NEWSROOM: 13 January - 26 January 2007

Special accommodation and rental car deals announced for boxing fans
26 January 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com
 
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week.

Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa with the announcement over the week end of special accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans and supporters.

Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT per room per day up to two people with continental breakfast included.

Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special $165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet.

This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and ELAVA Resort will be the home of international boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the preferred rental car service.”

The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to boxing world titles by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.

Mr. Puni credits the support from media partners Samoa Observer, Le Samoa Post, SBC, TV3, Vaiala Beach TV and Radio Polynesia in promoting the upcoming fight.

Mr. Puni goes on to say, “Staging international title fights in Samoa is very good for tourism and local businesses and also allows for our people to see the action LIVE and up close.”

WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title contender and current IBF Australasian Cruiserweight champion Mr. Lawrence Tauasa arrived in Samoa on Sunday with his manager Mr. Lincoln Hudson to prepare for the upcoming fight.

For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email: saipele@eventpolynesia.com.
 

American Samoa hosts talks for tuna businesses
24 January 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

American Samoa has hosted talks between Chicken of the Sea Samoa Packing and another leading U.S. tuna packer, Bumble Bee Seafood Incorporated on a possible co packing arrangement between the two canneries.

Samoa Packing’s General Manager, Willie Martins, says they are interested in packing products for Bumble Bee in the same way that it cans products for Star Kist Samoa.

Bumble Bee vice president, Maurie Callaghan, previously worked for Star Kist Samoa.

But he says the final outcome will depend on commercial conditions.
 

American Samoa Energy Diversification Bill Signed
22 January 2007 - Source: Pacific Magazine

American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega says President George W. Bush has signed into law on December 19, 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The purpose of the new law, among others, is to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, increase the production of clean renewable fuels, protect consumers, increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and improve the energy performance of the Federal Government.

“This Energy Independence and Security Act, underscores the importance of diversifying our energy supply and reducing our dependency on oil and fossil fuel,” Faleomavaega said. “It provides for investment in research and development on alternative sources of energy."

“I am especially happy that the new law included ocean thermal energy conversion, a concept that was included in a bill I introduced in the House earlier last year, and I am thankful to Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership for recognizing the importance of ocean thermal energy conversion as a potential alternative source of energy.”

“Title VI, Subtitle C, of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 authorizes $50 million for research and development of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, which are identified in the Act as: (1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; (2) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams; (3) free flowing water in man-made channels; and (4) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion),” Faleomavaega explained.

‘Also, under Title VI, Subtitle C, grants are awarded to higher education institutions provided that one of the following three criteria is met: (1) Hosts an existing marine renewable energy research and development program in coordination with an engineering program at an institution of higher education; (2) has proven expertise to support environmental and policy-related issues associated with harnessing of energy in the marine environment; and (3) has access to and utilizes the marine resources in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, or the Pacific Ocean.”

“Moreover, special consideration is given to land grant universities that also meet one of these criteria and I am very excited for the potentials this may have for our American Samoa Community College, either as a single applicant or as part of a consortium.”

“While the U.S. Department of Energy has yet to officially assign an administering unit for this new program, earlier inquiries have indicated it would likely be with its Subdivision on Hydro Power Technology. I am also happy that the significance of marine and hydrokinetic technologies was also evident that nearly $10 million was appropriated specifically for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies in the appropriations bills for FY2008.”

“By reducing our dependency on fossil fuel oil, I believe this new law can help alleviate several energy-related issues in our territory including high electricity rates. As long as we depend on foreign oil, we are exposed to the volatility of oil market prices. I am therefore hopeful that the Governor, the Fono, and the leaderships of our Territorial Energy Office, and ASPA will work together and take advantage of the opportunities provided in this Act to fully exploit one of the largest natural resources available to us -our ocean - as an alternative source of energy for our territory,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

Health of American Samoa Governor reported to have improved
20 January 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Doctors at Hawaii’s Tripler Army Medical Centre say that the condition of American Samoa Governor Togiola has improved since he was admitted to hospital on Wednesday evening.

The Director of the Governor’s Office in Hawaii, Solialii Faalepo Jr. said from Honolulu this morning that the governor was alert and in a much better condition.

Solialii said doctors are still doing tests and at this stage it’s not known whether the governor will undergo a third surgery.
 

American Samoa governor off to Honolulu for medical care
18 January 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

American Samoa’s Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia says he is pleased a special military aircraft has flown the governor to a hospital in Hawaii.

The Governor Togiola Tulafono has undergone two operations in Pago Pago this month.

But amid concern for his well-being he was flown to Honolulu, which Ipulasi Aitofele says is reassuring.

“The plane is fully equipped; it’s like a mini hospital. It’s all air-conditioned. It’s got all the equipments, the doctors and nurses. So I feel very good about it.”

Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, American Samoa’s Lieutenant Governor.
 

Rumble in Apia for the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight Title
16 January 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia this week confirmed receipt of Certification Letter from World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific Chairman Mr. Leon Panoncillo.

In his letter Mr. Panoncillo wrote “Herewith, is the letter to confirm that World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific have certify that the boxing match on Saturday, February 02, 2008, at Apia, Samoa between Lawrence Tauasa vs. Charles Baou for the WBO Oriental vacant Cruiserweight title has been officially sanctioned and recognized by the WBO.”

