On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
way2blue
INTRODUCTION >> AMERICAN SAMOA
The seed for visiting Samoa started with a BBC article which highlighted a national park that required a passport to visit. Hmm. The one on American Samoa. A beautiful island with meager tourist infrastructure. On purpose. I scoured the internet looking for places to stay, but almost all the fun ones never responded. Seemed they closed during the pandemic and didn’t reopen. So. I took a look at adjacent (Western) Samoa which has several resorts but only a couple looked fun. One, a collection of bungalows along the southern coast and the other, a plantation in the uplands to the west.
Flew to American Samoa via Honolulu and stayed a few nights on Tutuila, the main island, to catch our breath and to explore a bit of the island. Upon arrival I found that the local telecommunication company is named bluesky! Couldn’t resist a photo at baggage claim. If you squint, their symbol might look like a butterfly… By the way, many Samoans use large bins rather than roller bags as luggage. Stacks of bins. I asked the shuttle driver what they were transporting and he said food & other presents for their extended families.
American Samoa is an island of steep volcanic slopes covered with lush jungle. Most people live on the narrow ledge that rims the coastline or the wider terrace where the airport is located. Found out the runway is extra long to serve as backup for space shuttle landings.
Stopped at the NPS Visitor Center on the way through the main village of Pago Pago. Asked the young ranger if he’d been around for the 2009 tsunami. He was nine at the time, lived in a village near the mouth of the bay, so was spared the worst. The tsunami built to ~60ft by the apex of Pago Pago Harbour!
The national park is on the north side of Tutuila. There’s no actual park infrastructure. Just a small village with a tiny ‘country’ store. We walked northwest out of town. And found a forest road which we followed till it petered out.
At a lovely rocky spot.
The next day we headed to Upolu, the main island of (Western) Samoa. The runways of the Pago Pago Airport are visible at the bottom center of the photo as we leave American Samoa.
Most people of Tutulila live close to the coast and up a few stream valleys.
Approaching Upolu, a less rugged island, in our tiny 8-passenger plane.
A view of its extensive coral reefs.
Our 8-seater plane actually carried nine passengers—including one in the co pilot seat. Our kiwi pilot looked about 20 years old.
Auntie Anne
I am fascinated and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
eclare
This is amazing! Thank you!
Steve in the ATL
What kind of shape are their coral reefs in? Hopefully better than the ones we always hear about!
A little disappointed that you were flying from island to island rather than paddling outrigger canoes….
stinger
What a great place to get a travelogue on! I look forward to the next installments!
Torrey
Great pictures and interesting information. Glad to see there are four more coming.
WaterGirl
I just added a Samoa tag so all five of these will be easy to find. I try to do that for OTR posts that are part of a series. If I’ve missed doing that for series from any of you guys, don’t take it personally, and feel free to remind me. I don’t always remember to do this!
Geo Wilcox
Where are they going to go when the seas rise? Will the coast be evacuated for the land around the airport?
Steve in the ATL
One of my favorite songs that reference Samoans: Digital Underground
CaseyL
Oh, talk about a little-traveled corner of the world!
It’s interesting to hear American Samoa has little to no tourist infrastructure, and very interesting to hear that’s by design. Good for them! If a non-Samoan wants to see the place, they’ll have to work at it.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
eclare
@Steve in the ATL:
It’s a little early for Balloon Juice After Dark. But love the Humpty Dance!
Steve in the ATL
@eclare:
I’m sure you have the moves down, but here’s a guide for those who need a little help
And I feel like this thread may have wandered a bit off topic….
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
My father was born in American Samoa in 1916, so it’s interesting to see pictures of it. His father was stationed there in the US navy. They left (were transferred) when my Dad was 10 or so. I have a picture of him in a group of boys all in a Boy Scout uniforms (with palm trees in the background).
BigJimSlade
@Steve in the ATL: Then, of course, there are the Angry Samoans (punk band).
Jim Appleton
@Steve in the ATL: Sometime remind me to tell the story of a surreal afternoon spent working in Hollywood on the set of a commercial starring Charles Barkley and Humpty Hump.
Jim Appleton
@Jim Appleton: found it
Steve in the ATL
@BigJimSlade:
a punk classic!
Steve in the ATL
@Jim Appleton: I remember that commercial! @#$%–that means I’m old….