On the Trail: American Samoa

[@lynda-annnomura85]

seeing all the comments about my home makes me feel like we're not invisible... just people caring about American Samoa makes me very happy❤❤

[@gamingforaday5446]

You know so many people on internet are idiots right??

[@gamingforaday5446]

Many idiots always talking trash

[@LadyPinkster]

We care but I truly wish we saw you all more in the media and give you all rights to vote. Sending love from Tennessee ❤️

[@auntiebobbolink]

Then prepare to be more happy. I love and respect the people of American Samoa and see you all as a model of what we all could be if we wanted to. I love watching videos of your singing fire fighters, your celebrations and your love for each other. In my next life I plan to be born on Tutuila. 🤙😊💖

[@AJMacDonaldJr]

I stopped there once on my way from Hawaii to New Zealand. Beautiful place! 😀

[@TheGuyNobodyReallyLikes]

The place is a third world dump.

[@TSideWes805]

@@TheGuyNobodyReallyLikes ok you fijian boy😂

[@TheGuyNobodyReallyLikes]

@@TSideWes805 What makes you think I'm that?

[@oncetwice2195]

how something that beautiful could even exist

[@TSideWes805]

one word: POLYNESIA

[@neilpatrickdy9016]

Saul Goodman brought me here. Better call Saul!

[@MIZORAM_mafaka_hnamte]

same here..

[@fdenisiuc]

Same

[@ladistar]

HHahahahahahaha awesome

[@MarkWhippy]

Go land crabs

[@Samoan_Diecast]

Lol. I had to pause and rewind the scene on Breaking Bad when they showed his diploma. Welcome to my island home.

[@furiousg3orge]

University of American Samoa Law School class of '84. Go land crabs!

[@ladistar]

Lmfaoooooooo

[@dip.2271]

GO LAND CRABS!!!

[@ReddoFreddo]

The idea that a university on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific has their own football team is pretty hilarious, even if it's fictional.

[@barryvinik6190]

Great story Conor, thank you.Forwarding this CBS Sunday Morning segment to my son Kevin, who is interning at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago so he may share with his fellow students.

[@berlin3873]

Places like American Samoa and Puerto Rico don’t pay federal income taxes. So there’s a reason to not change their status. If I live there, I’d think twice whether I want 20-30% of my money to go to the federal government in exchange for statehood.....

[@braddahbu1066]

Please don’t change American Samoa.... citizen will loose their land and pay taxes. Nationals maintain their way of life and no taxing by the federal government.....

[@esetagaoteote8769]

Braddah Bu thank you I appreciate it...I’m from Samoan🙃🙃

[@SheeshMaster64]

Oh thank you for your comment

[@rrpdsks]

A few questions from someone who is not Samoan. 1) Yall pay Federal social security and sales taxes but not property taxes or income taxes, correct? 2) What do you think of the biennial vote idea? In this system y'all would vote every other election. the presidential election would occur in the excluded elections. If taxes don't change? What if they did charge an income tax in exchange for the biennial voting system but NOT a property tax? Would you be willing to make that compromise? I say this believing thier should be a way for US nationals (not citizens) to vote.

[@beentrill8492]

Yeah most people there want it like that

[@nuulitafuna1565]

We're paying taxes..

[@jerryakamuadams6399]

As a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Aloha to my Samoan cousins. I commend you for being able to keep your traditional Fa'amatai system of government. Us Hawaiians got our Native government (and land) taken from us and we virtually have no say and no self-determination. It sucks that American-Samoans arent given birthright citizenship but at least you have your traditional form of government and therefore more say in your self-government

[@theephraimite]

J. Akamu-Adams, native Hawaiians need to be given a better deal to better preserve their culture. I think the democrats are screwing over the Hawaiian nation. After all, when Hawaii was forcibly taken, the US President and the majority of Congress were democrats.

[@thebohemiancowboy2805]

@@theephraimite No, the democrat president Grover Cleveland believed the annexation of Hawaii was illegal. The president after him, William McKinley who was a Republican annexed Hawaii.

[@theephraimite]

@@thebohemiancowboy2805 yes, but that was after the fact that democratic dominated congress passed the forceful taking if Hawaii. And this happened when a democrat was president.

