AGP Executive Report

Online Safety: American Samoa is among 45 jurisdictions urging Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, which would set baseline protections for children on social media and gaming platforms while allowing stronger local safeguards. Pacific Arts: Artists from American Samoa will join peers from other U.S. territories in Guam Nov. 9–15 for a regional gathering focused on cultural exchange, community art and “artivism.” Fitness: Funkfit American Samoa won the scaled division at Samoa Nationals’ Pinktober Throwdown, taking first place after four events and two event wins. Youth Sports: American Samoa’s Ethan Galuvaea Lake Jr. and Tupulua Vaouli carried the Territory’s flags at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony. Architecture and Culture: Public tours of American Samoa’s first LDS temple in Pago Pago began Nov. 4, following a media preview highlighting Samoan-inspired design details.

Fitness: Funkfit American Samoa won the scaled division at the Samoa Nationals Pinktober Throwdown, taking first place after four events; Kennedy Nofoagatotoa also lifted the competition’s heaviest barbell complex at 140kg. Pacific Arts: American Samoan artists will join peers from other U.S. territories for Right to Democracy’s Creative Circle gathering in Guam, Nov. 9–15, featuring cultural exchange and community-focused art. Local Culture: The Pago Pago LDS Temple’s public open house runs Nov. 4–21. Its design draws on Samoan weaving, carving and local plant motifs. Literature: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter has released Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, a new collection of student writing, and plans poetry and art workshops at local high schools. Youth Sports: American Samoa’s Ethan Galuvaea Lake Jr. and Tupulua Vaouli carried the territory’s flags at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Regional Arts: American Samoan artists are among those invited to Guam’s first Creative Circle Pacific Regional Gathering, Nov. 9–15, for cultural exchange and workshops exploring artivism, self-determination and community storytelling. Temple Open House: The territory’s first LDS temple has opened for public tours in Tafuna through Nov. 21, except Sundays. Its design features red ginger motifs and patterns inspired by Samoan weaving and carving. Local Literature: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter is preparing Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, a collection of student writing, and plans poetry and art workshops at local high schools. Remembering a Broadcaster: Mase Akapo Akapo Jr., American Samoa’s first meteorologist, has died at 79. His decades of radio and television cyclone updates made him a familiar, reassuring voice across the territory.

Temple Open House: Public tours have begun at the first Latter-day Saint temple in American Samoa, in Pago Pago. Visitors can tour through Nov. 21, except Sundays; dedication is set for Dec. 13. Local Arts & Literature: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter inducted 11 members and is releasing Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, a collection of student writing. The chapter also plans poetry and art workshops at local high schools. Remembering Mase Akapo Akapo: The territory’s first meteorologist has died at 79. For decades, his radio and television updates kept residents informed through cyclones and other emergencies.

Youth Soccer: American Samoa’s under-15 team lost 6-0 to St. Lucia at the FIFA Boys U-15 Festival in Baku, after earlier defeats to the Bahamas and Fiji. Pacific Basketball: American Samoa joined teams from across the region at Tahiti’s Polynesian Cup, where local volunteers helped run games, logistics and livestreams. Arts and Literature: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter welcomed 11 members and announced a new student poetry collection, Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, plus planned poetry and art workshops at local high schools. Remembering Mase Akapo Akapo: The territory’s first meteorologist has died at 79. For decades, his radio and television updates helped keep residents informed through cyclones and other emergencies. Cultural Revival: Artists in Samoa are bringing back the fagufagu, a traditional nose flute, through workshops and performances that revive knowledge of how to make and play it.

Youth Football: American Samoa’s under-15 side suffered 6-0 defeats to St Lucia and the Bahamas at the FIFA youth festival in Baku. Local Arts: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought together American Samoan artists and performers for an evening of visual art, fashion, dance and music, with works reflecting local heritage and concerns about seabed mining. Cultural Revival: A Samoan nose flute, the fagufagu, is returning through workshops and performances that are rebuilding knowledge of how to make and play the traditional instrument. Student Creativity: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter inducted 11 members and is releasing a new collection of student poems, with poetry and art workshops planned at local high schools. Remembering a Local Voice: Mase Akapo Akapo, American Samoa’s first meteorologist, has died at 79; generations knew his reassuring radio and television updates during cyclones.

American Samoa Arts: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought local painting, fashion, dance and music together at the National Marine Sanctuary. Joshua Utuone’s “Corruption” explored concerns about seabed mining, while other works celebrated local history and culture. Youth Soccer: American Samoa’s U-15 team faced tough results at the FIFA festival in Baku, including a 6-0 loss to St. Lucia. Literature & Culture: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter inducted 11 members and plans poetry and art workshops at local high schools. In Samoa, artists are also reviving the fagufagu nose flute through workshops and performances, restoring knowledge of how to make and play the traditional instrument.

Local Media: Mase Akapo Akapo, American Samoa’s first meteorologist and a familiar radio and TV voice during cyclones, has died at 79. He served the National Weather Service for 43 years. Arts & Culture: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought local painting, drawing, carpentry, fashion, dance and music together under the theme “One Ocean, Many Waves.” Artist Joshua Utuone’s painting “Corruption” invited reflection on seabed mining’s risks to marine life. Pacific Traditions: Artists in Samoa are reviving the fagufagu, a traditional nose flute, and the knowledge of how to make and play it. Student Creativity: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter inducted 11 members and plans a new student poetry collection, Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, plus poetry and art workshops at local high schools.

