American Samoa

I had the opportunity to travel to American Samoa a couple of weeks ago for work. Since there are only 2 flights a week from Honolulu, I flew down on Sunday and returned on a red eye Thurs/Fri. It was my first time traveling south of the equator! American Samoa is an unorganized US territory, so you do need a passport to travel there. It is made up of 8 islands (5 inhabited and 3 uninhabited). I was on the island of Tutuila for 4 days of meetings, but we did manage to get out and see some sights! The capital, Pago Pago (pronounced Pan-go Pan-go with a short a), is where we had most of our meetings.

One of my first views of the topography. The highest mountain is around 2,500 feet. The spine of the ridge runs most of the length of the 20 mile long island.

A view of the north shore of Tutuila. There are a few roads that run across the ridge to the north side from the much more populated south side.


A typical village scene. The building on the right is a meetinghouse of sorts.

The view of Pago Pago harbor and the cannery on the right. The main area of Pago Pago is set toward the back of the harbor.

I had a run-in with the police while I was there. I was looking for a pay phone (they are almost non-existent) and driving around town. I took a right turn off of the main road and as I started down the side road, I thought "this road doesn't seem wide enough for me and the car coming toward me." Then the blue lights came on and I was told to pull into an adjacent parking lot. The officer asked if I knew that I was traveling the wrong way on a one-way road. I told him that it was my first time in Pago Pago and that I did not see any signs indicating the one-way. He replied that there weren't any and it was "kind of a problem" I was let off with a warning...

This is part of the National Park of American Samoa. We drove to the point that you see in this scene (it was a half mile walk or so from the end of the road to the point.)

The view at the point. Most of the shoreline is quite rocky. There are a few beaches.

You can see the "rock hopping" fish on this rock that I noticed. As you got close they would jump from rock to rock. They are about 3 inches long or so.

Some of the things that I noticed...the people are very friendly! I'm glad that I am not a true vegetarian and will eat fish (it was most of my diet for the week). Many men wear lava lavas (think long kilt without the checkerboard) mostly solid patterns, but some aloha style. There is a starkist tuna cannery that is by far the biggest employer on the island. The public transport buses are great, brightly decorated, blasting hip-hop and generally jam packed with 20 people or so (about every 5th car on the island).

The entrance sign to Fagatele Bay. We had a free afternoon to do some snorkeling. It's about a mile hike to a secluded beach. The coral was very beautiful! Not a lot of fish, but definitely some that I don't usually see in HI. I especially like the prohibition on dynamiting...

There were breadfruit trees (seen here), bananas, and coconut trees absolutely everywhere!

Fagatele Bay

While we were at Fagatele Bay, we saw quite a few fruit bats (known as Flying foxes). We saw them here and there around the island, especially at dusk.

Charlie the tuna.

Our last meeting of the week was at American Samoa community college.

Kaua'i Trip

Danielle's mom arrived the day after Danielle, Gabbi, and Jacqui returned from their New England visit. It was absolutely wonderful to have her spend 2.5 weeks with us! She was really loving and spent lots of quality time with us (especially Gabbi and Jacqui). She took them to Waikiki for a night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. They had a blast! Thanks, Mom for such an incredible visit!!

Waiting for the airplane for our inter-island flight.

We had the opportunity to travel for a long weekend on Kaua'i, while she was here. We spent the first 2 nights in Po'ipu and explored Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park, Po'ipu, Sea Glass beach, and more. We were pretty disappointed on our first afternoon, when we attempted to get out the far western beaches. We found out that Barking Sands Beach is completely closed to the public at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Then, we found the state park and the road closed just past Barking Sands.

Gabbi and Jacqui love to climb and they found this great spot at the north end of "sea glass beach"

Nonni's first Kaua'i beach, exploring for sea glass after driving through the lovely petroleum district of Port Allen...

We even got Nonni to cross this suspension bridge in Hanapepe!


At one end of the bridge we found this spectacular looking spider.

Hanapepe is known for Bougainvillea. This truck serves as a flower pot.

The morning our our second day we headed to the Kalalau lookout and got incredible views of Kalalau Valley (accessible only by hiking or kayaking). We got there early, because when we came in June fog rolled in and completely obscured the view by 10 a.m. Nonni indulged us and did a great job joining us for most of our hike along the rim of the valley.

Hiking along the valley.

Then, on the way down from Kalalau and Koke'e State Park, we took our time and explored plenty of views of Waimea Canyon, including this view of Waimea Falls.

A beautiful view with nice scenery behind...