[@samwright285]

Agree with Jerry. I’m from Hawaii.

[@darthkillerhog]

Samoans don't want citizenship that's why they don't have it. If they did they give up their right to traditions hence why companies arnt buying land there.

[@Jack-jh2ls]

I’ve been to American Samoa. The most welcoming and lovely people I have ever met around the world.

[@tikigodsrule2317]

Samoans and Tongans are awesome people. I was used to the people in the pews sort of mumbling through the hymns as a white kid in the US. It was a pleasant shock for me to witness a choir like Samoan/Tonga/Black church. We are talking LOTS of powerful singers nearly breaking the windows. Awe. The sense of family is powerful. Kids calling me uncle that I'm not blood related too. Its because the sense is everyone in a village is part of a larger family. After powerful empires fall these people will still be around and that gives me some hope for the human race.

[@reidsavea100]

I was born and raised in American Samoa. I joined the military right after high school. Took a tour in Germany for twelve years and now I'm back residing in the states. My take on this citizenship issue is, don't! Being able to vote on a presidential election is all fine and dandy but it's a political manuval that will costs it's citizens more harm than good. We will loose our way of life (culture). When we loose culture we loose our identity as a people. Samoa mo Samoans forever!!

[@SayNoToDemocide1]

"Being able to vote on a presidential election is all fine and dandy but it's a political manuval that will costs it's citizens more harm than good. We will loose our way of life (culture). When we loose culture we loose our identity as a people." You're saying "what" will happen, but you never specify "why" it will happen. How are you going to lose your culture and identity from being able to vote in Federal elections? No one is going to force you to lose your culture/identity just because your voting status was upgraded.

[@rrpdsks]

A few questions from someone who is not Samoan. 1) Yall pay Federal social security and sales taxes but not property taxes or income taxes, correct? 2) What do you think of the biennial vote idea? In this system y'all would vote every other election. the presidential election would occur in the excluded elections. The reward for y'all being able to vote on federal laws and legislation. If taxes don't change? What if they did charge an income tax in exchange for the biennial voting system but NOT a property tax? Would you be willing to make that compromise? In both cases American Samoans would remain Nationals and not citizens.

[@linegrant4605]

@Reid Savea 👍👍👍💯 percent agree. I'm a US citizen by choice when I was in the military. These folks don't know what they're talking about. 1900 agreement that American Samoa stays US national. They don't want to loose lands or the culture. Ancestors knew best then.💅💅

[@mursyidomar6995]

Manu Samoa!

[@itsnessa5979]

That's my island ... rare and beautiful ❤

[@milton2743]

I was born there!

[@TravisRepine]

It's interesting how other U.S. territory can have that citizenship privilege but this tiny territory can't. So why is our great nation ignoring them? Isn't that discrimination against them?

[@TravisRepine]

Sole RollTide appreciate your comment sir. Guess there's places in this world that require compromise if you wanna live there. You get most privileges that we do here in the States, such as freedom, so that's better than living in tyranny and oppression..

[@oogway8856]

Travis Repine In order for American Samoa to be granted voting rights, they would have to give up their land. They didn't want that so they settled for a compromise. And it all works out.

[@AtarahDerek]

I find it terribly directionist. There are more points on the compass than north.

[@AtarahDerek]

And what if a Samoan wants to run for president? Under this system, they can't. People from Guam, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands can run, so long as they've been residents of an actual state for a certain time, but American Samoans can't.

[@samotafu]

Sole RollTide I can’t vote for the person who can send me off to war, but that’s okay because I have a passport? 😂😂😂 Btw, Samoans also can’t hold any public office, are not able to get certain Federal jobs. The history of how this came to be, isn’t this simple revisionist story that you are trying to tell. The chiefs that signed our deed of cession were lied to. They were told that we were going to be US citizens, and that we were going to be able to still keep our culture. Well, when the chiefs found out that we were not US Citizens, they were told that if they wanted citizenship, they would have to give up their lands, because in the eyes of the US government, we were not citizens of the US. Furthermore, the judge that ruled against a petition from the Samoan chiefs back in the 1920’s, said that Samoans were primitive and did not understand Anglo Saxon laws, therefore, they did not deserve US citizenship. You can say all you want to try and convince yourself, but the truth of the matter, the US never had any good intentions with American Samoa, or any other US territory for that matter.

