Samoa is set to reopen to international travelers, and hearing that felt like a big moment for me.
After years of waiting, delays, and missed opportunities, it finally feels like something that has been building for a long time might actually happen.
But to understand why this matters so much to me, I have to go back a bit.
A Curious 15 Year Old.
I have always been curious about the world. Ever since I was young, I found myself staring at maps and wondering what life looked like in places far beyond where I was.
The earliest I can remember actually researching destinations online was around the age of fifteen. And the very first place that made it onto my list was American Samoa.
Something about it stuck with me. Maybe it was the idea of a remote U.S. territory, or maybe it was the imagery of places like Manuʻa and the unique culture tied to it. Over time, that curiosity expanded into learning more about Samoa as a whole.
At that point, it was no longer just a place on a map. It became something I knew I would eventually experience.
Photo credit: Svenʻs Travel Venues
For over 15 years, American Samoa has been on top desired list to visit and of course over the years, I learned more about nearby Western Samoa, now currently referred to as Samoa. So let’s just say that itʻs a personal historic purpose to go.
A Canceled Trip: Injury
In 2017, I had plans to travel to New Zealand, but not in a simple, direct way. I mapped out a multi-stop journey that would take me across parts of the United States, through Hawaiʻi, and down into American Samoa before continuing across the Pacific.
But that plan never happened.
While on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, I ruptured my Achilles tendon just before continuing on to Maui. That injury grounded me for months, followed by surgery and a long recovery process.
Everything changed.
Instead of following the original plan, I had to rebuild my path, and in doing so, I ended up just barely making it to New Zealand in time for my working holiday visa.
Becoming A Pacific Traveler
My dear friends in Vavaʻu Tonga
Looking back, that setback shifted everything in a way that I would not trade.
During my time in New Zealand, I became more aware of the Pacific Islands and how interconnected they are. When it came time to continue traveling, I chose a different route than originally planned.
That journey took me through Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands.
It changed me completely.
Those experiences, especially the village stays and the simplicity of life in many of those places, gave me a completely different perspective on travel. It was no longer just about seeing places, but about understanding people, culture, and connection in a deeper way.
Living in Hawaiʻi later on only strengthened that connection, especially through the many Samoan people I met along the way.
A Canceled Trip Again
In 2019, I applied for a working holiday visa for Australia and was approved. The plan for 2020 was clear – Return to the Pacific. At the top of that plan were the Samoan islands.
But once again, things stopped.
The global pandemic shut everything down, and the Pacific Islands became some of the most restricted places in the world when it came to travel. Borders closed, movement stopped, and once again, that plan had to be put on hold.
Apia, Samoa
Third Time is a CHARM
Now, with Samoa reopening, it feels like that long pause is finally coming to an end. The world still feels uncertain in many ways, and travel is not as simple as it once was. Costs are higher, plans are harder to lock in, and nothing feels guaranteed.
But I look at it differently & I would rather find a way than not have a way at all.
American Samoa has been sitting at the top of my list for years, not just as another destination, but as something tied to a much larger journey I have been on across the Pacific.
And guess what, I would eventually live a live there for over a year.
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