House District 5 candidate forum: a six-way conversation
Six candidates for House District 5 sit down together for a wide-ranging forum covering budget priorities, community infrastructure, and their vision for representing Pago Pago and Fagatogo.
In this extended sit-down, 2026 House Candidates walks through some of the most pressing issues facing American Samoa — speaking candidly about challenges, priorities, and the way forward for the territory.
The interview does not shy away from the harder questions, and 2026 addresses recent public discussion, criticism, and the specific concerns raised by community members across the territory.
The conversation ranges from immediate operational challenges to longer-term strategy — offering a rare extended window into the thinking of one of the territory’s key public figures.
Key Quotes
Topics Discussed
- 02:14Opening — the state of the territory
- 08:44FY26 appropriations and the Fono
- 15:02Federal funding and grant transparency
- 22:51Infrastructure: roads, ports, ferry
- 31:08The Manu'a transportation question
- 38:22LBJ Hospital and off-island referrals
- 47:30Education funding and the teacher shortage
- 55:14Public safety and patrol staffing
- 01:02:08Cross-strait: Samoa relations
- 01:08:302026 election outlook