[@chloeminer]

I went there in 2018 when I was still in high school and apart of the Stockbridge InvenTeam. It’s absolutely beautiful!

[@jwul0058]

it is because if AS become citizens, america's constitution and all laws regarding land will immediately apply to the territory and Samoans would lose the customary ownership of their land and hence their way of life. It is easy for AS nationals off island to apply for citizenship individually so what is the problem?

[@SEAPanel]

They wouldn't lose the ownership of their land, nor their maternal land claims. You wrote this as a truth, but it's an outright lie.

[@slimydick23]

It's funny that I live in a US State, I'm a US citizen, and I never lost ownership of my land. I didn't know that was part of the deal.

[@andyjohnson7408]

It sounds like attorneys are the problem...

[@rrpdsks]

@@slimydick23 I think they're talking in regards to eminent domain. Which many Americans (myself included) think is a load of BS

[@junioraunese1174]

I fuckn agree with u ,ive been telling my people we don't need citizenship

[@semco72057]

I would love to visit American Samoa and see what the territory is like and it's people as well.

[@daphnerodriguez9980]

Great Video Daphne Cotton. INCREDIBLE. THANKS YOU. ●Castano BROWN FAMILY.

[@mattington3001]

Mini-Mike Bloomberg and his 4 delegates brought me here.

[@sillyrickybingo]

What caught my eye was the cover photo on this video. Our family grew up in the house behind that church. Makes me miss home:(

[@deeznutzz9864]

Its a complicated issue but it should be known that the majority of the people of American Samoa are satisfied with the status quo to remain US nationals and not US citizens for certain reasons. The ones that want to become citizens are Samoans that live in USA. I believe the decision should be left to Samoans that LIVE in American Samoa and not those who now live in USA. The main difference between being a US national vs US citizen is that US nationals cant vote in Presidential elections. So my advice to those Samoans who live in USA and want to force the rest of us living here in American Samoa to become citizens is to apply for yourself to become a citizen and stop trying to force a whole country that you dont even live in to become one.

[@samwright285]

You are 100% correct.... Leave it the way it is.... Aua le fiapopoko

[@linegrant4605]

Yeeey 👍👍👍💯💯 I am a US citizen by choice when I was in the military. Stop trying to drag everyone in. Most of these ppl were born in American Samoa but their parents are from Samoa.

[@mirrekku]

i like how there are so many ford f-series trucks hehe

[@lynda-annnomura85]

ooop I live there and I have a Ford😂😂

[@junioraunese1174]

We love trucks

[@poopface7166]

Samoans loves trucks but sadly samoans have big families so we buy vans😂

[@mirrekku]

Man I wanna go to Samoa one day and just ride in a van with you guys 😂😂🙏

[@Hgh38]

Anyone here from Better Call Saul?

[@GlowieCentral]

Me

[@dip.2271]

Go Land Crabs!!

[@fdenisiuc]

They have the best law school.

[@MIZORAM_mafaka_hnamte]

Better Call Saul...

[@ladistar]

Hahaha haha great reference

[@thecommoncold7355]

university of american samoa for christ's sake!?

[@pigeonrocker1033]

What a joke

[@its.kailel]

Flavius lol funny joke

[@helenrobertson45321]

I didn't know about it until the cartoon movie Moana

[@poopface7166]

Yes even one song in the movie is in the samoan language

[@muhydeenmona664]

what a sick joke

[@nevioking3009]

I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE

[@muhydeenmona664]

@@nevioking3009 and u u have to stop him u 😐

[@rrpdsks]

It's the same with Guam Both Guam and American Samoa deserve voting rights. Everyone keeps talking about The presidential election. What about the federal laws and legislature that AS must legally abide by but cant vote on?

[@samwright285]

Guam are American citizens

[@gashiyumi3124]

Atleast they have American National status

[@Jake-rs9nq]

0:40 Jarvis Island is also American soil south of the equator, though it is tiny and uninhabited.

