BANANA PLANTATION TOUR & FIRE KNIFE DANCE PERFORMANCE | PLUS, THE KIDS' FIRST SIVA AFI LESSON
We've been to most of the beaches on our island of TUTUILA, we've hiked a lot of the trails, and we've brought you along with us. One thing we've never done is take a tour of a banana plantation.
This week, we're bringing you along as we tour a beautiful, fertile BANANA and TARO PLANTATION in the village of VAITOGI.
Plus, the kids get their first chance at practicing the SIVA AFI (FIRE KNIFE DANCE), followed by a thrilling SIVA AFI performance.
Come along with us, to see another side of the US territory of AMERICAN SAMOA.
Thanks for watching and for your continued support.
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LOOKING for RIVER TREASURE at NU'UULI FALLS | AMERICAN SAMOA | Can You Guess What We Found?
We're heading back to NU'UULI FALLS for another island adventure.
Nate and the kids love watching RIVER TREASURE videos on YouTube and we decided to try it for ourselves. Nu'uuli Falls seems to be the most frequented waterfall in American Samoa, where lots of people climb up the steep rock wall and jump into the cool pool below.
That sound like the perfect place to find sunken treasures, lost and forgotten by locals and visitors alike. Of course, if we find anything we'll post it on the local Facebook marketplace groups and do our best to find the owners.
Watch to see our treasure hunting adventure and experience the beauty of Nu'uuli Falls for yourself.
Tell us if you've ever found anything when snorkeling or swimming. Or have you been the one to lose something of value?
Fa'afetai lava for watching our videos and for all the love and support you show our family!
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I'M CREEPED OUT PADDLE BOARDING ONE of the WORLD'S DEEPEST NATURAL HARBORS | American Samoa | Pago
I brought my paddle board with me, so as soon as I was finished with work, I could hop out and paddle around the harbor.
Did you know that Pago Pago Harbor is one of the deepest natural harbors in the world?
With nothing but a stand-up paddle board, crossing the deep blue waters of the harbor can be unnerving, to say the least. Between schools of jellyfish, a run-in with the US Coast Guard, and the unknown of the deep blue, it takes a strong heart to brave it.
But if you can, the views of Tutuila from the water make it all worth it!
I paddled around a lot of the harbor this time, but let me know if you think I should take on the challenge of going all the way across next time.
Thanks for coming along on this American Samoan adventure with me.
Tofa Soifua
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A DAY IN MY LIFE | WORK-AT-HOME MOM IN AMERICAN SAMOA
What do you do all day? What do you do for work?
I've heard that first question since I decided to stay home with my first baby, instead of going back to work.
Now, I get this second question from lots of people who watch our channel.
I wear many hats on any given day- mom, wife, creator, writer, photographer, videographer, entrepreneur, runner, friend, volunteer, etc. This is your chance to get a sneak peak into the life of this work-at-home mom, living on the tiny island of American Samoa.
This video is different from our videos and we're interested to know how you liked it. Let us know in the comments below or with a thumbs up/thumbs down.
Thanks for watching!
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THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT AOA BAY, AMERICAN SAMOA | Going Out of Our Way for Fun & Relaxation
The village of AOA, AMERICAN SAMOA is not on the way to anywhere, which means no one gets there by accident. I think it's safe to say that most people have never been there at all...
But we're here to tell you that those people are missing out!
The village is quiet and well cared for. The beach is sandy, with plenty of sun and shade. The water is calm and safe, protected by the reef, far off-shore. The locals are kind and friendly.
But there's also just something about Aoa that we can't be put into words, but that we feel every time we go, that makes it like no other place we've ever been.
There's just something that makes it so special!
Tell us in the comments below if you've been to Aoa and what you think makes it a special place.
Thanks for watching!
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We're Making Progress Fixing Our Used Sailboat? | SV Odyle Update | Rotten Wood, Slow Shipping,
Some days it feels like we're almost ready to move onto our 47-foot used sailboat, just to come across another problem. Then it feels like that day will never come.
While some of the problems we're facing are unexpected, they're rarely a surprise. We knew that buying a sailboat that's almost 50 years old would lead to LOTS of projects and that's exactly right. lol
The important thing is to recognize the wins, leave the failures behind, and keep moving forward.
Soon enough we'll be ready to move onto our floating home and set sail.
Thanks again for joining us on this adventure called life! Let us know if you would aver be crazy enough to take on a challenge like this.
