Scenes from the 2019 AS Flag Day Parade | PART 2

Scenes from the 2019 AS Flag Day Parade | PART 2

Photo journal of scenes from the American Samoa Flag Day parade on April 17, 2019 at the Tafuna Veteran’s Memorial Stadium – Part 2.

Photos by me and/or Ian from the grandstand using a cheap old telephoto lens I’ve had for over 8 years. I actually forgot it’s kind of broken (reads as error and shuts my camera off when fully extended to 300mm and autofocus doesn’t work anymore), but luckily it worked out and we got this softer old school look.

Part 1 from the parade here.

Coastweeks entertainment: Utulei Taupou Manaia

Coastweeks entertainment: Utulei Taupou Manaia

This last weekend was the Coastweeks Family Fun Beach Day.

It’s a huge annual event put on by the Department of Commerce Coastal Management Program and supported by various agencies and businesses. There are outrigger canoe races, kayak races, food booths, jumping castles, water slides, stand up paddling, game booths, prizes, and live entertainment – and they are all going on at the same time. As the name suggests, it’s a beach day plus a lot of fun.

Utulei Taupou at Coastweeks 2016

“The Siva Samoa is an essential part of the culture.”

Samoan Feet at Coastweeks 2016

I was busy running around coordinating two paddling teams, a game booth, and a photo booth, and was lucky to have caught a break right in time to watch the Utulei youth group hit the stage. Their performance included a sāsā, aufaipese, traditional siva, and the taualuga.

The Siva Samoa is an essential part of the culture. Song and dance to tell a story, retell old legends, and give praises to God. It’s one of the many beautiful parts of growing up in American Samoa. Though I don’t usually dance, my heart still swells a little with pride when I see the smiling faces and the bright and colorful puletasi.

It makes me wanna scream CHEEEEHOOOO!