[@xciv808]

Leave Samoa alone. Their status is fine. The minute you allow the Federal government in then that'll be the down fall.

[@lynda-annnomura85]

aye ranger Pua... he was a guest speaker at my school.... #matafao I'm from American Samoa

[@mariadocarmoleal1480]

Absolutely beautiful American Samoa.!!!

[@johnboscoezeorah5507]

Hi

[@aayushdalal3771]

I am gonna get my law degree from this univeristy

[@TheMartinFigueroa]

We thought the same thing

[@USA50_]

I am proud of my country of America and it's Territories 🇺🇸👍❤️ I love all our people wherever they do reside.

[@gabrielcornejo238]

Go Land Crabs

[@Jhon-ri7qh]

It is discrimination against them. Is ok for them to fight for America but not citizen.

[@agonicole]

They pay no taxes at all

[@thesadprepper3722]

I typed University of American Samoa and this popped up

[@gatoarabe375]

What a sick joke

[@ChaosBean666]

It’s been two years since I’ve been away n man I honestly miss home.

[@landlockedcroat1554]

what a jokr

[@ktw5574]

Barely anybody in America knows Samoa in general is a thing. But I mean that keeps us a quiet place with no bothering. And the capitol is pronounced Pa-NGO Pa-NGO. The "G" has the "ng" sound to it.

[@Bobsuruncle007]

Malo lava faamalosi. I miss home, especially now more than ever with all the chaos in the world. God bless Samoa.

[@zillsburyy1]

LET THEM BE CITIZENS!!!!!!

[@kennethmarcos4347]

At the end 4:33 is a pic of my late uncle Tanielu Lauti. Miss you

[@wrongwayup8217]

Get these people citizenship!

[@Verheerender]

HPPAV2003 yesss

[@EastBay897]

Funk no

[@anju_ame_potato1510]

I’m angry at how he pronounces some of the name wrong but it’s not his fault 😅😅

[@anju_ame_potato1510]

You can rogue walk on the streets too and most schools aren’t that far from houses

[@SomethingSomethingg]

I read that American Samoa has fewer cell phones than any other places on Earth. That alone makes me want to move there. Maybe I can have a conversation with someone with them actually looking into my eyes lol

[@ye11owman29]

People don't talk to you bc you have nothing worth hearing

[@sipunupuni552]

It's not discrimination. There was treaty that was sign by our ancestors or high chiefs back in the days in 1889 before the first US flag was raised on the island in april 17, 1900s. Our ancestors believed and understands the importance of our culture and our lands to it's people. To some Samoans who were born or raised in the mainland think it's discrimination or whatever you've got to understand the true meaning why our ancestors did what they did. There's nothing wrong with being a national but if you want to be a us citizen by all means go ahead and apply for it.

[@dawnlangston1222]

Its my understanding that there are actually 2 places that are considered part of the America Samoa National Park system. Ta'u and Ofu. Did you go to both? How do you get to Ofu? Thank you

[@greatwolf5372]

I think there should be referendum where Americans Samoans have the option of continuing the status quo or becoming a state.

[@dennispragerisbased5036]

sure a state 7 thousand miles from the US...

[@elo6550]

@@dennispragerisbased5036 Wouldn't it be feasible to have a state so far from the mainland?

[@beentrill8492]

If they become a state the law of aiga would end

[@calij6121]

all territories should be citizens.

[@MJDHX]

I would give territories dual-citizenship. So they don't feel like they are giving up their identity to the US.

[@mrwick3359]

Home 🇦🇸🇦🇸

[@lewislane1143]

Stop the American occupation. Free Somoa.

[@vailima49aston99]

Especially when our sons and daughters have died in your nations wars 😡

[@stephenjenkins7971]

Your sons and daughters seem to prefer the current arrangement.

[@Ace-bd4cu]

Make them citizens!!!

[@md.asadhossain6561]

so nice

[@AtarahDerek]

Citizenship absolutely should apply to American Samoa. What, you can only be a natural born citizen if you were born in the northern hemisphere?

[@alexander20233]

Why don't the entire American Samoa just self impose a Federal Income Tax and use that money to buy the entire population American citizenship?

[@xxzz9789]

that was a poor trip thru the park. Can you say CLICKBAIT?

