AGP Executive Report

Samoa Open 2026: Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio‘o welcomed players and officials at a Sheraton Aggie Grey’s Hotel reception, praising the tournament for boosting youth, tourism, and regional sporting ties. Local Arts & Culture: The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visited the EFKS Fine Arts & Museum, highlighting student artwork and creativity. Sports Media Trouble: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook page was taken down mid-livestream during the Chairman’s Cup, with organizers unsure if it was a Meta removal or a music/copyright flag. Governance & Public Safety: Senators questioned the Fire Division’s July response after reports of delayed arrivals and dry hydrants, while a separate resolution declared the governor’s move to shift Corrections under Public Safety “invalid and without legal effect.” Deep-Sea Mining Watch: A proposed BOEM lease sale would cover about 31.5 million acres near American Samoa for mineral exploration, with extraction requiring later approvals. Citizenship Politics (US): New Trump executive orders target narrower birthright citizenship categories and “birth tourism,” drawing fresh legal backlash.

FCCLA Spotlight: Students from Page County High School joined 10,000+ FCCLA members, including delegates from American Samoa, at the 2026 National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., highlighting leadership, career skills, and competitive events. Citizenship Fight: President Trump signed fresh executive orders targeting birthright citizenship, renewing legal challenges after the Supreme Court struck down an earlier move. Pacific Sports & Media: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook page was reportedly removed mid-livestream during the Chairman’s Cup, with an appeal filed to Meta as organizers try to restore match coverage. Local Governance: Manu‘a residents met to discuss transparent oversight of Atu‘u trust land lease payments tied to a 1911 indenture. Arts & Culture: The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visited EFKS Fine Arts & Museum, praising student artwork and creativity. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: The U.S. is set to auction up to 33 million acres near American Samoa for mineral exploration despite major environmental data gaps. Weather & Voyaging: Hokule‘a and Hikianalia extended the Moananuiākea Voyage by a year due to elevated Western Pacific sailing risks.

Citizenship Fight: Trump issued another executive order narrowing birthright citizenship, targeting children tied to “alien enemies,” foreign government employees, “birth tourist” transactions, and births in territories where citizenship isn’t conferred by federal statute—despite the Supreme Court already striking down a similar move. Manu‘a Land Oversight: Residents in Manu‘a met to discuss how lease payments from Atu‘u trust land should be handled transparently under the 1911 indenture naming Tufele as trustee. Deep-Sea Mining Push: The U.S. plans to auction about 31.5 million acres of deep ocean near American Samoa for mineral exploration, with a Nov. 19 date, even as major environmental data gaps remain. Local Sports Tech Drama: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook page was removed mid-livestream during the Chairman’s Cup, with an appeal filed to Meta and questions about possible copyright flags. Arts & Culture: The EFKS Fine Arts & Museum welcomed an American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visit, highlighting student artwork and creativity. International Cup Softball: Team USA won gold over Japan 2-0 behind Montana Fouts’ dominant pitching, while U.S. Elite beat American Samoa 10-3 in earlier action.

Arts & Community: The Massachusetts Center for the Book is relocating to Easthampton, keeping its literacy mission alive in a more accessible, affordable studio space—one of 56 federal Center for the Book locations that also includes American Samoa. Rugby & Media: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook page was taken down mid-livestream during the Chairman’s Cup, disrupting match coverage; organizers are appealing to Meta and suspecting possible music-related copyright flags. Sports (Softball): Team USA won the International Cup softball gold, beating Japan 2-0 behind Montana Fouts, while U.S. Elite also posted wins over American Samoa in earlier rounds. Entertainment (Film): Disney’s live-action Moana is drawing attention beyond theaters, with Tonga and American Samoa among places where rural audiences struggled to find showings; costume designer Liz McGregor says the project was a “dream come true.” Local Governance: Senators challenged Governor Pulaalii’s executive order shifting Corrections under DPS, calling it invalid—while the Fire Division’s July response failures were questioned over alleged delays and dry hydrants.

