By Lagi Keresoma/ Apia, Samoa – 14 January 2025 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa confirmed at today’s press conference that the charges against former Cabinet Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao are...
Why is there still a breast cancer epidemic despite billions in research funding? In the pre-pandemic days, when we were able to focus on other diseases besides COVID, there were annual gala events to raise awareness, and funds, for...
It’s that time of the year again. What to get your significant other, friends and family? Here are some suggestions, based items I’ve reviewed over the past year… So let’s look at the newest product first. I’ve had about a month to...
Business owners seeking to access their properties in the main town must complete and sign a disclaimer form, according to the Recovery Operations Centre (ROC).
Some people smell well, and smell good. And some people are real stinkers. In the typical American household, the nose is assaulted by an army of smells. You rise in the morning and go to the bathroom. If you are lucky enough not...
Covid-19 has made it virtually impossible for DJ duo Coco House Bros - Mark Zow and Mr E to tour internationally, so they decided to give back to the people of Rarotonga.
By Keli’i Akina Halloween is over, but there is still a monster that threatens us. In years past, I have talked about the dangers of zombie and Frankenstein bills at the state Capitol. But there is another monster lurking there, quietly...
I’m sometimes asked, “What’s the biggest break that today’s tax code gives us?” There are many ways to measure big breaks, of course, but how about this one: Qualified Charitable Distributions. This benefit is mainly for those of...
by Cristina Johnson The U.S. armed forces resorted to asbestos-containing products throughout the last century in preparation for WWII, when affordable materials were in high demand for mass-producing military equipment in a short time....
OPINION: Cook Islands has moved a step closer to extracting valuable minerals from its ocean floor following the launch of seabed exploration license a week ago. In this week’s column, local environment group Te Ipukarea Society explain...
Many of us were following the progress of the City and County of Honolulu’s proposal for an Empty Homes Tax, which we wrote about here and here, and felt relieved when the City Council deferred the matter on Wednesday, December 11....
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series by Manfred Henningsen, formerly a political science professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he taught for fifty years until his retirement in 2020. by Manfred...
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has delivered a leadership development course for 60 Solomon Islands public servants in Honiara, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Public Service (MPS).
By Kaiulani Flores Many artists and musicians start their training at an early age. For me, growing up on Maui, my passion was natural hair braiding. I began braiding hair when I was five years old, practicing French braids on my...
Apia, Samoa – 17 January 2025 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has terminated 13 Associate Ministers who signed a letter of no confidence in her leadership. On Monday this week, Fiame sacked three of her Cabinet ministers...
Australia’s support for Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector continues to grow with the announcement of its latest partnership with Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation (TCP), a local woman-owned business in Guadalcanal.
In the scheme of things the Viking Security Safe VS-50SX is not the largest gun safe you’ll ever encounter. However, it may well be the handiest. At 19.7x W 13.8” x D 12.2” it approaches almost two cubic feet and it weighs in...
By Keli’i Akina Have you ever had trouble getting a building permit? I’m guessing yes because the reaction to my recent column about a homeowner’s permitting troubles on Hawaii Island has been some of the most intense I’ve seen in...
by Jonty Crane Despite being home to a population that is 98% Catholic—the second highest concentration in the world after the Vatican City—Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) boasts a diverse array of sites from other religions, including...
[ata: foa'i] By LALI STAFF Pago Pago - AMERIKA SAMOA E ui ina e le’i maua e leoleo ia le susuga ia James Mose i le aso na tupu ai se faalavelave, ae peitai, ua molia pea o ia i le Fa’ao’olima, Faatupu vevesi i totonu o lona aiga ma...
Exploring Timor-Leste on Foot: 30 incredible hikes in one of the least visited countries in the world is the first comprehensive hiking guide to Timor-Leste. One of the world’s newest countries, Timor-Leste offers an abundance of hiking...
Twenty-five days after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake triggered a landslide at the Lapetasi International Wharf in Port Vila, questions remain unanswered about whether people or vehicles are still trapped under the debris, despite no...
by Tom Wilmer Editor’s Note from Rob Kay: As we get closer to yet another anniversary of December 7, 1942, I think it’s appropriate to post this interview that NPR podcaster Tom Wilmer conducted with Bishop Museum Historian...
The Laverwo Party founded by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Epi, Seoule Simeon, is fielding nine candidates in various constituencies for the Snap Election. The former Speaker of Parliament led the votes in his constituency...