[@Thinkyafunnyhuh]

R u sure ur not Ryan Reynolds

[@EastBay897]

Misia lava Amerika Samoa🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸💪💯❤😂😂😂😂😂

[@thorham163]

Most of American Samoans ppl have no idea to why and what's going on with being national and citizens. It is not the U.S but the American Samoan Government. There is a big clear reasons why, Culture and land

[@sayemoid]

that's called a colony.

[@caroline8536]

I've learned that there's a reason for everything under the sun. I've also learned that I'm humbled and grateful that my GOD has always blessed my family and friends. I am who I am and blessed as well because someone prayed for me and worked hard to give me what I have. Being a US citizen raised by US nationals affords me the benefit of seeing both sides of the issue. I can see how someone whose a US national served over 20 years in the military and is denied the right to vote, hold office or work at certain federal jobs can be unfair. But then you factor in the fact that most of the retirees end up going back home to American Samoa; are they willing to forfeit their land and more importantly their culture for that right? I was raised off-island but my roots are in American Samoa.. I'd like it to remain just that. "E lele ae ma'au" . Not a feminist, or a liberal. No offense intended to anyone but being from Manu'a where the sun rises first, I like home just the way it is. Not perfect and not terrible but just home.

[@patrickyoung5272]

If serve(d) in the military, you become a us citizen. By extension the legal dependents of that military members. This documentary is correct for the general public. The exception is people who joined the military.

[@thesprinklerguy2598]

Wow 7 years later and they are still nationals.. That's some BS.. "American" Samoa and no U.S citizenship.. oh and highest recruit rate per capita. this is just sad.

[@EastBay897]

Y'all haters need to leave my Amerika Samoa alone...WTF

[@jrudymorganclark2072]

American Samoa should get independence from the United States if they can't get a us citizen.

[@GAMEOVER-sd6ft]

masons know a secret about Samoa 🤔

[@deuceduece3275]

Who is mason?

[@KofiCatlovesU]

SAMOA MO SAMOA

[@juno6602]

It may take a constitutional amendment, but we must find a solution that provides Samoans with full citizenship while respecting their unique culture and land ownership system. It's profoundly unfair that Samoans should be forced to choose between enjoying all the rights and privileges of citizenship or maintaining control of their ancestral lands.

[@ktw5574]

It's also amazing how Americans are keeping us as a territory, but don't remember we even exist. If they cant do that, just leave us as independent, I'm sure that's what happened with Britain and western samoa. They had enough sense

[@redleader1547]

I live in America samoa

[@beshiemariemaebiglangtambl3148]

Just merge with the western samoa and be independent nation

[@beshiemariemaebiglangtambl3148]

Dr. Banter one archipelago one nation.one people of samoa unite

[@beshiemariemaebiglangtambl3148]

Dr. Banter aww thats sad...its just cool to have one nation or one at least a unite territory for an archipelago since both have same culture and people

[@JMz685]

I got to learn about the history. I have no idea how they became two seperate countries.

[@chrisa3516]

In 1966, the United Nations gave American Samoa the option of joining the independent country of Samoa, but American Samoa chose to stay in the United States

[@theephraimite]

Bitchesa mae Biglangtambling, but Western Samoa no longer exists.

[@jamesshaughnessy1]

I don't see any reason whatsoever that American Samoa can't have representation in the house and the senate, have statehood and not pay federal taxes. I think for their loyalty for all these years that is the least we can do. I am afraid though that if they did get statehood they would become corrupted like all the other states here in America and they might lose their identity. I'm sure we could work out a dual citizenship or something along the lines of - If you wanted to be a citizen you have the option too and still be an American Samoa.

[@ItsMrstoyouboo]

Make them citizens! And leave their home alone. Dont come change anything about their culture.

[@theephraimite]

Moist Gnome, the latter.

[@spotlightonpublictelevision]

The following video from the Department of Commerce aired on public stations nationwide in 2023 & 24 to an audience of over 3.5 million PBS viewers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oai3Y3epnLZ3pqc

[@hispanocatolico7569]

Just like my country(the philippines), until 1946 filipinos were just "non-citizen US nationals"

[@wildwoodtop]

Tulsi Gabbard 🤔

[@regulator674]

Never understood the pride in flying a flag that doesn’t care and just uses. That’s why during Samoan flag week in the states I hated seeing and still do when the 🇦🇸 flag is put next to the 🇼🇸 flag. There’s just one samoan flag and it’s 🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸 all day.

