We arrive there in two days time.

American coastlines on the Pacific are 6640 miles around Alaska, 1293 off the US mainland and 750 in Hawaii …..total of 8683 miles of shoreline.

American interest in the Pacific islands are for fishing rights, economics and military.

Bikini is the only island that the people have been displaced.

American interests include Northern Marianas, Baker Isl., Howland Isl., Johnston island, Kingman Reef, Midway, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island, all of which are unoccupied.  Guam, Saipan, American Samoa are occupied or inhabited.

Inhabited islands although territories, have no vote in congress.  They are “organized”…. Have self-government but are “unorganized” & “unincorporated”….confusing as it seems.  In 1961, American Samoa had a Washington makeover.  There are now more fast food outlets per capita than any other state.

Tuna production is 95% of income of the island….. through StarKist Tuna cannery.

Tutuila Island where Pago Pago is located, is the biggest of 7 islands.

You must be atleast 50% Samoan to own land.  Land is not handed  down to eldest or first born but the most well behaved.  How about that!!!

Beach are to left, shops to the right…..barter for everything.

Museums, MacDonalds….lol

National park is free.   Visitor Center has the best wifi.

Apparently there are huge bats with a wingspan of 3 ft.

266 nautical miles to go to Am.Samoa, at noon today. Tides will be an extra metre higher tide brought on with super moon.

Here are some pics of the ceremony from the other day when we crossed the equator. Shown are pictures of King Neptune and his mermaid queen, the kissing of the fish and the slathering of the polliwogs. Lots of people present!