According to Mr. Puni, “This is history in the making and the start of great things for Samoa boxing going forward. WBO is one of the four major organizations including WBA, WBC and IBF which sanction world championship boxing bouts.”

Mr. Puni also confirmed that Mr. Lon Panoncillo will be in Samoa for the upcoming fight night.

“Samoa’s success in the recent South Pacific Games and the Oceania Tournament 2007 is a welcome sign and comes as no surprise with Samoa being strong in amateur boxing over many years. Unfortunately, Samoa is not able to capitalize on this local talent in the transition to international professional boxing,” Mr Puni said.

The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway forward by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.

Mr. Puni however goes on to say,” Unfortunately we are finding it very hard to raise the funds required to bring such international bouts to Samoa.”

Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o credits the determination and commitment of both the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) and the South Pacific Boxing Incorporated (SPBI) in keeping boxing alive in Samoa despite of the lack of financial resources, especially with professional boxing.

The main under card is also a title fight of twelve rounds by three minutes between the rugged Walter Pupu’a of Tonga up against Lupematasila Bob Gasio of Samoa for the South Seas Cruiserweight title fight. Other bouts include the ‘Prime Minister Challenge Cup’ between a top New Zealand Amateur Invitation Team verses a top Samoa Amateur Invitational Team.

For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email: saipele@eventpolynesia.com.
 

ASCC Sea Grant Agent Assists Manu’a Aquaponics Project
14 January 2007 - Source: ASCC Press Release

Students at Manu’a High School will soon begin harvesting their own tilapia and learning to use by-products of the fish farming system as an aid in growing fruits and vegetables, thanks to a collaborative project organized by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant) and the American Samoa Department of Education (DOE), and overseen by UH Sea Grant agent and Marine Science instructor at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Ephraim Temple, as well as his predecessor John Gonzales. In late December, Temple supervised the final implementation stages of a new system designed to help Manu’a students cultivate a new food source using a technique friendly to their environment.

Explained Temple, “In early 2007, Sea Grant, DOE, and Principal Diana Amperosa of Manu’a High School reached an agreement to combine our resources to establish an aquaponics system on the Manu’a campus. The establishment of this system, which uses waste water from a fish tank to grow various vegetables and fruits, will enhance the school’s science curriculum. My role has involved acquiring the materials for the system, including a 300 gallon tank, plumbing, water pumps, air pumps, and water quality testing kits. I taught the students how to assemble the system and supervised them as they built it. I’ve also brought fish, food, vegetable seeds and growing material to stock the system and provided technical training to the students, Principal Ameperosa, the science teacher Claire Bacus, and the Land Grant employees stationed on Ta’u, Keli Tagaloa and Su’esu’e Alopopo, to perform daily maintenance of the system. DOE paid for shipping the materials from Tutuila to Ta’u and is helping to develop the curriculum.”

In addition to working on the Manu’a aquaponics project, Temple spent his first semester teaching Marine Science at ASCC during fall 2007, bringing with him the benefits of his many years in the field. Born on Kauai, HI, and raised on the Big Island and Oahu, Temple has spent much of his life in Tonga, Australia, California, Mexico, Ecuador, and Oregon. “My love of the ocean and my natural curiosity drew me to the pursuit of degrees that would qualify me to work near tropical oceans. I chose aquaculture after I learned about the state of the world’s wild harvest fisheries, and how these fisheries currently cannot entirely meet the demand for seafood. I feel like I can have an influence on people to help them learn how their behavior impacts the world around them, and to help them become better stewards of their resources. When done wisely, aquaculture can provide a good source of seafood to people who would otherwise go without it.”

Temple graduated from Kahuku High School on Oahu, and went on to receive his B.S. in Zoology with a focus on Marine Biology from U.H. Manoa, and then an M.S. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. For his first professional experience, as part of a legislative fellowship with Oregon Sea Grant, Temple worked closely with coastal legislators before moving on to the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to serve as a Junior Extension Agent. As the only Sea Grant representative currently serving American Samoa, Temple’s duties include promoting sustainable aquaculture and increasing the public’s capacity to manage the Territory’s aquaculture and wild fish resources.

Temple described his first semester at ASCC as “very rewarding”. He teaches MSC200 – Introduction to Aquaculture, as well as MSC280 – Marine Science Special Projects, both of which give students the opportunity to combine classroom theory with practical application. As Temple explained, “My Special Projects students gathered information on traditional Samoan fishing techniques and will compile that information to produce a brochure for the public. My Aquaculture students have begun their own sunfish (tilapia) farm. They used the knowledge they obtained in class to acquire the appropriate permits and materials to establish a successful farm. Soon they’ll stock their system with fish and begin their production. My students showed a lot of dedication and produced significant results.”

Reflecting on how education can help us to better protect our marine resources, Temple explained, “The community should take an interest in Marine Science because, among all the people on this planet, Samoans are some of the most affected by ocean conditions and ocean health. We live on small islands and use a lot of ocean resources for food and cultural perpetuation. However, largely due to a lack of understanding of our impact on our environment, the coast is becoming filled with garbage and other pollution which destroys important resources like coral reefs, and drives away fish. Knowledge will help all of us to make better choices about what we do with our garbage and waste, and to make plans for better stewardship in the future.”

Anyone who would like more information on aquaponics or ASCC Marine Science classes can contact Ephraim Temple at 731-8169.
 

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