[@theephraimite]

What’s the big deal? Unlike many people of many other nations, you don’t need a visa to go to America. Edit: Sunday ngt - January 16, 2022.

[@FYRFOX198]

Samoa, don’t push this…because your land will be in JEOPARDY…THINK ABOUT IT. Let me give you a hint : PROPERTY TAX…and don’t think, they won’t do it, under the guise of, it will help Samoa’s infrastructure.

[@samwright285]

You feel like you don’t belong? YOU ARE A SAMOAN!! What are you talking about! If you want to be a citizen, simple, move to the mainland… Respect what the forefathers did. KEEP SAMOAN LANDS IN SAMOAN HANDS!!! Be careful watch you wish for

[@JMz685]

It's weird to hear Samoans with american accent. I'm a New Zealand born Afakasi Samoan. I'm used to the fresh/NZ accent, especially the ones from Samoa (or western samoa) not American Samoa.

[@AgentDbl007]

I appreciate the differences though between samoans here in us vs samoans in NZ or Aus.

[@JMz685]

@@AgentDbl007 Yeah bro. I agree.

[@DonCuevas06]

because... HISTORY

[@theephraimite]

Josiah Malaulau, lol... a Maori guy said something quite similar to me when I was doing work in the Philippines. I’m American born, and he knew I was Samoan. As soon as I started speaking English to him, he said something quite similar. He was like, “Whoa... you have an American accent.” However, America has many different native accents, depending on region, state and even some cities or small communities. Even Samoan communities in different parts of the US have different accents. For example, Samoans in Am. Samoa have accents different from those of Samoans in Hawaii. And Samoan accents in California are different from Samoans in Hawaii. America does not just have one accent.

[@JMz685]

@@theephraimite Yeah man. It's pretty buzzy and it just shows how big the world is ay. Shux man, it's funny you say that because even is NZ we joke about the different accents even among islanders depending on where they're from. Those from Wellington/Auckland (like myself) have the stereotypical nz born islander accent and slang whereas islanders from down south we joke about them having a "white" accent. So like you said. It changes depending on where you stay. But at the end of the day we are all still Samoans. It is in our blood.

[@JgekZ]

GO SAMOA OO TOLE FAUNU EA OTOU FATALONGONE YO TAMA MALOTENI ENAIA MANUIA MI OI MA IA E NOGHFU TULUTEYIE E LUNGO OLE LOU ELEL

[@williamjones4483]

If American Samoa wants the 14th Amendment to apply to them, then they should apply the rest of the United States Constitution.

[@xhacker]

MASA Make American Samoa America.

[@gamingforaday5446]

They are american

[@bicknell67]

So crazy these people cannot vote.

[@sidharthcs2110]

Lol

[@lispylarry7955]

That coral looks dead to me bro. As not an expert u need color in that coral to be vibrant

[@poopface7166]

I saw a cheetos bag in the ocean once

[@darkprincess1918]

American Samoa citizens should be considered American citizens. This is so wrong!!!

[@BryBergilicious]

What a great story. It's a shame the US won't give them a nod. Considering we give more rights to those that flood into the Mexican border illegally.

[@ReddoFreddo]

They should do this to every island in the world really, just make it a US territory

[@kevintrang6447]

Go land crabs!

[@dougyankunas3104]

Trump 2020 !!!!

[@shaunbridgesc11]

Well why should we let a small island so far from North America vote or become citizens when Mexicans who lives literally beside America don't even get to live or become us citizens easily

[@theephraimite]

Shaun Bridges C, stupid comment. Am. Samoa is a U.S. territory while Mexico is not. Take your leftist/liberal crybabiness out of here.

[@hanakupalu4373]

Shaun B C . In history, Polynesian discover u.s and who know maybe some part of Mexico but white man hide the truth from Polynesian people till this day they keep that from us.

[@thechannelthatdoesnotexist]

American samosa