K8K-American Samoa

Yuris, YL2GM, will be active as K8K in American Samoa, IOTA OC-045, June 26-July 9, 2024.
He will operate at 160-10 meters.
Nearest DX Point K8K
K8K log searchsearch QSL passes YL2GN, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
The K8K callsign has not yet been confirmed.

American Samoa

American Samoa has amazing natural beauty, strong national colors, simple and unpretentious life, friendly people and many other pleasant details. Those who know that this country exists think so. If you are one of these lucky few, you will probably agree with the above advice. If you are not, it doesn’t matter: now we will be happy to tell you what this country is, how not to confuse it with another Samoa, what is worth going there and how to return.

American Samoa. Author – Roderick Eime.

Where is American Samoa?

American Samoa is a dependent unincorporated territory of the United States. This means that the state is administered by the United States, but is unincorporated. It reminds one of the land of great democracy. The national currency is the US dollar, the head of state is the President of the United States, and everywhere you look you can see American pay phones, post offices, license plates… even McDonalds. The official language is English (but there is also Samoan).

The reference point for finding this country on a map is the Pacific Ocean. American Samoa is a group of seven islands in the Samoa Archipelago that borders the Independent State of Samoa. Samoa is a large area, but bear with me, we will soon be done.

In addition to its independent name, American Samoa borders the Cook Islands, Niue, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tokelau. The last territory belongs to New Zealand, with which it has good transport connections. It is easiest to get to American Samoa from New Zealand. Another option is to fly from the United States or Australia. You can go the same way on the return trip, but remember that each passenger will be charged an additional $3 on departure. They say this is for the development of the country. And, well, why not: there is something to develop here.

American Samoa. Author – Laura Jolly.

How to Live Here

American Samoa is an ideal holiday destination. The temperature fluctuates little throughout the year, the sea is a perfect temperature, you can swim at any time, and enjoy a luxurious tan on one of the cozy local beaches, as advertised: “Ofu Beach”, “Two Dollar Beach” or “Maliu Mai Beach”.

The island has what the locals call the “dry season”: a season when it doesn’t rain. There are two such seasons a year: from April to May and from September to October. The rest of the time it rains. Heavy rain. Very heavy. Believe me, you don’t want to see it. It’s best to fly from June to August – this is the best time to relax and visit the country, especially the following attractions.

National Park

One of the most attractive attractions is the American Samoa National Park. It is an amazing place, beautiful, strange and impressive.

It is spread over three volcanic islands: Tutuila, Ofu and Tau.

Tutuila is the largest island in the country and, by the way, the capital of the state is located on it, which we will talk about later. The park itself begins at the northern tip of the island and attracts a large number of tourists every year. There are two reasons for this: firstly, a unique tropical forest is preserved here in its original state, and secondly, this part of the park is the only one that can be reached by car. Then the journey begins with a swim.

Ofu is a paradise for diving enthusiasts. One dive off the coast of the island will leave you with an impression that will last a lifetime. Amazing corals, unusual in size and shape, rise from the depths of clear waters. The bright colors of marine life contrast with the monotonous red of the corals and the white of the sea sand. It is an unforgettable spectacle that deserves endless admiration. Just admire. Do not try to take a piece of coral home as a souvenir! For this, there will be fines, troubles and the strongest moral torment. The nature of American Samoa is unique, and any attempt to disturb the order of things, even slightly, can bring the most unfortunate consequences.

If diving for some reason does not appeal to you, take a boat to Tau. The colorful sounds of birds in the misty forest will make you intoxicated with their diversity, and the coastal cliffs and cliffs that crowd the ocean on one side of the island will amaze you with their majesty and grandeur. If you want to add a little excitement, you can climb the extinct volcano Jaz and gaze into the crater. The sight is truly impressive and even mysterious. No wonder that before colonization, Tau was the spiritual capital of Polynesia. The locals remember the ceremonies and even repeat some of them today, but this is more for the pleasure of tourists. However, if you have the desire to join the ancient culture, you can take a look. Then go in pursuit of civilization – the capital Pago Pago.

American Samoa. Author – BluRayVen.

Capital Life

By local standards, life in Pago Pago is bustling.

This is the deepest port in the South Pacific. Liners and yachts from other countries call at Pago Pago. Sometimes the liner itself is almost as big as the city – the town is too small (well, or, as you can see, the ship is too big).

The port itself is not famous, by the way. Somerset Maugham praised it when he wrote about the events of World War II. Yes, the islands were also involved in the war and were once administered by the US Navy. However, the local residents do not pay much attention to this and try to focus more on their own Samoan culture. The Hayden Museum, for example, has some excellent examples of ancient art and artifacts. If you are in Pago Pago, you should definitely check it out, it is worth it.

Where else can you go? Where else can you not go?

In addition to the attractions described above, there are many other things to do.

For example, surfers agree that Alofau Bay and Leone Bay have the best waves in the Pacific. The small bay near the resort Maliu Mai is ideal for snorkeling: to find it, you need to walk eastwards through the rainforest for about 1.5 km. (By the way, the other way, to the west, leads to another local attraction – Sliding Rock).

Aunuu Island is open to lovers of natural beauty: here you can see mangroves, the charming Pala Lake and freshwater swamps in the crater of an extinct volcano.

Swains Island is privately owned and not open to the public, but who knows, the owner might invite you to visit, as Samoans are warm and friendly and always happy to welcome guests.

K8K. Where is American Samoa located. Map.