American Samoa Politics & Governance: Senators challenged Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula’s executive order that moved the Department of Corrections under Public Safety, saying it’s invalid and has no legal effect, after concerns over security failures and inmate escapes. Local Sports & Community Media: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook livestreams were interrupted when the page was removed, with organizers appealing to Meta and looking into possible copyright flags; Instagram stayed active. Arts & Culture: The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visited Samoa and stopped at the EFKS Fine Arts & Museum, praising student artwork from paintings and drawings to sculptures. Entertainment & Film: Disney’s live-action Moana is drawing attention beyond theaters, with Emmy-winning costume designer Liz McGregor describing the job as a “dream come true” and highlighting her Pacific-focused research. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: The U.S. is moving toward a major deep-ocean mineral lease auction near American Samoa, with exploration planned but future mining requiring more approvals and reviews. Rugby Spotlight: Samoa’s opposition leader says World Rugby suspension risk is tied to “political madness” over the government’s pullback of support for Lakapi Samoa.

Deep-Sea Tech & Connectivity: DXN won an AU$1.2m contract to build a modular cable landing station for the Solomon Islands’ Adamasia Cable System 1, with delivery due by April 2027—an update that also highlights DXN’s ongoing Pacific work, including an American Samoa landing station for the La Vasa cable. Rugby on the Air: Lakapi Samoa’s official Facebook page was abruptly taken down during Chairman’s Cup live coverage, disrupting broadcasts and raising questions about possible copyright flags. Ocean Mining Push: The U.S. is moving toward deep-ocean mineral exploration near American Samoa, proposing a lease auction for Nov. 19, even as environmental data gaps remain a concern. Local Governance & Safety: The Senate scrutinized the Fire Division’s July response after reports of delayed arrivals and dry hydrants; lawmakers also backed a resolution declaring a Corrections-to-DPS executive order invalid. Sports Spotlight: In the International Cup softball finals, the USWNT beat Japan 2-0 for gold behind Montana Fouts, while American Samoa’s games continued in Oklahoma City as Team American Samoa competed. Arts & Culture: The EFKS Fine Arts & Museum welcomed an American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visit, showcasing student artwork and creativity.

Local Sports Spotlight: Forest King, a promising galloper trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, is set to run at Thursday’s Gosford meeting in the Steinbok C,G&E Benchmark 64 Handicap, with Tommy Berry aboard and a clear path toward bigger races like the Golden Rose. Softball in the Spotlight: Team USA’s women’s national team captured gold in the International Cup by beating Japan 2-0, powered by Montana Fouts’ dominant run; meanwhile, U.S. Elite played Canada for bronze in Oklahoma City. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: The U.S. plans to auction about 33 million acres of deep ocean around American Samoa for mineral exploration on Nov. 19, even as major environmental data gaps remain—making the territory a key test case for future Pacific mining. Arts & Culture: Day 4 of the American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visit included a stop at the EFKS Fine Arts & Museum, highlighting student creativity through paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Entertainment & Film: Disney’s Moana live-action costume designer Liz McGregor says the job was a “dream come true,” after extensive Pacific research to bring Motunui to life.

Deep-Sea Mining Push: The U.S. is moving fast on deep ocean mineral leasing near American Samoa, with a proposed sale covering about 31.5 million acres and a tentative Nov. 19 auction date—an early step that could build momentum toward future extraction. Local Public Safety Scrutiny: The Senate Public Safety Committee questioned the Fire Division after reports of slow responses during July fires, including concerns about dry hydrants and staffing shortages. Immigration Rules Tightening: Gov. Pulaalii Nikolao Pula is seeking a one-year moratorium on a law provision that lets companies recruit foreign labor for up to a year, citing fears of job displacement. Arts & Culture Spotlight: An American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and the Humanities visit included a stop at the EFKS Fine Arts & Museum, highlighting student artwork and creativity. Softball in Oklahoma City: Team USA won gold in the International Cup softball final, beating Japan 2-0 behind Montana Fouts; U.S. Elite also played American Samoa in the tournament. Moana Movie Buzz: Disney’s Moana live-action costume designer Liz McGregor says the role was a “dream come true,” after extensive Pacific research.

