Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This year, the Miss American Samoa Inc. (MASI) pageant has decided to host a pre-pageant event — during the day — the night before the pageant.
This event, held yesterday, June 8, 2023, aims to showcase the contestant’s ability to siva Samoa, how to flawlessly execute her duty in the Ava ceremony, and test their comprehension abilities, as well as how well they can utilize their critical and analytical skills in the interview portion of the competition.
The five individuals selected for the judges panel are Mrs. Terry So’oto Palmer, Judge #1, Mr. Tuiafano Vai Fua, Judge #2, Ms. Lornalei Meredith, Judge #3, Mr. Joey Zodiacal, Judge #4 and Judge #5 Mrs. Kayla Sauafea.
Each contestant was required to give a presentation on their chosen topics, list the negative impacts of each topic and list solutions they think would help in combating the negative impacts of their topic.
They were each given 3- 5 minutes for their presentation on their assigned topic and concluded by answering questions from two judges after their presentation.
CONTESTANT #1 — EDUCATION
Ms. Kiahna Siufanua, sponsored by Ms. Lila’s Floral Shop
“Life is divided into 3 terms, that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit from the present, and the present and to live better in the future”, is a quote that Ms. Siufanua chose to help bring attention to her selected topic — education.
Contestant #1 highlighted opportunities of growth for the education system in American Samoa, to which she referenced a “data of territorial report card statistics from 2020- 2021 that showed scores of standardized tests — that the performances of students who took these tests fell in between basic and below basic.”
Ms. Siufanua asserted that “this data indicates that students are approaching the standards but are not quite there.” Her presentation focused on improving these performance levels to a point where students will not only meet the standards but excel.
She stated in her presentation that she had narrowed down 3 challenges that the education system in American Samoa is currently facing, and presented 3 possible solutions as well.
The first challenge she said was the “lack of resources and better understanding — our children are talented and each one learns differently and requires different resources to help them excel.”
The second challenge she said was the “need for a bridge between classroom learning”, and “… comes full circle when you take what is taught in the classroom and apply it at home.”
The third challenge she pointed out is reinforcement and retention of teachers. Ms. Siufanua brought up the presence of amazing teachers in our territory and that they’ve put in time and efforts to their students and “that we should take care of teachers so they can continue to teach future generations”.
For solutions, she suggested “adjusting the curriculum to incorporate both English and Samoan”; “strengthening the support system of children not only at the school place but also at home;” and “ensuring that teachers’ needs are met by increasing their salary, providing supplies, and having administration support.” She also emphasized that parents should be more involved in their children’s education “by attending the parent teacher conferences, PTA meetings, and volunteering and chaperoning”.
Judge #1 Mrs. Palmer asked Ms. Siufanua: “From your own experience, how can you improve education in terms of utilizing a curriculum that includes both the Samoan and English language”?
She replied, “We can improve our education system by incorporating technology, and with keeping [sic] in mind to be more inclusive of cultures, like Samoa — but various people don’t learn through technology so utilizing people that translate things from Samoan to English and to use their skill to teach those who struggle to learn in English.”
CONTESTANT #2 — THE DRUG EPIDEMIC PLAGUING AMERICAN SAMOA
Ms. Nelda Mareko — sponsored Le Laga’ali Couture
Ms. Mareko said that from her perspective, one solution to ending drugs is “by creating programs that support drug awareness such as youth coalition and Intersection, which focuses on ways to avoid drugs with activities and events that we have; and also a comprehensive substance abuse committee that is headed by Lt. Governor Talauega E.V. Ale on not only our youth but the community as a whole.”
Another important part of drug awareness, according to Ms. Mareko, is “hosting outreaches by communicating them in churches, family, government, community and schools.”
Contestant #2 said she would “create a program focused solely on drug abuse, host workshops in schools and government departments, and collaborate with the private sector and agencies in American Samoa and off-island.”,
Judge #5, Mrs. Sauafea, asked Ms. Mareko: “Of the three possible solutions that you presented on terminating the presence of drugs in American Samoa, which of the three you believe would be the most effective?”
She replied: “I believe in creating programs to our schools and government departments to combat drugs in American Samoa and eventually stop them from entering our islands.”
Mr. Zodiacal, Judge #3 asked Ms. Mareko, “If you would give the American Samoa government a letter grade, ‘A’ being the best and ‘F’ being the lowest, in response to their efforts in ending the islandwide drug abuse, what letter grade would you give?”
Ms. Mareko answered that “the American Samoa community should think of our people and stop drugs because it’s not a good thing to be doing.”
