June 11, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
“ʻUa fetaui lelei fola o le ʻalia,” a Samoan proverb meaning “The deck planks of the voyaging canoe fit together well.” Gov. Pulaʻaliʻi Nikolao Pula of American Samoa shared this proverb during opening remarks at the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting on June 9, 2026. The governor related it to the work of the Council. Just as the ancestors of the Pacific Islands crossed great oceans, no single plank carries the canoe alone. The Council, composed of members from American Samoa, Hawaiʻi, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, brings together its cultures, knowledge and traditions to make collective decisions that shape fisheries policy across the region.
Gov. Pula stressed the importance of the tuna industry to American Samoa and that the Council’s decisions on tuna management will have significant impacts on the territory. The need to be fairly recognized in the upcoming allocation of South Pacific albacore tuna was made clear. “American Samoa has a long history in this fishery, and an economic dependence on it,” he said. “We need to sustain a truly domestic tuna fishery for generations to come.”
In response to the governor’s concerns, the Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service develop a conservation and management measure to provide American Samoa with an allocation of South Pacific albacore. The allocation should be transferable to provide funding for fisheries development in the territory. The Council also recommended exploring additional funding mechanisms to ensure fisheries can continue to support American Samoa and the broader Western Pacific region.
Gov. Pula also honored the Council’s Executive Director, Seutaʻatia Kitty Simonds, with a Sua Faʻatamaliʻi, or chiefly offering, for her service to the territory. Aunuʻu High Talking Chief Mago likened Seutaʻatia’s return to American Samoa to the toloa, or gray duck (Anas superciliosa), seen only in Aunuʻu, where the Seuta’atia title originates, saying, “E lele le toloa ae maʻau i le vai,” or “The toloa bird flies far, but always returns home to the water.” Much like the toloa instinctively returns to familiar waters, Seutaʻatia has returned to Aunuʻu over the years — a testament to her commitment to listen to the voices of the people about their critical fishery issues and on the health and well-being of the community.
Seutaʻatia was deeply touched and expressed her gratitude to the governor and the people of American Samoa. “This was a wonderful surprise and I hope I have fulfilled my obligations to the people of American Samoa. I am native Hawaiian but I am always happy to come back to American Samoa, the cradle of Polynesian civilization,” she said.
Bestowed upon Simonds in 2006 by Lauvao Stephen Haleck, Seuaʻatia is the honorific taupou (chiefess) title of Aunuʻu’s highest ranking chief, Lutali. As told in oral traditions, “Seu” refers to the person who steers the canoe during voyages; once the canoe arrives ashore and docks at the beach, the oars are then laid down (“Taʻatia”) inside the boat. This is a sign that a voyage, which faced the crashing waves of the open ocean, has successfully reached its destination.
Before the Council meeting, Council members were welcomed to American Samoa by the Office of Samoan Affairs with a traditional ʻava ceremony. The ceremony is a traditional Samoan ritual of welcome and honor involving the preparation and sharing of the roots of the kava plant (Piper methysticum). Reserved for distinguished guests, it marks their formal reception into the community. Vaiutusala Sataua Samuelu, deputy secretary of Samoan Affairs, expressed his gratitude to Seutaʻatia and the Council for engaging through proper cultural channels, recognizing the importance of working through traditional leaders to welcome and receive distinguished guests onto the land.
The celebrations coincide with the Council marking the 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which created the eight regional fishery management councils in 1976.
The Council concludes its meeting Thursday at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center in Utulei.