[8]:350–351 The average yearly rainfall in Pago Pago Harbor is 197 inches (500 cm), whereas in neighboring Western Samoa it is around 118 inches (300 cm) per year. In December, tuna supply group Tri Marine indefinitely closed its Samoa Tuna Processors plant based in Pago Pago after supply and profit issues. [137], Pago Pago is a popular port of call for South Pacific cruise ships, including Norwegian Cruise Line[138] and Princess Cruises. On April 30, 1899, Commander Benjamin Franklin Tilley sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on USS Abarenda with a cargo of coal and steel for the project. English author W. Somerset Maugham and his secretary Gerald Haxton visited Pago Pago from December 16, 1916, to January 30, 1917 on their way from Hawaii to Tahiti. Stoler, Ann Laura and Willy Brandt (2006). [85] A climb to the summit of Mt. While the fate of Samoa Tuna Processors remains uncertain, American Samoa is now sending its excess tuna … Thirteen cruise ships were scheduled to visit Pago Pago in 2017, bringing 31,000 visitors. Sufficient land was obtained in 1898 and the construction of United States Naval Station Tutuila was completed in 1902. [90][91] There are basketball and tennis courts, a football field, a gymnasium, a bowling alley and several Korean food kiosks in the park. [134] Many cruise boats and ships land at Pago Pago Harbor for reprovision reasons, such as to restock on goods and to utilize American-trained medical personnel. [8]:353 It was home to two of the largest tuna companies in the world: Chicken of the Sea and StarKist, which exported an estimated $445 million in canned tuna to the U.S. [43][44], At the beginning of the 20th century, Pago Pago became American Samoa's port of entry. [62], Mike Pence was the third sitting U.S. Vice President to visit American Samoa[64] when he made a stopover in Pago Pago in April 2017. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The letter "g" in Samoan sounds like "ng"; thus Pago Pago is pronounced "Pango Pango. It is in Maoputasi County on the main island of American Samoa, Tutuila. Pago Pago is home to one of the deepest natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered from wind and rough seas, and strategically located. United States Central Intelligence Agency (2016). [3] It is notable for its ability to extract rain in tremendous quantities. Overview. In Pago Pago, he selected a site for the new coaling station and naval base. A local power plant was disabled, 241 homes were destroyed, and 308 homes had major damage. The Fono (legislature) served as an advisory council to the governor. Service to American Samoa by air was offered by Pan American (four weekly flights), Air New Zealand (four weekly flights), and UTA (four weekly flights). [104] Besides its being wetter and more humid from November–April, this is also the hurricane season. 1980 [1997]. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. All houses have running water and plumbing. The nearest hotels to the national park are also located in Pago Pago. The school had two teachers and forty students at the time of its opening.[45]. [139] However, cruise ships do not take on passengers in Pago Pago, but typically arrive in the morning and depart in the afternoon. When the U.S. joined World War I in May 1917, two German ships anchoring in Pago Pago were seized. [97] Other parts of the park, on the islands of Ta‘ū and Ofu, can be visited via commercial inter-island air carrier from Pago Pago International Airport. [106] It has been named one of the best deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean,[4][136] or one of the best in the world as a whole. She was later the main character in the popular short story, Rain (1921), a story of a prostitute arriving in Pago Pago. Wakeman approved the harbor and alerted the U.S. Navy about Germany's intent to take over the area. Pago Pago is also the location of the StarKist tuna cannery in the U.S. territory. Naval Station Tutuila Historic District are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Charlie the Tuna, the longtime mascot for StarKist, has his own statue outside the StarKist canning company in Atu'u on the north shore of Pago Pago Harbor. In an effort to boost the local economy and create jobs, tuna that is packaged in Pago Pago may enter the US mainland quota and tariff-free, so check your Starkist – maybe it was canned right here! [122], Centers for shopping are Pago Plaza, which consists of smaller stores selling handcrafts and souvenirs, and Fagatogo Square Shopping Center, which is home to larger shops. The largest of these is the Marine Corps communication bunker in Pago Pago. Ruffner, James A. and Frank E. Bair (1987). [79] This shopping mall is next-door to Fagatogo Market in Fagatogo, which is considered the main center of Pago Pago. Souvenirs are often sold at the market when cruise ships are visiting town. [105], Rainmaker Mountain, which is also known as Mount Pioa, is a designated National Natural Landmark. [87] It has been described as a "thoroughly Americanized" city. The permit shall become effective on: April 1, 2020. Fights into Pago Pago International Airport continued to increase in the early 1970s, with the Office of Tourism reporting 40,000 visitors and calling for the construction of additional hotels. Tuna cannery. Mauga welcomed the missionaries and gave them support. There are a ball field, sports court and boat ramp in the park. Best Tuna in Pago Pago, Tutuila: Find 31 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of the best Tuna and search by price, location, and more. [50], Pago Pago and the U.S. The first Army Reserve Center was named after him. [23]:292, In May 1967, Governor H. Rex Lee signed a law making Pago Pago a duty-free port. 69.3 percent of visitors are from the United States as of 2014. [23]:339, On September 25, 1991, downtown Fagatogo received a new landmark: the Samoa News Building. It lies by the Laolao Stream at the very end of Pago Pago Harbor. Polynesian Airlines operates shuttles between Apia and Pago Pago 4–7 times daily. In the village of Pago Pago, from Malaloa to Satala, there are a total of eleven rivers or streams. The Executive Office Building in Utulei was dedicated on October 11, 1991. A temperature range of about three degrees Fahrenheit separates the average monthly temperatures of the coolest and hottest months. [8]:353, Dining establishments, amusement