I think it’s high time American Samoa received a fair review.

We have just completed a week attending the Festival of the Pacific Arts here in American Samoa and all-in-all have found that Pago Pago is populated by warm, friendly people who, by all standards, are an asset to the US and the world community.

It is not a cruise ship destination. It is and always will be a commercial harbor. No amount of lipstick on the pig will change that, but it has it’s the charm and the rest of the island is a gem if one bothers to hop on a bus or go hiking to the far corners.

Other than petty theft associated with any town, there is little evidence of rampant crime.

There are thirty-four boats anchored here at present; mostly American and Canadian, with a couple of Brits, two Dutch, a Kiwi, and an Italian.

No one seems to be in a big hurry to get going. The restaurants, groceries and retail stores have some of the cheapest prices in the Pacific, maybe the world. After French Polynesia, the shopping here is like heaven with fifty percent off. After paying $50 US for a pizza and two beers in FP, the $12 US it costs us at the yacht club seems almost free.

A bonus for coming to American Samoa is the opportunity to stop at Suwarrow Atoll. All I can say is: take the time to visit Suwarrow. The weather along the route was stinky, but we have no regrets for having come this way.

Regards,

Michael N. Scott

S/V Argonaut