Snoring is one of those things that seems to affect other people more than yourself, especially those who share your bedroom. In a way, it’s a social disease, since it can cause insomnia in those around you. This makes the snorer as...
In my role with the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and in private practice as a lawyer, I often have occasion to visit the Capitol website, capitol.hawaii.gov, to do research. The more I have gotten to know the site, the more I...
The Cato Institute is a nonprofit organization, based in Washington, DC, that promotes fiscal and regulatory restraint and opposes the spiraling growth of government spending. Every two years, it puts out a Fiscal Policy Report...
By Keli’i Akina This week, I’d like to share with you a letter I wrote recently to Santa. I hope making it public won’t jinx my requests, but I think he would be OK with me doing this. So here it is: Dear Santa,...
The governments of Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand have handed over a new girls’ dormitory and ablution block for Tabaka Rural Training Centre in New Georgia, Western Province, marking a significant development for the school.
The Vanuatu Government’s allocation of 1.5% of its annual budget for emergency response should be increased to 2% or 3% to reduce reliance on external funds and accelerate response times, said John Ezra, Director of the Department of...
A few weeks ago I had the good fortune to be interviewed about Fiji by Tom Wilmer, on his “Journeys of Discovery” podcast for National Public Radio. Tom and I had both been members of the Society of American Travel Writers and the...
The recent fireworks explosion in Honolulu’s Salt Lake neighborhood, which claimed at least three lives and injured more than 20 people, is a tragic culmination of a long-standing issue that has plagued our city for years. Illegal...
Exploring Timor-Leste From the Air is a stunning photography book featuring over 100 high-quality aerial images taken throughout this captivating, yet often overlooked, country. The book illustrates the variety and beauty of sights in...
Baseball teams from American Samoa that participated in the PĀ CUP "In the Break" tournament in New Zealand returned home this week, celebrating their outstanding performances. The U12 and U16 teams made their mark in this prestigious...
In the annals of politics is the legendary strategy once used by the National Park Service to avoid crippling budget cuts. As the story goes, when the tentative budget cuts were announced the Service told the public that, because...
President Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision to dissolve Parliament on 18 August 2022, after then-Prime Minister (PM) Bob Loughman met with him on the 15th to brief him on the advice of the Council of Ministers (COM), saw the dissolution...
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Department recently witnessed promising strides in youth football development in Noro, Western Province.
Tourism Solomons has announced a new partnership that it believes will significantly boost the Solomon Islands dive industry: Honiara-based Bilikiki Cruises has teamed up with international dive boat operator Emperor Divers.
The Bethesda Disability and Support Centre in Guadalcanal have received essential equipment and furniture from Australia enabling them to deliver inclusive training for its students.
Tourism Solomons’ ‘Mi Save Solo 2024’ Industry Buyer/Seller Meet has been hailed a resounding success, with Australian and New Zealand buyers giving the event an impressive satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5.
Dear Editor, I read a recent article in Samoa News regarding “Police investigate alleged sex abuse,” posted 1/15/2025. This article although challenging to read, provides a glimpse of the life of a sexual assault victim in our...
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series by Manfred Henningsen, formerly a political science professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he taught for fifty years until his retirement in 2020. by Manfred...
]ata: SN] By Okalani Etuati VAEGA 142 E toe fa'atalofa atu i a tatou pa'aga i so'o se tulimanu o le kelope o lo'o maua mai ai lenei auaunaga, aemaise i nai o tatou tama ma tina matutua i Amerika Samoa. E fa'atalofa atu i le...
Apia, SAMOA — With Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa’s recent sacking of members of her Cabinet, including La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, who is facing criminal charges, four new Cabinet ministers were sworn into their new roles on...
The Malu’u Market redevelopment project in Malaita is set to go ahead in the New Year, with local company Alrico Constructions awarded the Early Works contract.
Kovana Pulu: Faigata ona ausia totogi a tagata faigaluega o le malo ma le tele o aitalafu le totogia [ata: foa'i] By LALI STAFF Pago Pago - AMERIKA SAMOA O le aso Gafua na se’i mavae atu nei, Ianuari 13, 2025, sa tatalaina aloaia...
By Keli’i Akina I’m guessing most of us have heard about Hawaii’s net population decline in recent years. Prices here are high, housing is scarce, there are few job or business opportunities, and access to healthcare can be problematic....
In February of this year, we wrote about an issue with our Hawaii Department of Education (DOE), which, in addition to being one of the largest agencies we have in state government, has the unique ability to levy a tax. That tax is...