CONTESTANT #3 — ENVIRONMENT
Ms. Judy Tauanu’u — sponsored by Fa’atamali’i Productions
Ms. Judy Tauanu’u’ highlighted 2 main environmental impacts, she believes is happening right now: rising sea levels and the endangerment of the territory’s coral reefs.
She focused on the impact of climate change on our small island’s survival, referencing the rapid sinking of our islands from the 2009 earthquake and that the Environmental Protection Agency reported that rapid loss of coastal lands will disturb the delicate balance of our territory’s ability to provide resources such as food and local building supplies, as well as the effect and compromise of rising sea levels on our underground aquifers, which accounts for most of our local water supply.
She noted that our endangered coral reefs “hold cultural and economic significance, and provides billions of dollars in food jobs, recreational opportunities, and coastal protection.
“Coral reefs provide habitat, feeding and spawning grounds for over one million aquatic species, including commercially harvested fish species,” Ms. Tauanu’u said. In addition, she cites that changes in the temperature of the ocean triggered by global warming is a threat to our coral reefs as well.
Suggestions Ms. Tauanu’u made to combat the loss of coral reef habitat and rising sea levels is education.
“Education is always important, we need to educate ourselves about the coral reefs and the creatures they support as well as keeping ourselves updated with the rising sea levels.
“Number two, we need to find native vegetation to prevent sediments and pollutants from reaching the reef.
“Number three, don’t let household items drift into streets, gutters, and drains, as well as reducing energy use and carbon footprints and picking up our own trash and support initiatives that protect and support our coral reefs”, said Ms. Tauanu’u while firmly voicing ways to fight the negative impacts on our environment.
Ms. Tauanu’u was then asked by Judge #2, Mrs. Meredith, “If crowned Miss American Samoa, which solution would be the best to help our environment?”
She replied “that educating ourselves and our youth that picking up trash, whether yours or not, would be the best solution and to remember to take care of our environment.”
Mrs. Palmer, Judge #1, asked Mrs. Tauanu’u, “What is the one key factor that you can use to educate children in diminishing littering on our island?”
Ms. Tauanu’u said “that the parents of our territory should inform and teach them to pick up trash wherever they see [it], regardless if it was theirs or not.”
CONTESTANT #4 — TOURISM
Tatiana Tiare Tausala Tupua — Sponsored by ICS and family & friends
Ms. Tupua brought up fun facts about American Samoa — including that it is the last part of the United States where the sun sets.
She spotlighted that “tourism is a means to promote our islands, culture and traditions through resources that are available to us.” In her presentation, she discussed the 5 islands that make up American Samoa and its remote location that flourishes with an abundance of natural resources.
She also highlighted the National Park of American Samoa, which is the only United States national park in the Pacific, and noted that it is included in the largest National Marine sanctuary out of the 13 conservation areas in the U.S.
“Each island that makes up the territory of American Samoa has its own unique treasures, but one common trait of the islands is its unique simplicity. An island paradise, where treasures are hidden amongst the lands, each with a story to be told,” says Ms. Tupua as she concluded her presentation.
“When we are able to understand our lands, we share our treasures such as art, culture, hospitality and the sincere gift of alofa. In a collaborative effort with the National Park, Marine Sanctuary, and the Visitors Bureau, we open our islands to share our beauty with the world and our love for our islands.”
Judge #2, Mr. Tuiafono Vai Fua asked Ms. Tupua, “What are the main obstacles that our territory is facing when it comes to tourism? And how can you help to solve this problem?”
Ms. Tupua explained “that COVID-19 had a huge effect on tourism in American Samoa and affected the tourist rate and took a toll on local businesses. And a way that she would help is finding safer ways by using more effective screening methods of tourists coming to our islands.”
Ms. Meredith finished off the judges inquiry of Ms. Tupua by asking, “If crowned, how would you promote tourism of American Samoa?”
She replied that “if crowned, I would take the opportunity to partner and collaborate with the Visitor’s Bureau and find new and effective ways to reach out to the South Pacific as a whole to where we are sharing what we have unique to our island and what we can show other people who have not visited before.”
After the platform presentations and interview portions of the pre pageant event, each contestant proceeded to showcase their dancing ability in the siva Samoa category and their capability in properly executing the role of taupou during the ava ceremony.
Bluesky Communications has been named as one of the Gold sponsors for this year’s pageant, which includes providing a livestream video of the pageant tonight.
The pageant venue is at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei with general admissions at the door for $30. Doors will open at 6p.m. with the competition slated to begin at 7.
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