The Battle of Tarawa Then and Now: Scars of War on Betio Island
There are some places in the Pacific where history sits lightly on the surface, and others where it remains fixed in the land itself. Betio Island, in South Tarawa, Kiribati, is one of those places. The Battle of Tarawa was one of the bloodiest battles of World War...
National Park of American Samoa: Hiking, Culture & What Most Visitors Don’t Expect
The United States National Park System, which has existed for well over 100 years, remains one of the most fascinating and incredible aspects of anything tied to the United States. From Yellowstone National Park to Dry Tortugas in Florida to Haleakalā National Park on...
Why Tuvalu Became One of My Favorite Places in the Pacific
There are many places in my voyages that I look forward to visiting. Some are famous for their scenery, like Zakynthos in Greece, and others for a specific experience I had imagined for years, like staying at Tabon Te Keekee in Kiribati. But there have been very few...
The Real Reasons I’ll Always Be Drawn Back to Kiribati
When I look back on my time in Kiribati, I do not think of it as just another stop in the Pacific. It left a real mark on me, and over time that has only become clearer. Out of all my travels and voyaging, Kiribati remains one of my favorite places, and very possibly...
What Is American Samoa? A US Territory That’s Still Fully Samoan
For many people, American Samoa is little more than a name on a map, if that. Some know it is connected to the United States. Some have heard of Pago Pago. Others confuse it entirely with the independent nation of Samoa. But to leave it there is to miss what makes the...Anthony Perez