Softball Spotlight: The U.S. women’s national team won gold at the International Cup, beating Japan 2-0 in the final as pitcher Montana Fouts dominated at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Local Sports Pathway: American Samoa’s own players are in the mix at the same tournament—Team American Samoa includes MSU softball alumni under coach Samantha Ricketts, with games streamed via ESPN+ and USASoftball.tv. Deep-Sea Debate: The U.S. is moving toward auctioning about 33 million acres of deep ocean near American Samoa for mineral exploration, even as major environmental data gaps remain, with exploration-only leases proposed for a Nov. 19, 2026 sale. Voyaging Update: The Polynesian Voyaging Society extended the Moananuiākea Voyage by a year due to elevated Western North Pacific weather risks, with added stops across the region including planned returns that include American Samoa. Culture & Screen: Disney’s live-action Moana is drawing attention beyond big cities, while a costume designer from Tonga highlights how Pacific culture shaped the film’s wardrobe. Fashion Feature: American Samoa is also getting a nod in the CFDA’s “United Flags of Fashion” project, reimagining flags for the U.S. 250th anniversary display.

Deep-Sea Mining Push: The U.S. is moving ahead with plans to auction about 33 million acres of deep ocean near American Samoa for mineral exploration, even as officials flag major environmental data gaps; the Nov. 19, 2026 sale would only allow preliminary surveys, not commercial mining. Softball Spotlight: International Cup action keeps rolling in Oklahoma City, with American Samoa taking on Team USA and the U.S. Elite in recent matchups, including a run-rule win for the U.S. Elite over American Samoa. Moana Behind the Scenes: Emmy-winning costume designer Liz McGregor says Disney’s live-action “Moana” was a “dream come true,” highlighting her research into Pacific culture and her work bringing Motunui to life. Movie Access in the Islands: A new look at rural cinema shortages notes that places like American Samoa can struggle to find major releases, as theaters continue to disappear. Voyaging Update: The Moananuiākea Voyage has been extended by a year as weather risks rise across the Western North Pacific, with planned stops including American Samoa. Local Sports Connections: Team American Samoa’s roster for the USA Softball International Cup features players tied to Mississippi State, with coach Samantha Ricketts leading the way.

International Cup Softball: The U.S. women’s national team takes on the U.S. Elite at Devon Park in Oklahoma City (7 p.m., streaming on ESPN), with the tournament schedule also featuring American Samoa’s earlier games in the same week. American Samoa Softball Spotlight: American Samoa faced the U.S. Elite in International Cup play, with Morgan Zerkle delivering a walk-off and a run-rule win for the U.S. Elite. Voyaging & Weather: The Polynesian Voyaging Society has extended the Moananuiākea Voyage by a year, citing elevated Western Pacific weather risks tied to El Niño and climate change, with planned stops that include American Samoa. Film & Fashion: Disney’s Moana live-action costume designer Liz McGregor says the job was a “dream come true,” highlighting Pacific culture through wardrobe research and collaboration. Local Governance: American Samoa’s Senate declared the governor’s executive order moving Corrections under DPS invalid, saying the change exceeded legal authority. Community & Safety: The Fagatogo Fire Station has reopened after a health shutdown over unsanitary conditions, with Tafuna covering the west side.

Softball Spotlight: Team American Samoa’s women’s squad is in Oklahoma City for the USA Softball International Cup, with coach Samantha Ricketts bringing former Bulldogs Chloe Malau’ulu, Kiarra Sells, and Matalasi Faapito—while Sierra Sacco-Ferrie plays for the U.S. Elite; in recent action, the U.S. Elite run-ruled American Samoa 10-3 and the U.S. women beat Canada 10-7, with the U.S. Elite also taking on Japan. Voyaging & Culture: The Moananuiākea Voyage has been extended by a year as Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia reroute around heightened Western Pacific weather risks tied to El Niño and climate change, with planned stops including American Samoa and beyond. Big Screen Access: A new look at Hawaiʻi’s shrinking movie theater scene highlights how rural islands—including American Samoa—often can’t easily catch major releases like Disney’s “Moana.” Fashion & Film Craft: Disney’s “Moana” live-action costume designer Liz McGregor says the job was a “dream come true,” after deep research into Pacific archives and working with a large Auckland team. Local Community Notes: The Fagatogo Fire Station has reopened after health officials flagged unsanitary conditions, while senators declared a governor’s executive order moving Corrections under DPS invalid.

