On Wednesday and Thursday, June 13 and 14, 2007, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne will meet with leaders of the American Samoa and tour community, educational, recreational and industrial sites on Tutuila Island during his official visit to the U.S. territory.
Secretary Kempthorne will meet with Governor Togiola Tulafono, Paramount Chief Mauga T. Asuega, Lt. Gov. Aitofele Sunia, Senate President Lolo Moliga, Speaker Savali Ale, Chief Justice Kruse, and other government and traditional leaders of American Samoa. The Secretary will attend a traditional Ava Ceremony.
Kempthorne will tour the National Park of American Samoa, Afono Village, StarKist Samoa Tuna Cannery, American Samoa Community College, Veterans Stadium, Army Reserve Center, and other sites in the Western District.
Events during the visit that are open to the news media include the following:
| Event 1 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will join Governor Togiola Tulafono and Paramount Chief Mauga T. Asuega for an Ava Ceremony |
| When: | 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
| Where: | Paramount Chief Mauga's Samoan Guest Fale |
| Event 2 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will join Governor Togiola Tulafono, Paramount Chief Mauga T. Asuega, Lt. Governor Aitofele Sunia and members of the Cabinet and Judiciary of the American Samoa Government and Legislature at a lunch with traditional leaders. There will be remarks, a grant signing and a question and answer session. |
| When: | Noon, Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
| Where: | American Samoa Convention Center |
| Event 3 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will join Lt. Gov. Aitofele Sunia for a tour of Tutuila Island and Utulei Beach National Park |
| When: | 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
| Where: | Tutuila Island: National Park of American Samoa and Afono Village |
| Event 4 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will attend a reception hosted by Governor Togiola Tulafono and Mrs. Tulafono. |
| When: | 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
| Where: | Governor's Residence, Mauga O Ali'I [Fale Samoa] |
| Media: | All credentialed news media are invited to attend |
| Event 5 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will join Gov. Togiola Tulafono for a tour of Western District sites, including the Industrial Park, American Samoa Community College, Veterans' Stadium, Army Reserve Center and South Pacific Academy and Tony Solaita Baseball Field |
| When: | 8:45 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007 |
| Where: | Western District of Tutuila Island |
| Media: | All credentialed news media are invited to attend |
| Event 6 | |
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior |
| What: | Secretary Kempthorne will join Governor Togiola Tulafono for a joint news media availability in the Samoan Fale at the Airport |
| When: | 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007 |
| Where: | Samoan Fale: American Samoa Airport |
| Media: | All credentialed news media are invited to attend |