facilities, professional services, and bars can be found throughout Pago Pago. [78], The city of Pago Pago encompasses several surrounding villages,[79] including Fagatogo, the legislative and judicial capital, and Utulei, the executive capital and home of the Governor. Moos, Grant. The President gave a speech where he laid out the American policy for its lone South Pacific territory. [39]:84–85, Despite being a part of the United States, Great Britain and Germany maintained a strong naval presence in the Samoan Islands. [111], The proportion of Pago Pago residents born outside of American Samoa was 26 percent in the early 1980s, and 39 percent in the late 1980s. Facility Address: 368 Atu’u Road, Pago Pago, Maoputasi, American Samoa 96799. Mount Alava, the canneries in Atu'u, Rainmaker Mountain (Mount Pioa), and Pago Pago Harbor are all visible from the market. A walk up to Mt Alava provides a magnificent bird's eye view of the harbor and town. [10], Pago Pago is the only modern urban center in American Samoa. Around 3,000 spectators went to the Pago Pago International Airport to see the President. The missionaries later chose to establish their headquarters at Leone.[23]:79–80. [7]:61 Tourism, entertainment, food, and tuna canning are its main industries. In 2009, an 8.1 earthquake caused a massive tsunami that struck American Samoa. [113] In 1991, severe tropical cyclone Val hit Pago Pago, destroying the library that existed there. It receives 119 inches (300 cm) of rain per year. [98] It was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1988 to preserve the paleotropical rain forest, Indo-Pacific coral reefs, and Samoan culture. The damages could reduce the gross domestic product of the 55,000-resident territory by some $200 million, according to a report from the territory's Department of … The percentage of residents born abroad reached 44 percent in 1990. [23]:302, Shipping in and out of Pago Pago experienced an economic boom from 1970–1974. It was one of the world's longest single-span cablecar routes. [15]:170, Pago Pago is the primary entry point for visits to National Park of American Samoa, and the city is situated immediately south of the park. 4 Fiatele Taulago Te’o was killed in Vietnam and his body was flown home to Pago Pago where his many awards were presented to his parents. [74], The largest wave hit Pago Pago at 6:13 pm local time, with an amplitude of 6.5 feet (2.0 m). and Malama Meleisea (1988). The rainy season lasts from November through April, but the town experiences warm and humid temperatures year-round. Best Tuna in Pago Pago, Tutuila: Find 31 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Tuna and search by price, location, and more. 16.6% were Asian, while 4.9% were white. It is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) recreational complex and culture center. Pacific Ocean Division (1975). It was nicknamed the "Junk Bill" as it intended to keep out old used merchandise. These also occupy 14 percent of American Samoa's total workforce as of 2014. Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga announced in 2014 that he would look into restoring the cable car. [43] The town is located between steep mountainsides and the harbor. The new airfield was partly operational by April 1942, and fully operational by June. Near Pila F. Palu Co. Inc. Store, a road runs up the hill into Happy Valley, and on the side of this road, six World War II ammunition bunkers can be seen on the left before reaching a dirt road. The naval engineer in charge was W. I. PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA—Swishing the seafood around their mouths to fully appreciate the flavor, guests reportedly spit mouthfuls of tuna into buckets Friday at … Naval Station Tutuila Historic District, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, https://www.nps.gov/npsa/learn/nature/upload/NatHistGuideAS09.pdf, http://www.samoanews.com/local-news/raiders-draft-shalom-luani, "American Samoa Is The Empty Slice Of Bliss You've Been Craving", "Uber, schmuber. [23]:137–138, The chief of Pago Pago signed a treaty with the U.S. in 1872, giving the American government considerable influence on the island. [58][59] Landing ahead of the Air Force One was the press plane that carried seventy news reporters. Governor H. Rex Lee and traditional leaders crammed ceremonies, entertainment, a brief tour, and a school dedication: the Manulele Tausala, Lady Bird Johnson School. [18] Pago Pago Harbor collects water from numerous streams, including the 1.7-mile Vaipito Stream, which as the area's largest watershed. [33], Two missionaries were assigned to Tutuila Island in the 1830s: Reverend Murray and his wife to Pago Pago and Reverend Barnden to Leone. The main bus station is located immediately behind the market. The rest came to visit relatives, for employment reasons, or in transit. In Fagatogo is the Fono, Police Department, Port of Pago Pago, many shops and hotels. Its bay is 0.6 miles (0.97 km) wide and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. Army. Most flights are to and from Fagali'i. [43][47] The Sadie Thompson Inn was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The 10,000-ton Elsass was towed to Honolulu and turned over to the U.S. Navy, while its smaller gunboat, Solf, was refitted in Pago Pago and given the name USS Samoa. Not far from where Route One crosses Vaipito Stream is Laolao Stream, which discharges into the head of Pago Pago Harbor. Conversely, the lowest temperature on record was 59 °F (15 °C) on October 10, 1964. Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, is an interesting mixture of a seedy urban area with infamously smelly tuna canneries (which provide employment for a third of the population of Tuitula), and an harbor surrounded by dramatic mountains which plunge straight into the sea. [109], As of the 2000 U.S. Census, 74.5% of Pago Pago's population are of "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Island" race. [77] It is located at 14°16′46″S 170°42′02″W / 14.27944°S 170.70056°W / -14.27944; -170.70056. The two ships, Comoran and Abarenda, fired the national salutes. [123][124], Pago Pago is a duty-free port and prices on imported goods are lower than in other parts of the South Pacific Ocean. Of American Samoa 's total workforce as of year 2000 Beach for $ 10/month order! 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