Manu’a Cession Day kicked off 5 days of activities yesterday

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Festivities kicked off yesterday for the five-day Manu’a Cession Day celebration, marking 119 years since the former island kingdom was ceded to the United States and become part of American Samoa.

And it’s a three-day weekend for the government and some in the private sector, as Gov. Lemanu P.S Mauga has already declared this coming Monday, July 17, a holiday in American Samoa in observance of Manu’a Cession Day — which falls on Sunday, July 16.

Local law dictates that if a holiday falls on a Saturday it’s observed the day-before and if it falls on a Sunday, it’s observed the following day a Monday.

“Manu'a Cession Day commemorates the ceding of the Manu' a islands to the United States after King Tuimanu'a Elisara signed the Deed of Cession of Manu’a in 1904,” the governor said in a July 10 memorandum, declaring the holiday.

“I encourage you all to take time this weekend to celebrate 119 years of union to the United States of America. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend,” the governor concluded.

According to ASG officials, an advance government delegation traveled to Manu’a earlier this week on the MV Manu’atele, in preparation for the celebration from July 13 to July 17.

The governor and other ASG officials as well as invited guests are scheduled to travel later today or tomorrow morning.

Yesterday’s events in Manu’a, as per the ASG Manu’a Cession Day program, was a fishing tournament — sponsored by the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources on Ta’u island while visitations were conducted on the islands of Ofu and Olosega to government facilities, schools as well as ongoing projects.

Today’s events — all on Ta’u island, include a Farm Fair, Summer Youth Employment Program Festivities, Youth Competition and site visitations for ongoing projects.

Saturday activities include Women’s Group Competition and Evening Village entertainment, while Sunday is set aside for the Manu’a Cession Day Sunday church service at the CCCAS Ta’u.

Lemanu will deliver his keynote Manu’a Cession Day address for the official flag raising ceremony on Monday. The Cession Day program shows that the ceremony should officially close by 12:30p.m.

With the holiday declared on July 17, all ASG offices will be closed and some in the private sector are also planning to do the same, while others will open for business as usual.

In observance of Manu’a Cession Day, the Samoa News office will be closed on Monday and we will not publish that day.

Happy Manu’a Cession Day — commonly referred to as Manu’a Flag Day 2023 — to the people of Manu’a and all of American Samoa.