American Samoa

We had another two days at sea before arriving in Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa. Pago Pago is the home of "Chalie the Tuna" as tuna canning is its main industry. We passed on all the excursions offered in Samoa as they looked a bit lame. We walked into town, bought a few things, talked to some people who were very charming. Fortunately, Cher had done her research and discovered what looked like a promising little adventure to the other side of the island. We piled into a taxi and, John, our Samoan driver, cranked up the reggae music as we bounced and sang the six miles to Tisa’s Beachfront Bar.

Tisa’s bar did not disappoint. It is a classic Tiki beach shack owned by an ex-pat Kiwi, “Candyman” and his Samoan wife, Tisa.

They go out a couple of times a week to fish and the fresh catch is served on banana leaves and you eat with your fingers. Candyman also makes the BEST Pina colada’s with the ripest pineapple from their land and coconut cream made by hand. We started with shrimp in a garlic, coconut, wine butter sauce with fried bananas on the side to dip into the sauce. We then got the fresh catch of yellowfin tuna tetaki. We swooned!

John was waiting for us for the ride back, cranked up the music again, and we were back on board with plenty of time to spare before our 4pm sail away.