Big weekend: Opening of Moso’oi Festival and close of Coastweeks

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Utulei Beach was teeming with activities this past Saturday, September 30, 2023, which marked the commencing of the Mosooi Festival of Arts and Humanities, organized by the Agency for Better Living Endeavors. 

The Moso’oi premiere night consisted of artreach workshops that taught attendees how to make palefuiono’s, weaving, painting, elei making, contemporary siva and ailao siva in addition to entertainment and a swap meet. 

The event started at 12 noon, and continued into the evening, with performances from the Auga Fa’apae, the Miss Moso’oi contestants, Teine Lalelei Dance Academy, Leone Boys, Island Pearl Dance Group, Le Tiumasalasala and the Student Association for Fa’aSamoa. 

While the Moso’oi Festival was going on at Utulei Beach, ASTCA and the Department of Commerce were hosting the finale of Coast Weeks 2023 and a first ever Drone Light Show at Lions Park.

Quite an eventful Saturday in American Samoa, while the Moso’oi Festival was in high gear at Su’igaula Park, ASTCA and the Department of Commerce were hosting a family fun day to celebrate the closing of Coastweeks 2023. A Drone Light Show, a first for American Samoa, highlighted the importance of our coasts. The Drone Light Show and Coastweeks 2023 family day was held at the Lions Park in Nu’uuli this past Saturday. [photo: ASTCA Facebook]

The Family Day event at Pala Lagoon Park all the way to Lions Park started at 3:00 PM and hosted a variety of food vendors, game booths and prizes, in addition to water slides and entertainment.

Continuing into the evening as well, was the Drone Light Show at 7:30 PM. The drone light show was made possible by ASTCA, Paramount Builders, and Manu’a Store’s sponsorship of Sky Elements Drones from the U.S.

Traffic was blocked from in front of the the Pala Lagoon Park (across from the Tafuna Correctional Facility) to the end of Lions Park (Pala Lagoon Swimming Center) to accommodate the event, vendors and those in attendance, during the Coast Weeks finale celebration.

An event during the evening portion of the Moso’oi Premiere Night festival where the Student Association for Fa’aSamoa was entertaining the crowd at the Su’igaula Park in Utulei, this past Saturday.
[photo: Travis Tua Photography]