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American Samoa Government - PR001-07082026
Posted: July 8, 2026
Governor Pula and East-West Center President Celeste Connors Advance Pacific Agenda and Strategic Partnerships in Honolulu
HONOLULU, Hawaii - On June 25, 2026, Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula of American Samoa met with Celeste Connors, President of the East-West Center, at their Honolulu campus for a high-level strategic discussion. The meeting served as a vital follow-up to the Pacific Agenda Summit convened by the East-West Center earlier this year, reinforcing a shared commitment to building a more secure, safe and prosperous region. The dialogue brought together American Samoa’s executive leadership, including Folasaitu Sorepa Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA), to address critical infrastructure, regional educational access, economic resilience and regional political architecture.
During the session, ASTCA CEO Folasaitu Sorepa Thomas pointed out a systemic gap where student exchange and graduate leadership initiatives are heavily accessible to independent Pacific Island nations, such as Samoa and Tonga, but exclude students from American Samoa. The CEO urged the East-West Center to review these requirements, emphasizing that excluding American Samoan students from these exchange opportunities hinders localized capacity building. Territorial leadership strongly advocated for the Center to establish a structural path to grant American Samoan youth equal access to these specialized academic and leadership development tracks.
The conversation heavily reinforced the importance of strong partnerships across the region, focusing on practical execution over broad policy statements. The delegation highlighted substantial milestones in territorial connectivity, notably securing $45 million in funding to solidify the undersea cable network, positioning the Territory as a secure regional digital hub. Furthermore, both President Connors and Governor Pula emphasized the unique, essential role American Samoa plays as a physical and cultural bridge between the United States and the Pacific to strengthen collaboration in support of shared regional prosperity. Connors also shared with Governor Pula details regarding her meeting at Stanford last month concerning cybersecurity and telecommunications, noting that she will share the relevant notes and insights directly with the ASTCA CEO. Territorial leaders also advocated strongly for preserving the status of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP/PIADP) and the Pacific Islands Committee of Leaders (PICL/PICCOLL), urging that territories maintain a meaningful seat at the table to ensure regional architecture remains inclusive and unified.
A deeply personal highlight of the meeting was Governor Pula’s reflection on his early career working in Washington, D.C., for the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The Governor shared how Senator Inouye originally hired him straight from American Samoa in 1982, encouraging him to build relationships, bring diverse groups together and always lead with a clear sense of purpose. President Connors noted that this story especially resonated with her, emphasizing that Senator Inouye's legacy of service and cross-cultural partnership continues to heavily inspire modern leaders across the Pacific today.
Looking ahead, a delegation from American Samoa will attend the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Palau, scheduled for late August 2026. Plans are currently underway to coordinate and schedule the Pacific Islands Committee of Leaders (PICL) conference directly during the margins of the PIF summit. This consecutive alignment will ensure that the East-West Center can continue to serve as a proud, trusted convener dedicated to bringing leaders together from across the Indo-Pacific to address shared challenges and create lasting opportunities. Reflecting on the profound capacity of island communities, East-West Center President Celeste Connors observed that if the world had more people thinking like islanders (understanding physical limits but setting lofty goals for supply chains, food security and energy security) society would not find itself in many of its current complex situations. Connors emphasized that island communities are natural diplomats, and the East-West Center is proud to look forward to a continuing partnership with Governor Pula and the people of American Samoa.
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