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.