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Pictures of our American Samoa trip
(Island of Tutuila)
 
 
 
 
 
          
American Samoa Map
 
 
                  
 
         
                             Map of
                           the Pacific
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
latest picture: July 31, 2009
  • click a picture to see details
 
 
 
 
 
 
01  On July 2nd, 2009, we are
approaching with the ferry “Lady
Naomi” the island of Tutuila, the
biggest of the seven islands
of American Samoa
 02  A television crew is greeting us at
the port of Pago Pago on our arrival
03  Pago Pago (pop. 11’500) nestles
wonderfully at the foot of the steep and
deeply forested Matafao Peak (2’140ft.).
The port of Pago Pago is known to
have the highest annual rainfall of any
harbor in the world
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
04
 05
06
A group of women and girls are skillfully weaving all kinds of baskets and mats from Pandanus leaves
 
 
 
 
 
 
07  The „Flower Pot Rock“(Fatu Ma
Futi) southwest of Pago Pago is a well-
known land mark of American Samoa
 08  The „Turtle and Shark Site“ at
Vaitogi’s rough seashore in the Southwest
is connected with many local legends
09  The village of Vaitogi sits
picturesquely among
coconut palm trees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10  Our relaxing “home“for one month:
The peaceful “Turtle & Shark Lodge” –
1 mile outside of Vaitogi – is sitting above
the majestic Vaitogi cliffs with views over …..
 11  ..... the untouched “Larson”
Cove with the Fogama'a
Beach to the West .....
12  ..... and the waves of the Pacific
Ocean crashing to the Southern shores
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13  Lunch on the porch at
“Turtle & Shark Lodge”
 14  A Kingfisher is part of our neighbor-hood, besides many Bulbuls
and Mynas. In contrast to those in
Samoa (picture 53) its chest is white
15  Early morning: The moon is setting
behind the palm trees of Larson’s Cove
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16  A tropical tree in full bloom
 17  The Frangipani (“Tiare”) flower
is the symbol of the South Pacific
18  Coconuts produce the rich milk
used in the Samoan cuisine as well as pure
and refreshing water to appease the thirst
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19  The two tower church that graces
the village of Leone in the West. Leone
with a population of 5’000 is the second
biggest place in American Samoa
 20  A tiny rock islet in the West of
Leone supports just a
single coconut tree
21  The three turret church in Leone
is the work of the first missionary,
John Williams, who arrived on
October 18, 1832, to American Samoa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22  Inspiring scenery along the
Southwest coast between
Leone and Amanave
23  In the village of Seetaga along
the Southwest coast sits another
of the many impressive churches
24  Five lonely coconut trees took
roots on the volcanic outcrop near
Amanave at Cape Taputapu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25  View over the lovely village of
Amanave at the scenic Southwest coast
 26  Waiting for the bus in Seetaga
27  A private beach short of Fagamalo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28  The sleepy hamlet of Fagamalo,
where the road ends in the West
 29  A rainbow decorates one of
the many white sandy beaches
dotting the Southwest coast
30  A nice way for a deceased
person to be remembered
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31  Courtesy visit at the Honorable
Lieutenant Governor Mr. Faoa Aitofele Sunia
on July 21, 2009, at which occasion he presents
us with the illustrated book “American Samoa,
100 Years under the United States Flag” .....
 32  ..... with his personal
dedication
33  People wait patiently for their turn
on the ground floor of the Pago Pago
Government Building
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34  View from Pago Pago over the
Bay towards Leloaloa in the North .....
 35  ..... and from the North over
the Bay to the capital Pago Pago
(part Fagatogo)
36  The 1’718ft. high „Rainmaiker
Mountain“ (exactly Pioa Mountain) is
blamed that the port of Pago Pago receives
the highest annual rainfall in the world
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
37  “Charlie, the Tuna”, is the
symbol of the Starkist cannery in
Atuu, the largest tuna processing
plant in the world
 38  Workers from the tuna cannery,
mainly from (Western) Samoa and
Tonga, enjoying their lunch break
39  Cans of tuna are fork lifted into a
container. While the “Samoa Packing”
cannery closes in September, the “Starkist”
