About a hundred relief workers and locals joined the American Samoa Visitors Bureau for the Tradewinds Fiafia night Tuesday, one of several events quietly taking place to mark the 2009 Moso’oi Week Tourism Festival.

Due to the recovery period the territory is currently undergoing, in the wake of the Sept. 29 disasters, this year’s events are tailored to lift the spirits of American Samoa’s youth and provide visitors who are here to assist in aid in relief “with some places to go” says ASVB CEO David Vaeafe.

 “There really is no theme this year because of the tragedy but we wanted to have some events for visitors to go to,” Vaeafe says. “There are a handful of events happening as we are trying to get back to some normalcy...so we have basketball and volleyball for the youngsters who want to compete and play.”

Sporting events aimed at lifting the spirits of the youth — Moso’oi basketball tipped off Monday and Moso’oi volleyball (see volleyball story in today’s sports section) opened Tuesday night, the same night the ASVB and Tradewinds Hotel hosted a fiafia night for relief workers.

Tisa’s Tattoo Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar at Alega is the event that will close 2009 Moso’oi Week. Visitors are invited and encouraged to take part in this unique experience.

FIAFIA NIGHT

Visitors to the island who attended the fiafia night got to meet and take photographs with Miss American Samoa 2009-2010 Lorisa Matautia.

“There were about 100 people there, a mixture of locals and visitors and they really enjoyed the fiafia show,” said Vaeafe. “It was great, just something people can go to and enjoy while they are here for the relief and recovery efforts. Accomodations are full and will be that way for a while longer.”

Featured performers were the Vaitogi Pride Youth Group; Loso’s South Seas Revue and Silver Brothers Band. Emcee was 93.1’s Lupe Lu. Vaeafe said following the show, employees who are here with FEMA, took photographs with Miss American Samoa.

“We know they are here to do a job and we’d like them to experience the islands during their free time and enjoy what the island has to offer,” Vaeafe says. “They’ll take back with them memories of this place...FEMA people were taking photos with Miss American Samoa for their albums from their trip here.”

CRUISE SHIPS

Since the Sept. 29 tragedy American Samoa has received visits from three cruise ships with one more set to call to port next Friday— the Star Princess that is on its way back to San Francisco.

In terms of the tourism industry, Vaeafe notes, “it’s business as usual,” Vaeafe says.

“Restaurants are open, nightclubs are open and we are still trying to get back to some sort of normalcy,” he explained. “Once everything is sort of back to normal we will welcome more visitors and more cruise ships.”

With all the visitors currently on-island, lodgings are booked and rental cars are short, Vaefae said.

He says some cruise ship visitors have commented that American Samoa was the most dramatic and spectacualr of all ports they have visited.

Vaeafe says due to the shortage of taxis and buses when the Sun Princess docked, he drove some of them around the island— they were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who lived here 35 years ago in a dormitory at Mapusaga.

“They were amazed to see the changes...people enjoyed the place and they were happy to come here and give their donations and put money into the economy,” Vaeafe said, noting some captains said if the ships were not going to dock at both Samoas, some visitors would not have come. “And that’s a good thing.”

“This is good for the country and for our visitors to show that life goes on. Some of the comments are that they are amazed at how people are picking themselves up helping each other and moving forward. The Samoan spirit is there,” said Vaeafe.

“We’re very happy to have all the visitors and we hope they get a chance to experience the territory and explore some of these places and see what places we have to offer so they can tell their friends and family when they go  back home,” he said.