KH8RRC Team will be active from Tutuila Island, American Samoa, IOTA OC - 045, 4 - 18 July 2023.
Team - N3QQ, KB2FMH, W8HC.
They will operate on HF Bands.
They planning to active some POTA references.
QSL via KB2FMH, LOTW, ClubLog.
QTH Locator - AH45pr.
KH8RRC Tutuila Island American Samoa News 5 July 2023
KH8RRC Team start their activity from Tutuila Island, American Samoa.
KH8RRC Tutuila Island American Samoa News
With just a short time before departure the KH8RRC team is close to the needed budget but can still use support.
Please visit the QRZ page to see how You can help them complete a successful Expedition and get the personalized custom QSL card for Century Club donors.
American Samoa
American Samoa is a strikingly beautiful nature, strong national color, simple and modest life, friendly people and many other pleasant details. So think those who know about the existence of this country. If you are among these lucky few, you probably agree with the sentence above. If not, that's no problem: we'll be happy to tell you what this country is, how not to confuse it with another Samoa, what it's worth going there for and how to return back afterwards.
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 into it. There are many things about the Land of Great Democracy that remind us of it. The national currency here is the dollar, President Donald Trump is the head of state, you can see American pay phones, post offices, license plates everywhere... There is even a McDonald's. And the official language is English (along with Samoan, though).
Your reference point for finding the country on the map is the Pacific Ocean. American Samoa is seven islands in the Samoan archipelago, bordering the Independent State of Samoa. Too many Samoas, but bear with me, they will end soon.
In addition to its independent namesake, American Samoa is also bordered by the Cook Islands, Niue, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tokelau. The latter territory belongs to New Zealand and has a good transport connection with it. The easiest way to get to American Samoa is from New Zealand. Another option is to fly from the U.S. or Australia. Back you can go the same way, but remember that each passenger is charged an additional $3 on departure. They say it's for the development of the country. In fact, why not: there is a lot to develop.
How to live here
American Samoa is an ideal resort region. The temperature fluctuations are low throughout the year, the ocean warms up well, you can swim all the time, and you can get a luxurious tan, as advertised, at one of the cozy local beaches: "Ofu Beach", "Two Dollar Beach" or "Maliu Mai Beach".
The islands have what the locals call the "dry season," a time when it doesn't rain. There are two such seasons a year: April to May and September to October. The rest of the time it rains. Heavy. A lot. Believe me, you don't want to see that. Better come in June and August, the perfect time to relax and see the country, and above all the following sites.
National Park
One of the biggest attractions is American Samoa National Park. It is an amazing place, impressive in both beauty and strangeness.
It spreads over three volcanic islands: Tutuila, Ofu and Tau.
Tutuila is the largest island in the country, which, by the way, is also home to the capital of the state, which we will talk about 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: first, it preserved in pristine condition unique rainforests, and secondly, this part of the park is the only one where you can get by car. And then begins the journey by swimming.
Ofu is a diver's paradise. One dive off the coast of the island will leave an impression for a lifetime. Amazing corals of unusual size and shape rise from the depths of clear water. The bright colors of sea creatures contrast sharply with the monochrome redness of corals and white sand. This is an unforgettable sight, which can be admired endlessly. Just to admire. No attempts to take a piece of coral home as a memento! There will be a fine, trouble and great moral turmoil. The nature on American Samoa is unique, and any, even minor attempts to disrupt the order of things can have most dire consequences.
If diving doesn't appeal to you for some reason, swim to Tau. The voices of the motley birds of the misty forest will enchant you with their diversity, and the coastal cliffs and cliffs that crowd the ocean on the island side will amaze you with their majesty and splendor. For an added thrill, climb the extinct Juddes Volcano and peer into the extinct crater. The sight is truly impressive and even mystical. No wonder that before colonization it was Tau that was the spiritual capital of Polynesia. Local residents remember the rituals of the day and even repeat some of them to this day, but this is done more for the pleasure of tourists. However, if you have a desire to join the ancient culture, you can also take a look. And then go for civilization - to the capital, Pago Pago.
Capital City Life
In Pago Pago, life is brisk by local standards.
Here is the deepest harbor in the South Pacific. It is in Pago Pago that the liners and yachts arriving here from other states call. Sometimes the liner itself turns out to be almost the size of a town - so small it is (or so big a ship, as you can see).
By the way the harbor itself 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 hostilities and were once run by the U.S. Navy. However, the local population is not so much focused on this and tries to pay more attention to their own, Samoan culture. The Haydon Museum, for example, has excellent examples of ancient arts and crafts. If you're in Pago Pago, make sure you stop by, it's worth it.
Where else to go and where not to go
In addition to the attractions described above, you can find many other activities to your liking.
Surfers, for instance, unanimously agree that Alofau Bay and Leone Bay have some of the best waves in the Pacific. For snorkeling is ideal for a small bay near the resort of Maliu Mai: to find it, you have to walk along the tropical forest to the east about 1.5 km. (By the way, another road, the western one, leads to another local attraction - Sliding Rock).
For nature lovers, Aunuu Island offers mangroves, a delightful Lake Pala, and a freshwater swamp in the mouth of an extinct volcano.
Swains Island, on the other hand, is privately owned and off-limits to visitors. However, you never know: perhaps the owners will invite you to visit, because the Samoans are friendly and welcoming people and are always happy to welcome guests.