American Samoa	Guam	Northern Mariana Islands	U.S. Virgin Islands	Marshall Islands	Federated States of Micronesia	Palau

U.S. and Palau Hold Working Group Meeting on Palau Review

On June 12 in Washington, D.C. several U.S. Officials from the State Department and the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs met with officials from Palau for a working group meeting on the Palau Compact Review. 

Pictured from Left to Right: Mr. Haruo Wilter (Palau), Steve Brescia (State), Paul Neville (State), Alcy Frelick, Director, Office of ANP/ENP, State Dept., Mary Comfort (State), Tom Bussanich (Interior), Nik Pula, Director, Insular Affairs (Interior), Jeff Farrow, Advisor (Palau), Patrick Tellei, President of Palau Community College and Head of Palau Delegation, Kevin Kirk, Counsel (Palau), Stuart Beck, Palau’s Representative to the UN. Standing in Back row: Dr. Stevenson Kuartei (Palau), Palau Ambassador to the U.S., Hersey Kyota, Kevin O’Keefe, Advisor (Palau).

Silver Lifesaving Citation Awarded to U.S. Coast Guardsman from Palau

Des Moines Pier and Des Moines Beach Park on Puget Sound, Washington (COURTESY flickr.com)

(June 10, 2009) A Coast Guardsman was on a walk on the waterfront in Des Moines last summer when a car went off a sea wall and plunged 50 feet into Puget Sound. The guardsman, Truman Skang of Palau, risked his own life by jumping into the 52-degree water and rescuing one the driver of the car. A woman and dog in the car didn't make it. More

U.S. Soldier Dies In Afghanistan, Honored In Palau,
Remembered In Hawaii And New York

U.S. Army Sgt. Jasper Okakrairur

June 15, 2009 The third Palauan national has died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Twenty-six year old U.S. Army Sergeant Jasper Obakrairur of Ngardmau, Palau, died on June 1, on his second tour to Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. Obakrairur died from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device which detonated near his vehicle in Nerkh, Afghanistan. He first joined the military from Hilo, Hawaii after studying at the University of Hawaii. He had been assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York since August 2004. His first tour to Afghanistan was from January 2006 to May 2007.  More

OIA Serves Up Island Flavors

From left to right: Mr. Pula, Ambassador George (FSM), Mr. Niumatalolo

May 28, 2009 (Washington, DC) - In celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month, OIA organized an afternoon program featuring Ken Niumatalolo, Head Coach for the Naval Academy football team. Employees from throughout the Federal agencies, Capitol Hill, the embassies of the Pacific Island countries, and private organizations were invited. The event was complete with live island music, traditional dances, and island food.

“Today we celebrate the achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans and their contributions to this country. There are many that we can be proud of,” said Nikolao Pula, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs.
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Six Samoans Commissioned as Second Lieutenants

May 21, 2009 (excerpt samoanews.com) - Six American Samoans who recently completed their undergraduate studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Chaminade were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a commissioning ceremony for American Samoa last evening at the Lee Auditorium in Utulei. Two of the new Second Lieutenants are twin sisters.

It was the largest commissioning ceremony hosted by the American Samoa Community College’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Director of the ASG Department of Human Resources, Evelyn Vaitautolu Langford (Lt. Col., retired) also of American Samoa, led the group in the oath, which was followed by their ’pinning’ where they received their second lieutenant bars from family members and finally their first salute.

The newly-commissioned officers thanked their families, friends and mentors for their support in seeing them through college and helping them pursue their military careers.

Pictured Taking the Oath of Office (Left to right): Second Lieutenants Aoatoa Kalasa Afuola; Faith Christina Hisatake; Hope Julia Hisatake; Lui Edward Lefiti; Fusiuta Leroy Lutu and David Epati Mata’utia.

U.S. Coast Guard and Palau hold Sea Guardian Exercise

May 22, 2009 (courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) - On April 28 to May 2, patrol boats from Coast Guard Sector Guam and the Republic of Palau participated in the third annual Exercise Sea Guardian in the Republic of Palau. Palau relies on a healthy fishing industry and enforcement of its economic exclusive zone. By conducting joint exercises, Coast Guard Sector Guam and its Micronesian partner agencies increase their overall law enforcement effectiveness and share knowledge and techniques that enhance regional security. The scenario-based training included mock boardings and mock trials held in Palau's Supreme Court.   More