American Samoa Government

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american samoa Talofa! Welcome to American Samoa.

July has been declared by Governor Lolo M. Moliga as youth month...

7/5/17--Summer Youth Opening held 6/26/17, about 800 plus youths were approved for summer jobs, and they will be distributed to government departments and the private sector.

6/15/17--Highlights from graduation week, congratulations to all the 2017 graduates and best wishes with your future endeavors...

6/12/17--Highlights from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip

05/30/17--The American Samoa Government remembers all of our ancestors, family members, and loved ones, who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy freedoms we have today...

05/4/17--It's been a while since our last post, here are some highlights from Vice President Michael Pence's visit during our Flag Day Week....

/21/17--World Down Syndrome Day. It is estimated that there are over six million people with Down Syndrome in the world today and the estimated incidence of Down Syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 live births worldwide.
Today American Samoa joins the United Nations and over 191 other countries in celebrating and valuing the lives and equality of people with Down Syndrome.
Photographed here is the First Lady Cynthia Moliga at the Governor's mansion in her blue attire. Blue is the official color for Down Syndrome day, and the entire mansion is decorated and adorned with blue ribbons and blue lights to signify this special day.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HAWAII FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE VACATES AND SETS ASIDE NOAA RULE FINDING THAT THE DEEDS OF CESSION REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES TO PRESERVE AMERICAN SAMOAN CULTURAL FISHING PRACTICES

UTULEI, AMERICAN SAMOA March 20, 2017- Hawaii Federal District Court Judge, Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi issued her ruling in the Territory of American Samoa’s case against NOAA ruling in favor of the Territory and vacating and setting aside NOAA rule 81 Fed. Reg. 5619 (Feb. 3, 2016) which shrunk the Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA) from 50 to 12 miles allowing long-line vessels larger than 50 feet in length to fish closer to the islands. The Court reached this decision after concluding that NOAA failed to consider the Deeds of Cession.

Specifically the Court ruled that, “the Deeds of Cession require the United States to preserve American Samoan cultural fishing practices and that the deeds constitute “any other applicable law” for purposes of the [Magnusson Stevens Act].” According to the Court, , “American Samoans are an island people and, . . . their history of fishing practices goes back thousands of years, i.e. their fishing customs were well established at the time of cession. As such, the Court concluded that “the American Samoans’ right to use their “property” to continue their customary fishing practices is reserved by implication in the Deeds of Cession.”

On the ruling Governor Lolo Moliga stated, “Our Deeds are sacred documents to our people. They establish the foundation of our relationship with the United States. There is no question that the Deeds afford our people rights. Our ancestors had enough foreknowledge and wisdom to place safeguards in these special documents to protect our way of life. Our position has always been that these documents must be consulted when federal agencies wish to impose federal laws on our Territory. In this case, NOAA failed to even consider the Deeds despite numerous communications for them to do so. I hope this case serves as a reminder to the federal government that we have rights and they should not be so easily dismissed.”

Leading up to the creation of the Rule, NOAA received hundreds of comments from individuals who were both for and against the rule. Many commenters cited to the Deeds and cultural fishing rights as a basis for invalidating the rule. Despite these concerns NOAA issued its final rule shrinking the LVPA on January 29, 2016. Shortly after, on March 4, 2016, the American Samoa Attorney General’s office filed a complaint against NOAA, NMFS, and the Department of Commerce claiming that the now vacated rule was inconsistent with the rights found in the Deeds of Cession and that it interfered with cultural fishing practices. Both the Territory and NOAA filed Motions for Summary Judgment and oral arguments were held on February 13, 2017 in a Hawaii Federal District Court.

Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale, who argued the case for the Territory, stated, “Judge Kobayashi has issued a thorough and well- reasoned decision which, for the first time in our history, breathes life into the words of the Deeds of Cession, specifically as it pertains to our Territory’s direct dealings with the federal government. This decision should help solidify our rights in relation to the federal government”

APPROVED BY:


LOLO M. MOLIGA
Governor of American Samoa

3/17/17--Governor Lolo M. Moliga and Senate President Gaoteote Palaie present the Flags to Hinanui Hunkin, during Falemavaega Eni Hunkin's last services...

3/10/17--The Department of Homeland Security and TEMCO HAZMAT Training at Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei...

3/3/17--On February 23, 2017, Lieutenant Governor Lemanu Palepoi Mauga proclaimed the month of March 2017 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in American Samoa. Furthermore, he calls this observance to the attention of all citizens of the Territory by wearing blue on Friday, March 3, 2017 to celebrate National Dress in Blue Day in eternal memory of those whose lives have been lost to this disease to give courage to those affected by this disease, and the shining hope fo ra future free of colon cancer.

Photo: Following Lt. Governor Lemanu's call, members of the Governor's Office on March 3, 2017 dressed in blue in support of and in observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March.