American Samoa State Park. May 2008
I can’t believe it, but I have not ridden a motorcycle in 2012 yet. Weather and work have conspired to keep me away from the bikes. I’m getting anxious… but I know very nice riding days will soon be here. Meanwhile, let’s talk about other things. Digging on my photo archives I found a few treasures that I would like to share with you. One of them is American Samoa. I’ve been to American Samoa five times, always on work related matters.
View from Le Falepule, Village of Faga-alu. American Samoa, January 2010
Few tourists go to Samoa from the United States, as it is too far and out of the way from North America. Only two flights a week connect American Samoa to the United States, via Honolulu, making it a more isolated and more interesting place to visit. Hawaiian Airlines 767’s leave Honolulu on Sundays and Thursdays at 5 pm Hawaiian time, arriving in Samoa 5 1/2 hours later.
Pago Pago airport. American Samoa, January 2011
I’m not a Bed and Breakfast type of guy. Give me a run of the mill hotel from any chain of hotels and I’m happy. But in Samoa very few of those hotels are available so I’m happy to stay at one of two Bed and Breakfast hotels owned by the same family. One of them is Le Falepule. Nested on the hills, this is a great place to enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean.
Breakfast at Le Falepule. American Samoa, January 2008.
What a nice and tranquil way to start your day.
Breakfast at Le Falepule. American Samoa, January 2008.
This breakfast and the view are good reasons to get out of bed.
Breakfast at Le Falepule. American Samoa, January 2008
Services are provided by Repeka.
Repeka, at Le Falepule. American Samoa, January 2008.
If you wake up early enough in the summer (South hemisphere summer) you can enjoy nice sunrise views from Le Falepule.
Sunrise at La Falepule. American Samoa, January 2010
Or you can enjoy the views of a distant squall. I can spend hours enjoying the views of the Pacific. It seems like the weather in the South Pacific is always active, making the same view look different at every moment.
A squall not too far away. Le Falepule, American Samoa, January 2010
And from there I can see the main road going to Pago Pago, and how the traffic picks up. Time to go to work!
View of the main road going to Pago Pago. American Samoa, January 2010.
The other hotel I stay when in Samoa is called Moana O Sina. This Bed and Breakfast, owned by the same family as Le Falapule, is at sea level built on an area of lava fields.
Moana-O-Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
Service is very similar to what you get at Le Falepule.
Breakfast at Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011.
But it offers more amenities.
The grounds at Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
Like this swimming pool with a view of the Pacific.
Swimming Pool at the Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
Which is a great place to relax after work.
Time to relax at Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011.
And enjoy the ever changing skies on the Pacific.
The beautiful skies above the South Pacific. American Samoa, January 2011
You can walk on the lava fields and enjoy the views towards the west.
Other ocean views from Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
Moana O Sina has its own beach.
The beach at Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
But you won’t have access to the water.
The beach at Moana O Sina. American Samoa, January 2011
On the next post I will show more pictures of American Samoa. The title is likely to be : American Samoa (what makes it so beautiful). Stay tuned!
I'd rather be riding... 
THANK YOU so very much for posting these beautiful pictures of the Moana O Sina Lodge. I am thinking of hosting my mother’s 70th birthday party there and wanted to see more pics of the grounds and the interior but there are so few pics of the place online. I have e-mailed a representative but have not heard from them. Do you mind if I ask how you contacted the lodge? Via e-mail or phone? I would rather e-mail them so I have an archive of my correspondence. Thanks again for posting these awesome pics. By the way — cute toes. ;-p
This the Moana-O-Sina contact information:
Moana O Sina
Location/Village – Fogagogo
Business hours – 24 hours
Phone (1 684) 699-8517, Fax (1 684) 699-8518
Email isabel@blueskynet.as
Ask for Isabel.
Thanks!
THANK YOU so very much for posting these beautiful pictures of the Moana O Sina Lodge. I am thinking of hosting my mother’s 70th birthday party there and wanted to see more pics of the grounds and the interior but there are few (at least of the interior) available online. I’ve e-mailed a representative there over a week ago but have yet to receive a response. Do you mind if I ask how you contacted the lodge? Via email or phone? I would prefer emailing them so I can keep an archive of the correspondence. Thanks again for sharing these awesome pics. It makes me miss home so much more. 😦 Btw – cute toes. ;-p
Their telephone is: (+1 684) 699-8517
Ask for Isabel.
How’s the weather in October there?
Hi Lao,
Samoa has two seasons: less rain months and more rain mains. It is always warm and humid. The onset of the dry season starts on the April – June period, July – September is the dry season. October – December is the onset of the rainy season, January – March is the rainy season. Of course, all of this changes based La Nina or El Nino, which impacts these patterns, depending on tropical cyclones moving through the area. You should be fine there in October, as it is end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season. I’ve been there at the core of the rainy season, in January, and it has been fine, it doesn’t rain all the time, and it is always warm.
Cesar
Isabel, is that a picture of your sister, Peka?
No, that is not Peka. She is someone who works for Isabel.