Softball Spotlight: The U.S. Women’s Elite team battled Japan in the International Cup at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, with Japan pulling ahead after a tough fourth inning and the game ending with Japan winning 7-2. Local Sports: Earlier, the U.S. Elite beat American Samoa 10-3 in the same tournament, with Morgan Zerkle delivering the walk-off run-rule finish. Voyaging & Culture: The Polynesian Voyaging Society extended the Moananuiākea Voyage by a year, citing El Niño and hotter, more unpredictable seas, with new stops including Fiji and later planned visits to American Samoa and beyond. Film & Fashion: Disney’s “Moana” live-action is bringing Pacific stories to theaters, and Emmy-winning costume designer Liz McGregor says the culture is the point. Community & Heritage: A look back at Crown Lynn pottery “seconds” that became household favorites in American Samoa, plus a note on the reopening of the Crown Lynn & Clay Museum’s kiln display. Governance: The Senate declared the governor’s executive order moving Corrections under DPS invalid.

Sports (International Cup): Team American Samoa’s softball run in Oklahoma City ended with a 10-3 loss to the U.S. Women’s Elite, after Morgan Zerkle’s walk-off clinched a run-rule victory. Sports (International Cup): In the same tournament, the U.S. women beat Canada 10-7, with Rachel Garcia closing it out late. Voyaging (Moananuiākea): The Polynesian Voyaging Society is extending the Moananuiākea Voyage by a year, citing higher Western North Pacific weather risks tied to El Niño and climate change; Hokule‘a and Hikianalia will adjust stops that include American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, and more. Entertainment (Moana live-action): Emmy-winning costume designer Liz McGregor says Disney’s Moana live-action was a “dream come true,” highlighting deep Pacific research and wardrobe work to bring Motunui to life. Culture & Media (Movie access): A new look at moviegoing in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific says rural audiences—including in American Samoa—often can’t access big releases due to limited theaters. Local Governance: The Senate declared the governor’s executive order moving Corrections under DPS invalid, saying the change exceeded legal authority. Public Safety/Travel: Health officials issued an advisory limiting travelers’ imported food units to 10 per person and requiring medications to be declared and labeled.

Softball Spotlight: The U.S. Women’s Elite beat American Samoa 10-3 in a run-rule finish at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, with Morgan Zerkle walking it off after a big day at the plate. International Cup Coverage: In the same tournament, the USWNT topped Canada 10-7, rallying from a 5-0 first-inning hole and closing it out with Rachel Garcia. Moana on the Big Screen: Disney’s live-action “Moana” is drawing Pacific attention, including Tonga-based Emmy-winning costume designer Liz McGregor, who says the role was a “dream come true” and highlights the care taken to bring Motunui to life. Local Culture & Collectibles: Crown Lynn pottery memories are still alive, with the reopened Te Toi Aku–Crown Lynn & Clay Museum spotlighting how the craft’s “14 pairs of hands” shaped each cup and handle. Governance Watch: American Samoa’s Senate declared the governor’s executive order moving Corrections under DPS invalid, saying the change can’t be done by executive order. Sports Pathway: Team American Samoa’s coach Samantha Ricketts is bringing former Bulldogs to the USA Softball International Cup, including players competing across Team USA pools. Travel Advisory: Health officials issued guidance limiting travelers’ imported food units from Samoa to personal use only, with strict border confiscation rules for overages.

Moananuiākea Voyage Update: The Polynesian Voyaging Society says climate change and El Niño risks have forced a revised sail plan, adding a full year to the Moananuiākea Voyage as Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia continue their historic journey. Movie Culture: A new report highlights how “Moana” live-action is hard to catch in rural Pacific communities, where many islands—including American Samoa—have few or no commercial theaters. Fashion & Identity: The CFDA’s “United Flags of Fashion” is reimagining state and territory flags for America’s 250th anniversary, with American Samoa included in the display running through Sept. 4. Sports Spotlight: Team American Samoa, led by coach Samantha Ricketts, is sending former Bulldogs to the USA Softball International Cup in Oklahoma City, with games streamed on ESPN+ and USASoftball.tv. Community Arts: Boys & Girls Clubs of American Samoa wrapped up its DIY Ukulele Project, supported by the AS Visitors Bureau “Save the Music” program, giving kids kits to build and personalize their own instruments. Local Advocacy: A “Stand with the Moana” shoreline demonstration urged the U.S. to stop proposed deep-sea mining leases, with youth and elders leading a peaceful, ocean-focused show of support.