Hillside at Mauga o Ali’i laid bare

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tall and lush trees along with vegetation that used to grow on the side of the mountain on the road up to the Governor’s Official residence on Mauga o Ali’i in Fagatogo are long gone and the side of the mountain is now bare — as shown in this Samoa News photo taken last Friday morning.  Many local residents have admired the beauty of this hill area with great old trees but they were removed a few months ago and now some fear for the stability of the hillside.

(Samoa News points out that it looks like they’re trying to create a 2-lane road or a path alongside the road. However no details were given on the project.)

When Public Works director, Faleosina Voigt appeared before the Fono Joint Budget Committee last week Wednesday for her department’s fiscal year 2022 budget, Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono voiced his concerns over the project saying that the mountainside is now bare, and he fears a landslide could happen anytime soon.

Voigt responded that a contractor is conducting the work, but didn’t identify the contractor’s name or what’s involved in the project or the funding source.  She did say that the hill would be re-enforced as the project work continues.

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This Samoa News photo taken last Friday afternoon shows a crew working on the road heading up to the Governor’s official resident on Mauga o Ali’i. Roof of the two-story, historic land mark site is in the photo. [photo: FS]

The FY 2022 proposed budget has a $100,000 allocation under Special Programs — administered by the Governor’s Office for the Governor’s Mansion Restoration Project.

The Governor’s official residence is on the National Registrar of Historic Places of the US National Park Services.

“In an effort to preserve this national historical landmark in the Territory, funding has been set aside for the continued restoration and preservation of this site...on Mauga o Ali’i,” according to the project description in the FY 2022 budget.

A similar amount was allocated in the FY 2021 budget.