While we were on Kaua'i we had a chance to see 3 different monk seals basking in the sun. There were 2 at Po'ipu beach on our first afternoon and this one on Salt Pond Beach.

We climbed around on the rocks at Salt Pond Beach. I especially enjoyed this view.

This one is great as well!

And how could you miss this beauty!!

And of course, the 3 lovely beach beauties.

On the way from Po'ipu to Princeville, we stopped at Wailua Falls (some of you may recognize this as the opening shot from Fantasy Island, from re-runs of course).

The second part of the trip we spent in Princeville. I had a couple of days of meetings at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, while the ladies explored Hanalei, Ke'e Beach, Princeville and the north coast.

Hanging loose on the beach in Hanalei.

The girls had a couple of nene visit our condo in Princeville.

The pool did not get a lot of use, it was pretty chilly...

Kilauea lighthouse.

A view across from Kilauea lighthouse at a portion of Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge and the red-footed booby colony.

Enjoying time with Nonni at Kilauea Point.

The sunset from the window on our return flight to O'ahu.

Travel Back East Con't...

After spending a night at my mom's, we headed to Bill's parents for a night in Palmer. The girls built Ginerbread houses with their favorite "Auntie Arugala". Ruth's been staying with her parents since she left O'ahu, applying for jobs and such.... We have all missed Ruthie a bunch since she's left our house, so it was fantastic seeing her. The girls thoroughly enjoyed playing games and hanging out with her again. We also had fun visiting with Bill's parents and they were great to cook us lots of yummy food while we were there.

River, Gabbi and Jacui sledding on "Hospital Hill" in Northampton

Jac, Sage, Gab and River getting warm.

Jacqui cooling down from the hot tub...nice tan lines!!
(yes, someday she might kill me for this photo, but I think I caught a pretty harmless angle)

We spent a few days with our awesome buddies from England...enjoying some hot-tubbing, sledding and just hanging around and playing/chatting. Our friends the Iacobucci's came over for a visit with their 3 girls and their newest edition, little Luca (who had several girls handling him). Dana (Grana) went out and supplied all the kids with goodies to decorate Gingerbread houses (yet again for my girls). She was such a patient and gracious hostess with all those kids in her house!!!

River and Gab with little Luca

David helping all the kids with their houses.

After we left the Pasquale's, we went to Petra, Kieron, Tove and Hjordis' house. It was great spending time with them. The kids loved seeing their old cats Olivia and Lilly again. Petra swears that the cats remember us. It might be true since Olivia (who's not know to befriend someone easily) slept at Gabbi's feet that night.

We also spent a night at Kissy, Dennis, Tess and Cole's house. We were also greeted with a visit from our friends Amy, Cole, Wendy, Collin, Sophie, Laura, Evan and Eliza. The kids all look way too big for me to handle, especially Collin (Wendy, weren't he and Gabbi just playing kitchen in their diapers?)

Evan, Collin, Cole and Cole

Jac, Tess, Gabbi and Sophie

Gab and Jac really have missed Tess and Cole. They were friends who we saw several times a week back in MA and their absence in our lives has been big! I always loved that Gabbi and Jacqui had a good "boy" friend in Cole. He was always so fun and flexible for them to play with, no matter what they came up with. As usual, I'm continuously impressed with Tess and how she plays so well with my girls who are 3 and 5 years younger than her. It says a lot about a 11 and 1/2 year old to be such a good friend to girls who are so much younger. Thanks Tess for being a great role model for them!!

The B'Town Mommies: Wendy, Kissy, Laura, Me and Amy
The gang of B'Town kids

While we went back to my mom's for a couple of days, Missy and Arona, my great friends from Greenwich, visited us there. We went out for a ladies brunch and had a wonderful time catching up.

Robyn, Me and Kerrie

Jolene and Catherine

I was able to squeeze in couple of nights out with my women's circle friends who I miss on a daily basis!!

Thanks Laura for hosting a circle while Molly and I were back....it was great!

One of our last visits was to Robyn, Rjae, Caleb, Ava, Quinn and Dite's house. As usual, we had a blast with them. I'm so happy to see our kids get along almost as well as Robyn and I do. They all really love each other in such sweet ways. I never did manage to get a picture of Caleb...

Jac, Gab, and Ava

Rjae, Quinn and Dite

Robyn and Me

So Robyn, we might have a few more wrinkles and maybe a "couple" more gray hairs than our college days, but our friendship has only gotten better! I love you!!

Thanks to all of our wonderful hosts and hostesses...you'll all were amazing! We would love to return the favor, come and visit Hawaii while we're still here. We'll be back before you know it.