Youth Soccer: American Samoa’s under-15 team endured a tough FIFA festival in Baku, losing 6-0 to St. Lucia; another report recorded a 16-0 defeat to Honduras. Mosooi Arts Gala: Local artists and performers brought painting, fashion, dance and music to the National Marine Sanctuary, with Joshua Utuone’s work prompting discussion of seabed mining’s risks to marine life. Campus Creativity: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter inducted 11 members and announced a new collection of student poems, with poetry and art workshops planned at local high schools.

Broadcasting Legacy: Mase Akapo Akapo Jr., American Samoa’s first meteorologist, has died at 79. For decades, his radio and TV cyclone updates reassured residents through major storms. Local Arts: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought local painting, drawing, carpentry, fashion, dance and music together under the theme “One Ocean, Many Waves.” Joshua Utuone’s painting “Corruption” explored concerns about seabed mining and marine life. Student Creativity: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta chapter welcomed 11 members and is preparing a new collection of student poetry, Caught in a Constellation and Other Poems, alongside planned high-school poetry and art workshops. Pacific Culture: Samoa’s traditional fagufagu nose flute is being revived through workshops and performances, as practitioners work to restore the knowledge of making and playing it. Regional Basketball: American Samoa teams joined the FIBA Polynesian Cup in Tahiti, where local volunteers supported tournament operations and gained event experience.

Pacific Arts: Tahiti’s Polynesian Cup drew volunteers from across the basketball community, including a regional field featuring American Samoa, while giving local helpers hands-on event experience. Campus Culture: American Samoa Community College’s Alpha Eta chapter inducted new members into Sigma Kappa Delta, the two-year-college English honor society, marking its sixth ceremony. Local Creativity: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought together American Samoa artists and performers for an evening of fashion, dance, music and visual art. Joshua Utuone’s painting “Corruption” invited reflection on seabed mining’s possible effects on marine life. Samoan Heritage: Artists and practitioners are reviving the fagufagu, a traditional nose flute, through workshops and performances in Samoa. Youth Football: American Samoa’s under-15 team fell 6-0 to the Bahamas at the FIFA festival in Baku, where young teams compete in an eight-a-side format.

Youth Soccer: American Samoa’s U-15 team took a 6-0 loss to the Bahamas at the FIFA festival in Baku, after also falling to Honduras. Pacific Basketball: American Samoa joined teams from across the region at Tahiti’s Polynesian Cup, where volunteers gained experience running matches, officiating and supporting event operations. Local Arts: The Moso’oi Arts Gala brought together American Samoa artists and performers for a night of fashion, dance, music and visual art. Joshua Utuone’s painting “Corruption” invited reflection on seabed mining, while other works celebrated local landscapes and culture. Campus Culture: ASCC’s Alpha Eta chapter inducted members into the Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society, marking its sixth ceremony in American Samoa. Samoan Music Revival: Artists in Samoa are bringing back the fagufagu, a traditional nose flute, through workshops and performances that help restore the craft and playing knowledge.

Polynesian Basketball: American Samoa’s men’s and women’s teams joined the 2026 Polynesian Cups in Tahiti, where volunteers helped run the regional tournament and gain event experience. Arts & Culture: Pago Pago’s Moso’oi Arts Gala celebrated local creativity with painting, carpentry, fashion, dance and music. Joshua Utuone’s “Corruption” explored concerns about seabed mining, while Ammon Fepulea’i’s painting honored Old Pago Bay. Campus Arts: ASCC’s Sigma Kappa Delta Alpha Eta chapter held its sixth induction, welcoming students into the English honor society. Pacific Heritage: Artists in Samoa are reviving the fagufagu nose flute through workshops and performances, rebuilding skills in making and playing the traditional instrument. Tennis: Ana-Marie Draunidalo became the first Pacific Islander to earn the World Tennis White Badge Referee qualification, after officiating tournaments including one in American Samoa.

Regional Basketball: Volunteers helped deliver the FIBA Polynesian Cup in Tahiti, where American Samoa joined teams from across the region. The event also gave local basketball community members hands-on experience in officiating, operations and livestreaming. Samoan Music: Workshops and performances are bringing back the fagufagu, a traditional nose flute whose construction and playing knowledge had faded. Practitioners from Samoa and Tonga are helping pass on the craft. Tennis: Ana-Marie Draunidalo became the first Pacific Islander to earn a World Tennis White Badge referee qualification, after gaining tournament experience in American Samoa and other Pacific nations.

Samoan Music Revival: The fagufagu, a traditional nose flute whose making and playing knowledge nearly disappeared, is returning through workshops and performances in Samoa, with practitioners helping pass the craft on. Pacific Arts: A new ranking revisits Taika Waititi’s films, with Hunt for the Wilderpeople topping the list of his work by critics’ ratings. Football on TV: American Samoa viewers can watch Crystal Palace face Newcastle United on TVWan Sports 2, according to global broadcast listings. Tennis Milestone: Pacific official Ana-Marie Draunidalo became the first Pacific Islander to earn a World Tennis White Badge referee qualification, after gaining tournament experience in American Samoa and elsewhere.

Traditional Music: Samoa’s long-lost fagufagu nose flute is returning through workshops and performances, as artists revive the skills to make and play the instrument. Pacific Tennis: Ana-Marie Draunidalo became the first Pacific Islander to earn the international White Badge referee qualification, after officiating at tournaments including one in American Samoa. Youth Football: American Samoa’s U-15 team lost 16–0 to Honduras at the inaugural FIFA eight-a-side festival in Baku.