You can purchase your own ebook or paperback copy of “EXPLORE AMERICAN SAMOA: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu’u, and Manu’a Islands” on Amazon, at
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00:00 - Welcome Back
01:52 - Emptying Our Boat
03:09 - Cleaning Our Boat
04:06 - Finding Rotten Wood
06:48 - Clearing the Deck
08:49 - Caulking Disaster
10:12 - Sorting Our Sails
11:21 - Power & Water
14:19 - Having Fun
15:10 - Shipping Delays
18:51 - Tofa Soifua
PINE TREES, SOFT SAND, and AVAS (RIP TIDES) | SAILELE, AMERICAN SAMOA
We're heading back to the North side to the tiny village of SAILELE in AMERICAN SAMOA.
The beach at Sailele has some of the softest sand in this US Territory, along with a magical grove of pine trees. You almost feel like you're next to a mountain lake instead of on a tropical island, if it wasn't for the sound of crashing waves and the feel of the warm breeze blowing across your face.
Nate explains the signs and dangers of an AVA, or Rip Tide. So before you step into the beautiful, warm waters at Sailele, gaze out to the reef, where the waves are breaking and look for the treacherous waters of the Ava.
Back on-shore, the kids spent hours playing in the sand, building a crab village, and competing in crab races.
If you haven't been to Sailele yet, this video will show you just some of the treasures that are hidden in this remote village. Keep your eyes out for our follow-up Sailele, where we'll explore the other side of the beach, with it's flowerpot island and tide pools.
As always, thank-you so much for watching and for sharing our videos with your friends and family! We are so humbled every week when we read the stories you share with us in the comments down below. We love you all!
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101 THINGS WE'RE THANKFUL FOR IN AMERICAN SAMOA IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS | THANKSGIVING 2021
You know we love this life we've built for ourselves in this beautiful paradise, but what specifically makes American Samoa the place we choose to stay year after year. Thanksgiving 2021, we're sharing 101 THINGS WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IN AMERICAN SAMOA in 10 MINUTES OR LESS!
And one thing we're grateful for everyday of the year is the fresh, healthy, and convenient food from Tutuila Green. We try to keep our lives simple and Tutuila Green salads, wraps, sandwiches, and yogurt cups are quick and delicious and they give us the nutrition and energy our bodies need to keep going strong.
Tell us, in the comments below, what you're grateful for this year.
Tofa Soifua!
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You can purchase your own eBook or paperback copy of “Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu’u, and Manu’a Islands” on AMAZON, at
Or on APPLE BOOKS at
If you'd like to support our channel, please consider pledging to our PATREON account, where you can pay $5, $15, or $25 per month, helping us keep these and other videos about our life and adventures in American Samoa coming each week.
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00:00- Intro
00:30- Our Sponsor, Tutuila Green
02:42- 1-25 Things We're Grateful for
04:17- 26-50 Things We're Grateful for
05:49- 51-75 Things We're Grateful for
07:33- 76-101 Things We're Grateful for
09:22- Thank you to Our Sponsor, Tutuila Green
09:31- Bloopers
WHY WE MOVED TO AMERICAN SAMOA | AMSAMFAM LIVING ON A TINY ISLAND IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Why did you move to American Samoa?
That's a question that we get ALL THE TIME!
And while we don't mind answering it, we thought it was time to tell you in video form. From feeling stuck in the American Dream, through a couple of moves, a few trips, and lots of adventure planning, our family took a huge leap across the ocean and moved to a tiny island in the South Pacific.
Now, American Samoa is our home and we couldn't be happier!
Plus, join us this Saturday, April 17, at 10 am Pago Pago time for a YouTube LIVE announcement and Q&A.
TIME CONVERSION
Sydney/Brisbane, Australia: Sunday, April 18, 7 am
New Zealand: Sunday, April 18, 9 am
Apia, Samoa: Sunday, April 18, 10 am
Pago Pago, American Samoa: Saturday, April 17, 10 am
Hawaii, USA: Saturday, April 17, 11 am
West Coast, USA: Saturday, April 17, 2 pm
Mountain Time, USA: Saturday, April 17, 3 pm
Central Time, USA: Saturday, April 17, 4 pm
East Coast, USA: Saturday, April 17, 5 pm
Thank you again for coming along with us! Hope to see you LIVE, this Saturday (maybe Sunday for you).
Tofa Soifua!
If you'd like to support our channel, please consider pledging to our PATREON account, where you can pay $5, $10, or $25 per month, helping us keep these and other videos about our life and adventures in American Samoa coming each week.
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OUR CHRISTMAS UMU WAS A DISASTER! | How Not to Cook a Samoan Umu | How to Make Palusami
It's the Holiday Season and we may not be able to continue all the same Christmas traditions from our youth, like building snowmen, sledding, and making gingerbread houses, but we can make new Christmas in American Samoa traditions, like cooking a turkey in an umu, along with taro, breadfruit, and palusami.
Or you would think that we would be able to...