will produce furthermore tuna cans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40  Coastal scenery before Alega
towards Cape Matatula, the most
Easterly point of the island of Tutuila
 41  One of the individually owned pick-
up trucks, modified for public transport,
which are serving the whole island
42  The driver of such a bus
is smiling brightly at us
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
43  In Southeastern Tutuila, the
densely forested hills meet the
ocean – here near Auasi
44  View towards the distinctive
Southern shoreline towards Pago Pago
45  At the beach of Onenoa ends the
“Trans-Tutuila-Highway” in the East. In
the distance are the cliffs of the Pola Isl.
within the National Park of American
Samoa along the Northern shoreline
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46  The small hamlet of Alao in the
East reflects the peaceful mood
of the South Pacific
 47  One of the many one-man-
bunkers along the coast.
They remember of WWII .....
48  ..... and the skeleton of a vessel is
a reminder of the unpredictable sea,
which is mostly unprotected by a reef
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
49  Breezy „fale“ – a structure opened
to all sides – inviting to make a break.
In the background the Aunuu Island
 50  The tiny offshore island of
Aunuu in the Southeast is very
close to Auasi on the main island
51  The “Tisa Barefoot Bar” at
Alega Beach east of Pago Pago
is a prominent meeting point
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
52  From the Afono Pass, called also
“Rainmaker Pass”, we enjoy a
spectacular view over the tranquil
harbor bay with the capital Pago Pago
 53  Descending from the “Rainmaker
Pass” to the village of Afono, Tutuila’s
pristine North shore comes into view
54  Near the village of Afono, tiny
white, nearly inaccessible sandy beaches
nestle at the foot of steep forested cliffs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
55  The cliffs of the tiny uninhabited offshore
island of “Pola Tai” (Cock’s Comb) near the
village of Vatia on the northern shore raise
more than 420ft. straight out of the sea
 56  A spectacular sight: The peaceful
village of Vatia at the bay with the
same name on the North shore
57  A tiny natural arch in the
cliffs at the end of the Vatia Bay
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58  Picnic within the National Park
near “Pola Tai” (Cock’s Comb)
at Vatia Bay on the North shore
 59  View towards the West from
Fagasa-Pass to the same
named coastal village .....
60  ..... and towards the East
into the Vaipito Valley
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
61  The young man in Pago Pago
poses for a picture after we
answered all his questions
 62   This beautiful piece of art has
been carved out of a single tree trunk. It
stands at the harbor front of Pago Pago
63  Pago Pago looks more like
a South Pacific village than a
country’s busy capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64  On a stormy day, the blowhole
at Larson Cove in front of the Turtle
& Shark Lodge shoots out fountains
of water high into the sky …..
 65  ….. and huge waves are
crashing with incredible power
onto the steep coastal cliffs
66  The sleepy village of Masefau in
the Northeastern part of Tutuila lays
in an idyllic setting between the forested
mountains and the Masefau Bay
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67  View over the peaceful and
remote coast near the village
of Sailele in the Northeast
 68  Sailele is the village of the Governor
of American Samoa, Hon. Togiola T.A.
Tulafono. At the entrance he is pictured
on a board together with his Lt.
Governor, Hon. Faoa A.T. Sunia,
who welcomed us to his island
69  The white church in Sailele
shines in the evening light against the
green of the forested mountains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
70  An American Samoan picture
book hamlet: Masausi on
the way to Sailele
 71  July 31, 2009, day of
containerizing our LandCruiser:
The Ministry of Agriculture
washes the car, while Emil is
talking to an employee
72  Ready to be shipped to Papeete in
Tahiti/French Polynesia: Our LandCruiser
is stuffed in its 16th container. The two
friendly girls of the “Polynesian Shipping
Services” – the agent of “Greater Bali
Hai” – and two port workers pose for
a remembrance picture
 
 
Articles in newspapers about us in American Samoa:
Article: "Governor allows small window of opportunity for landing non-compliant vehicles", Daily Newspaper "Samoa News" - May 20, 2009
Article: "Guinness world record travelers mark 164th destination in American Samoa", Daily Newspaper "Samoa News" - June 18, 2009
Article: "Emil & Liliana Schmid continue their world tour", Daily Newspaper "Samoa News" - July 10, 2009