TV3 Campbell Live Christmas Special at Lalomanu Village Samoa

Posted: November 21, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Honour & Tribute, Lighter Moments, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Update: To watch click here

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New Zealand’s TV3 Campbell Live’s team, including host John Campbell, will be returning to Samoa to broadcast a Christmas special on Saturday 12th December. Their location: Taufua Beach Fales at the village of Lalomanu. It was one of the South Coast villages hardest hit by the tsunami of Tuesday 29th September.

[tweetmeme]It promises to be a special day, especially for the children we hope. They say there’ll be lots of laughter, music and special guests. There’s expected to be a local choir, and as we can expect from Samoa, it will be sprinkled with genuine Samoan hospitality and alofa.To make the day even more exciting, they’re giving away Christmas gift packs. They’ve asked the Samoan Observer, a local Samoan newspaper, to help find those families deserving of these gift packs. That’s a tough call, we say. Any family that has survived the grief and trauma of those horrid days is deserving. That’s our verdict.

They’re hoping for as many locals as possible to come and share the day. That won’t be hard to do at all. It kicks off at 10am. We encourage you to nominate a family in Samoa for one of those Christmas gift packs. Make somebody’s day.

TV3 Campbell Live flew to Samoa on the afternoon of the tsunami. Host John Campbell along with reporters Mihingarangi Forbes were on the ground in Samoa, and briefly in American Samoa, on the first few days. TV3 News presenter Mike McRoberts and reporter Mike M. continued to report from Lalomanu for days after the fact.

Campbell Live is a half-hour magazine current affairs show screening Mon to Fridays at 7pm and can be viewed online at http://www.tv3.co.nz.


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Kiwi Guests at Lalomanu Recall Their Lucky Escape

Posted: October 22, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, Tourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marlborough Express, South Island, New Zealand

Blenheim couple Maurice and Carolyn Brown…were staying in the Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu on the Samoan Island of Upolu.  Mr Brown had headed outside in his running gear. “I was looking out toward the reef and before my eyes I just watched the lagoon start to empty out.” He realised that a tsunami was imminent.  Mr Brown grabbed the keys and told his wife to drop everything.  They jumped into their car, let in another couple who had started banging on their windows, and started driving toward higher ground. “The next thing we knew we just saw this wall of water coming over the top of the fales and just smashing everything in sight.”  The wave picked the car up then threw it about 15 metres across the road into a concrete toilet block. Read the rest of this entry »

Update: Tourist Accommodation in Samoa Post-Tsunami

Posted: October 17, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, Fono Notices, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, Tourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This update is in response to emails received. Please read in full for information on all affected tourist properties.

Before the earthquake and tsunami hit the South Coast of Upolu in Samoa on Tuesday 29th September, Samoa offered close to 100 choices of tourist accommodation. From luxury hotels and resorts, to standard and budget hotels, and, of course, the beach fales.

After the tsunami struck, 19 tourist places, including popular resorts and beach fales along the South Coast of Upolu, were left severely damaged or destroyed. They represent about a fifth of Samoa’s available tourist accommodation.  The South Coast bore the brunt of the tsunami’s fury with the nearby islands of Manono and Namu’a also facing severe damage.  Upolu’s northern coast, where Apia is situated, was left alone by the tsunami. The island of Sava’ii was not unscathed by the sea affecting one tourist operation. Tourist accommodation in those areas continue to operate.

Samoa’s Tourism Authority has issued the following list of hotels, resorts and beach fales that are temporarily closed. pacificEyeWitness.org has included the names of the village in which each property is located, where known:

  1. Coconuts Beach Club, Resort & Spa
    Scheduled to open 1st February 2010
    (Village of Siumu)
  2. Maninoa Surf Camp  & Beach Fales
    Click here for update
    (Village of Maninoa)
  3. Sinalei Reef Resort
    Re-opening 1st November 2009
    (Village of Siumu)
  4. Iliili Resort
    (Village of Saleilua, Falealili)
  5. Salani Surf Resort
    (Village of Salani)
  6. Vavau Beach Bungalows
    (Village of Vavau)
  7. Seabreeze Resort, Paradise Cove
    (Village of Aufaga)
  8. Lupesina Beach Resort (formerly Boomerang Creek)
    (Village of Salaepaga)
    8 out of 12 employees at Lupesina died in the tsunami.
  9. Faofao Beach Fales
    (Village of Salaepaga)
    To help Faofao Beach Fales, click here
  10. Taufua Beach Fales
    (Village of Lalomanu)
  11. Litia Sini Beach Resort
    (Village of Lalomanu)
  12. Namu’a Beach Fales
    (Namu’a Island)
  13. Vaotuua Beach Fales
    (Manono Island)
  14. Sieni Beach Fales
    (Village of Lalomanu)
  15. Sina PJ Beach Fales
    (Village of Tafitoala, Safata)

    Day Stays only

  16. Siutaufogapapa Beach Fales
  17. Valengina’s Beach Fales
  18. Romeo’s Beach Fales
    (Village of Lalomanu)
  19. Manusina Beach Fales
    (Village of Salaepaga)

A few properties in neighboring areas such as Virgin Cove, in the village of Saanapu,  Le Vasa Resort on Upolu and Aganoa Surf Retreat in Savaii are still operating, despite facing some degree of damage.

For further updates, please click on the name of the properties in this post to go to its websites or visit the Samoan Tourism Authority