See all the work that went into our umu and then see our disastrous, disappointing finale.
We couldn't end it there though, we turned the night around with a drive our the island of Tutuila to look at the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. It turned out to be the perfect end to an to our epic Christmas umu failure.
Thank you again for watching and for all the love and support throughout the year. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and holiday season.
TOP 10 THINGS to BUY in AMERICAN SAMOA | Samoan Food & Drinks, Island Wear, and Souvenirs
It can be hard to tell the difference between authentic items and the stuff that's displayed just for tourists. That's why we've put together our TOP 10 THINGS to BUY in AMERICAN SAMOA.
We've included some of the more traditional SAMOAN FOOD, DRINKS, and APPAREL. Plus, some modern twists on local traditions.
Whether you're moving to American Samoa or just coming for a visit, these 10 Things are are not to be missed.
We couldn't fit everything on this list, so we've already started a part 2 list. Tell us what things you think we should include.
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
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Fa'afetai Tele Lava!
FAGA'ALU WATERFALL | One of AMERICAN SAMOA'S BEST HIDDEN TREASURES
AMSAMFAM is getting back out and showing you one of AMERICAN SAMOA'S best waterfalls- FAGA'ALU WATERFALL.
We drive through the village of Faga'alu, past the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, and park just outside of an active rock quarry. We walk through the quarry without a problem and start our slippery, sometimes precarious, hike through the tropical rainforest to find our very own island waterfall.
The water is cool and refreshing and we scale the side of the mountain for some heart pumping cliff jumping. The boys are fearless, but Nate and I discover that the pool is a little shallow for us adults to be jumping from that high.
If you can handle the narrow trail and steep drop-off, you will be rewarded with a true Tropical Paradise all to yourself!
Let us know if you've been to Faga'alu Falls. After shooting this video, we learned that you can actually hike beyond this waterfall and find multiple others, but I think we might leave the kids home for that adventure.
Have you been to Faga'alu Falls? Tell us if you've ever hiked up past these falls or if you know someone who has. We'd love to hear a first-hand account.
Thanks for watching and please make sure to give us a thumbs-up if you enjoyed this video!
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WHY WE'VE STAYED IN AMERICAN SAMOA | WHY WE MOVED TO AMERICAN SAMOA, Part 2
When we moved to American Samoa back in 2017, we were excited for our new island adventure, but we had no idea just how deeply we would fall in love with our new home of American Samoa.
What started as a two-year commitment, extended by one more year, and then another, and now we're not sure we can ever truly call anywhere else home.
See what we first fell in love with and then what nourished our growing roots that will forever hold us tied to this beautiful, wonderful tropical paradise.
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You can purchase your own ebook or paperback copy of “Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu’u, and Manu’a Islands” on Amazon, at
If you'd like to support our channel, please consider pledging to our PATREON account, where you can pay $5, $15, or $25 per month, helping us keep these and other videos about our life and adventures in American Samoa coming each week.
And if you're digging our music, hop over to Epidemic Sound, where you can have access to all their copyright-free music and sound effects. Plus, if you use this link, it's just another way to help support our channel.
00:00- Intro
1:31- Follow-Up
2:36- Only Two Years
3:42- First Love
5:13- Deeper Roots
5:42- Friends Become Family
8:55- Professional Connections
12:04- Inexpensive Living
14:46- Health Care System
17:23- Safety
20:40- The Special Something
23:33- Tofa Soifua
HADLEY DANCES IN FIA FIA CULTURAL CELEBRATION | Mesepa International Ward Youth Luau Fundraiser
Our very own HADLEY had the opportunity to learn and perform two dances, as part of the MIW Youth Temple Trip Fundraiser.
The youth from our church worked hard to prepare for this night of entertainment, inclusion, and celebration as a way to showcase Pacific Island cultures and earn money to travel to Apia, Samoa for a Youth Conference/Temple Trip.
They featured dances from Tonga, New Zealand, Hawai'i, Fiji, Tahiti, Phillipines, and Samoa, with a grand finale that you can't miss!
Thank you to all who supported our youth through your time, knowledge, or money! As soon as the borders open, the youth are all set and ready to have meaningful and exciting experiences because of your generosity.
And thank you again, to all of you who support our channel! We love reading your comments and continue to feel motivated to make videos because of your love and support. Fa'afetai Lava!
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We do not own the rights to the music used in the program.
