traditional longboat races during Flag Day celebrations. Lastly, Pago Pago has been an important location the NASA Apollo program when Apollo 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and Apollo 17 landed by Tutuila Island, by serving as a critical recovery, transition, and logistical hub for astronauts and lunar materials returning from the South Pacific. and the crew flew from Pago Pago to Honolulu on their way back to the mainland.
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