SSIC testimony disputes earlier account of cargo carried to and from Samoa on Kite Runner

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Kite Runner saga resurfaced last Friday during a hearing by the Senate Select Investigative Committee (SSIC) and senators were told that the only cargo the locally-owned boat took on its cross-border trip to Samoa, were two cases of chicken and two cases of turkey tails.

This was according to the testimony of the captain, Faiai Loleni Faiai who recounted that the cargo belonged to one of his crewmembers who had bought the foodstuffs for his family in Savai’i.

Moreover, Faiai stated that on their return, the only cargo they brought from Samoa were traditional fine mats.

Before the hearing began, Faiai was sworn in with a Bible by SSIC Chairman Senator Togiola Tulafono. 

Togiola asked why the Kite Runner made the cross-border trip in the first place.

The captain replied that he was not sure but he thinks it was because the boat’s owner, Papali’i Lauli’i Alofa did not want to travel to Savai’i together with other passengers on the government-owned ferry, which makes daily trips from Upolu to the big island.

He revealed that after their boat was cleared by Customs and Immigration officials at the Matautu wharf in Apia, they continued on to Mulifanua wharf where they picked up Papali’i and another man before making the final leg of their journey to Salelologa, Savai’i.

He explained that they had originally planned to travel with Papali’i to Samoa on the Kite Runner, but he stayed behind because he had to attend the opening of a road in Leone village.

So Papali’i and his companion had traveled to Samoa by plane.

Togiola asked who had contacted him and requested his services to captain the Kite Runner for the trip to Samoa.

Faiai answered that it was Paramount Builders owner Papali’i Lauli’i, Tish Peau (who works part-time for Paramount) and Mike Fuiava.

Togiola then asked if he had been paid for his services and Faiai replied yes.

The SSIC chairman pressed on asking the witness if there had been any conflict of interest because he is a government employee.

Faiai revealed that the request for his services came at a time when he was on leave for his father’s passing and at the time, his family were planning and preparing for his father’s funeral service.

He stated that they left the Territory on the Kite Runner at about 8:30am and arrived in Apia at about 1pm.

He recalled that before they left Tutuila, he had been given an envelope, which he was told contained all the documents needed for clearance by Samoa authorities.

Upon arrival at Matautu Wharf in Apia, he was summoned to the Harbor Master’s office where he presented the envelope with the documents inside to the Samoa authorities.

However, he was told that there were two documents missing, which were the Certificate of Clearance (COC) and clearance from Public Health. He was also told that some of the documents in the envelope were in fact not needed.

The Kite Runner captain admitted that he should have opened the envelope and checked that all the right documents were there before they left the Territory. 

Faiai stated that they had contacted Tish Peau and informed her of their predicament.

 “She must have provided the missing documents because after about three hours, after the Samoa Customs, Immigration, Agricultural and Health officials had inspected and cleared the boat, we were given the green light to continue our journey to Mulifanua and then on to Savai’i,” Faiai said.

They had proceeded to Mulifanua where they picked up Papali’i and another man, then continued on to Savai’i where they spent the night before making the return trip to the Territory at about 11am the next day.

He revealed that they had encountered some problems with the police in Savai’i who had questioned them on how they had managed to get there and what cargo was brought. 

This was in spite of their explanation that they already received clearance from the authorities in Apia.

Faiai stated that this had delayed their return trip and he had informed the American Samoa Harbor Master about this.

He pointed out that they spent another four hours in Apia while authorities inspected the boat before issuing clearance for their departure.

Consequently, they arrived in the harbor at about 2am and docked at the Malaloa Marina to await clearance by local authorities.

Asked how many of them were in the boat, Faiai stated there were four of them, himself and three Paramount employees.

He added that he can only remember the name of one of them, Masunu. The other two were a Fijian and a Samoan. 

He clarified that there had been no passengers to and from Samoa. 

He also reiterated that the only cargo they brought from Samoa were traditional fine mats, and the cargo they took to Samoa were two cases of chicken and two cases of turkey tails.

Togiola again asked the Kite Runner captain if he had not seen any other cargo such as tiles, cement and other building materials being loaded onto the boat before departing for Samoa.

Faiai replied no.

The SSIC chairman then asked Faiai if he had been satisfied with the amount he had been paid for his services and whether he had been by check or in cash.

Faiai answered that it wasn’t the right amount but he had accepted it.

 “Was it at least $10,000?” Togiola asked while senators chuckled with amusement. 

Faiai answered no.

 “How much were you paid?” Togiola persisted.

Faiai stated $500 a day.

Senator Magalei Logovi’i asked the witness again if he was sure that the only cargo they took to Samoa were two cases of chicken and two cases of turkey tails, and Faiai again confirmed it.

 “What about the stories floating around in the Territory that the Kite Runner had taken tiles, cement and other building materials to Savai’i?” Magalei asked.

But Faiai was adamant that the only cargo he saw with his own eyes was what he had described.

Senator Tuiasina Laumoli commented that he sees no good reason for the Kite Runner’s cross border trip when only two cases of chicken and two cases of turkey tails were taken and only fine mats were brought from Samoa.

 “I find it very hard to believe that someone whose father had just died with his funeral pending, would take on such a trip!” Tuiasina exclaimed.

Faiai’s response was vague and skirted around the issue of the trip’s importance as raised by Senator Tuiasina and he repeated his explanation about the original plan of traveling together with Papalii on the boat but due to Leone road opening, Papali’i had stayed behind and had come over by plane.

After the hearing, SSIC Chairman Sen. Togiola recommended that Acting Director for the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (ASHPO) Letitia Tish Peau be subpoenaed again to explain the discrepancies in her testimony before the SSIC, where she claimed that the Kite Runner had been loaded with tiles, cement and other materials to be used to build a grave for a funeral in Savai’i, which was why the boat had made the trip.