1:19-1:44- Mauluulu, by Liberty Afeaki
1:44-2:14- DJ NOIZ REMIX, by VAI KO FAKALAVELAVE
2:20- 3:10- Auē Te Aroha I Ahau, by TJ & Huri
3:52-4:25- Ahulili, by Raiatea Helm
4:25-5:07- Hanalei Cover, by Rex Atirai
5:10-5:49- Black Rose, by Raude
6:39-7:23- 'Ote'a Heivari'i, by Mahealani Uchiyama
7:23-7:52- Pahoho, by Te Avapiti (Covered by Rex Atirai)
8:01-8:33- Tinikling Song (English-Tagalog), by Pinoy BK Channel
8:37-9:25- Le Tausala Samoa, by tanimatafeo
9:25-10:00- Lome Lome, by Alpha Maiava
10:57-11:39- Afio Ane Loa, by Katerina Manu & Quincy Filiga
11:56-12:14- Hanalei Cover, by Rex Atirai
KIDS' FIRST TRIP TO THE DENTIST IN AMERICAN SAMOA | Dental Staff Was Friendly & Great At Their Jobs!
It's Tuesday again and you know what that means? Time for your weekly AmSamFam adventure.
This week we're taking you to the dental clinic at LBJ Tropical Medical Clinic, in American Samoa.
Our kids were long overdue for a dental check-up and teeth cleaning, and we finally got them in! This was Kip's first real cleaning and he was a super champ- full of smiles and a clean bill of tooth health.
The staff at the Dental Clinic was so friendly and made the trip fun for the kids. While still being professional and great at the jobs.
After our long dental hiatus, can you guess how many cavities the kids had?
Thanks again for hanging out with us! Tofa Soifua
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OUR TOP 10 MOMENTS from 2020 | Hiking, Snorkeling, Paddling, Kayaking, Dancing, Samoan Language
2020 has been a big year! Sometimes it felt like it would never end and other times it felt like it was flying by.
Now that 2021 is here, we wanted to look back over the past year and remember all the good times. So, we've lined up our TOP 10 MOMENTS from 2020.
You may recognize some or most of the video footage, if you've been keeping up with our adventures, but there's some we've never shown before. If there's any that doesn't look familiar, check out the links we've included below, to see the full videos.
Thank you so much to all of you who have watched our videos and supported us throughout our first year of YouTubing!! Happy New Year and may 2021 be your best year yet!
#10:
#9:
#8:
#7:
#6:
#5:
#4:
#3:
#2: Brand New Footage
#1:
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WE SAW BOOBIES ON A BOAT TRIP AROUND TUTUILA with CRUX MARINE BOAT TOURS | Tourism in American Samoa
We saw Brown-Footed Boobies on a boat trip with Crux Marine Boat Tours. What did you think we meant?
Melinda is joining some friends to see the island from a new perspective. We start in Pago Pago Harbor and head to the National Marine Sanctuary at Fagatele Bay, then around to the north side of the island to stand under a waterfall at Tafeu Cove, on to Pola Island, a hidden ocean cave, and finally back around to the harbor.
A huge THANK-YOU to Peter and Pate from Crux Marine Boat Tours for the incredible day!! It was one of the best experiences I've had in American Samoa!
Thanks for joining us again and for all your love and support!
If you want to SCHEDLUE a BOAT TOUR with Peter too, you can find him at or email him at konelio.talivaa@gmail.com.
If you'd like to support our channel, please consider pledging to our PATREON account, where you can pay $5, $10, or $25 per month, helping us keep these and other videos about our life and adventures in American Samoa coming each week.
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WE DID IT! We Bought a Used Sailboat | Projects to Make Our Boat Live-able | Skookum Tradewinds 47
A few weeks ago, we told you we were thinking about buying a used sailboat. We were considering a small boat for weekend sailing adventures or a big, bluewater boat to live on and do some South Pacific island hopping.
Well, we chose the big one! Our offer was accepted and now she's ours!
We're so excited to start this new adventure, but first there are some problems that need our attention.
PROJECT LIST:
Take Everything Off the Boat
Clean the Boat (We're Talking Every Nook and Cranny)
Install New Solar Panels
Replace Existing Batteries with Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
Update Lighting with Low-Profile LED Lights
And a Thousand Other Things
Thanks for joining us again! We love being able to share our island life and adventures with you.
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So... We're Thinking of BUYING a SAILBOAT | Is Now the Right Time and Is This the Right Boat for Us?
While this might seem super random, the idea of owning a sailboat to live on is something that we have always discussed and dreamt about. So, when we found out that there were a couple boats sitting in the Pago Pago Harbor that might be for sale, we figured it couldn't hurt to look.
After all, cruising a sailboat around American Samoa could be an epic way of exploring this US Territory and the South Pacific region around us.
See where our search leads us and what we decide to do.
Make sure to like this video and tell us below if you think we're out-of-our-minds insane or if you think this will be an awesome new adventure for our family.
As always, THANKS FOR WATCHING!
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