Yuris, YL2GM will be active as K8K from American Samoa, IOTA OC - 045, 26 June - 9 July 2024.
He will operate on 160 - 10m.
QSL via YL2GN, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
K8K call sign is not confirmed yet.
American Samoa
American Samoa is a strikingly beautiful nature, the strongest national color, simple and modest life, friendly people and many more pleasant details. So think those who know about the existence of this country. If you are among these few lucky ones, you will probably agree with the proposal above. If you are not, it is not a problem: now we will gladly tell you what this country is, how not to confuse it with another Samoa, what it is worth going there for and how to return back.
American Samoa is where?
American Samoa is a dependent unincorporated territory of the United States. This means that the state is administered by the United States, but is not incorporated. It reminds a lot of the Land of Great Democracy. The national currency here is the dollar, the head of state is President of USA, everywhere you can see American pay phones, post offices, license plates .... There is even a McDonald's. And the official language is English (along with, however, with Samoan).
Your reference point for finding the country on the map is the Pacific Ocean. American Samoa is seven islands within the Samoan archipelago, bordering the Independent State of Samoa. That's a lot of Samoa, but bear with me, it'll be over soon.
In addition to its independent namesake, American Samoa is also bordered by the Cook Islands, Niue, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tokelau. The last territory belongs to New Zealand and has a good transportation connection with it. It is from New Zealand that it is easiest to get to American Samoa. Another option is to fly from the USA or Australia. Back you can go the same way, but remember that each passenger will be charged an additional 3$ on departure. They say that for the development of the country. Actually, why not: there is something to develop here.
How to live here
American Samoa is an ideal resort region. Temperature fluctuations are small throughout the year, the ocean warms up well, you can swim all the time, and you can get a luxurious tan, as in the advertisements, on one of the cozy local beaches: "Ofu Beach", "Two Dollar Beach" or "Maliu Mai Beach".
The islands have what locals call a "dry season": a time when it doesn't rain. There are two such seasons a year: from April to May and from September to October. The rest of the time it rains. Heavy. Very. Believe me, you don't want to see it. It is better to fly in June-August - the perfect time to relax and see the country, and above all the following sites.
National Park
One of the top attractions is the American Samoa National Park. It is an amazing place, impressive in both beauty and strangeness.
It is spread over three volcanic islands at once: Tutuila, Ofu and Ta'u.
Tutuila is the largest island of the country, on which, incidentally, is located and the capital of the state, about which a little later. The park itself starts at the northern tip of the island and attracts a huge number of tourists every year. There are two reasons for this: firstly, unique tropical forests have been preserved here in pristine condition, and secondly, this part of the park is the only one that can be reached by car. And then the journey begins by swimming.
Ofu is a paradise for divers. One dive off the coast of the island will leave an impression for a lifetime. Amazing corals of extraordinary sizes and shapes rise from the depths of clear water. The bright colors of sea creatures sharply contrast with the monotonous redness of coral and the whiteness of the sea sand. This is an unforgettable spectacle, which can be admired endlessly. Just admire. No attempts to take a piece of coral to take home as a souvenir! For this there is a fine, trouble and the strongest moral torment. Nature in American Samoa is unique, and any, even minor attempts to disturb the order of things can have the most unfortunate consequences.
If diving doesn't appeal to you for some reason, sail to Tau. The mottled bird voices of the misty forest will enchant you with their diversity, while the coastal cliffs and cliffs that crowd the ocean on the island side will amaze you with their majesty and splendor. If you want to add a little thrill, climb the extinct Judds Volcano and peer into the extinct crater. The sight is truly impressive and even mystical. No wonder that before colonization Tau was the spiritual capital of Polynesia. The locals remember the rituals and even repeat some of them to this day, but it is done more for the pleasure of tourists. However, if there is a desire to join the ancient culture, you can take a look. And then go after civilization - to the capital, Pago Pago.
Capital Life
Pago Pago is bustling with life by local standards.
It is home to the deepest harbor in the South Pacific. It is in Pago Pago that liners and yachts from other countries call at Pago Pago. Sometimes the liner itself turns out to be almost the size of a city - so small is this town (well, or so big ship, as you can see).
The harbor itself, by the way, is not unknown. It was praised by Somerset Maugham when he wrote about the events of the Second World War. Yes, the islands were also involved in the war and were once managed by the US Navy. However, the local population is not so much focused on it and tries to pay more attention to their own, Samoan culture. The Haydon Museum, for example, has some excellent examples of ancient arts and crafts. If you're in Pago Pago, you should definitely check it out, it's worth it.
Where else to go and where not to go
In addition to the attractions described above, there are many other things to do.
Surfers, for example, unanimously agree that Alofau Bay and Leone Bay have some of the best waves in the Pacific. For snorkeling is ideal small bay near the resort Maliu Mai: to find it, you need to walk along the rainforest to the east about 1.5km. (by the way, another road, the western one, leads to another local attraction - Sliding Rock).
The island of Aunuu is open for lovers of natural beauty: here you will see mangroves, the delightful Lake Pala and a freshwater swamp in the mouth of an extinct volcano.
Swains Island is privately owned and closed to the public. However, who knows, the owners may invite you to visit, as Samoans are friendly and welcoming people and are always happy to welcome guests.