Suwarrow,New life an atoll in the Pacific

Scuba diving was not allowed when I was there due to a recent
shark attack on a ray, safety first !   

New life begins

Roof water

Immigration and customs office

A monument to Tom O'Neil, an editor of Cruising World at
one time

This is Charlie, the assistant to the main man during the summer
months, the only time the atoll is inhabited. Here Charlie is about
to feed the sharks, you can see the Black Tips breaking the surface
of the water because they know he is there

More Black Tips have arrived and they are hungry

The frenzy in full bloom

More American Samoa

This tug is getting ready to pull a cruising boat off the rocky
bank after it's mooring lines broke during a big wind at night

A 75 footer on the rocks

Mike and James working on Tisa's Barefoot Bar to help the
owners get ready for the Tattoo Festival

The roofing being tied on so it can break away during cyclone
winds.

Tying being done by Candy Mann, Tisa's partner

Candy Mann at work

Me learning to throw the roofing panels to Candy Mann so he
can tie them down

Candy Mann threading the panels with heavy twine to be tied
down. The roof we build will 15 to 20 years if a cyclone does not
blow it off. If the palm fronds are 25 years old when harvested
the roof will last 20 years 

American Samoa

American Samoa is filled with some of the nicest people on Earth, friendly, kind and sharing. Once away from the populated areas the true beauty just surrounds you.

Away from the city

A Sally Lightfoot Crab

A root system that really anchors

An old church we were told

Youngsters going home from school

At Tisa's Barefoot Bar during the 9th annual tattoo festival 

This building is made mostly with local timbers, leaves, roots and
vines holding it together. It's made to lose the roof and floor in the
event of a cyclone leaving the main structure in place. It's very
ingenious and extremely solid and has been standing over 20 years.

The tools of the trade belonging to Wilson, the last tattoo
artist that works in the oldest tattoo fashion on the island.
 The handles you see in the tub have shark teeth attached on
the ends.The teeth are shaped and sharpened by the artist and
 after being dipped into the ink pot are struck with another piece of
wood and are driven into the subjects skin leaving the tattoo.

The man lying down is a cruiser and is receiving a $300 arm
band tattoo 

Wilson at work training his two sons that have to study seven
years before working on a human. They practice on pigs to get
the hang of it.

The sons stretch the skin tight before Wilson strikes the tool. 

Happy Mike.

Tisa and a local friend showing off his ink.