tauese p.f. sunia ocean center (national marine sanctuary of american samoa)

This was a brief, but very rewarding, stop while in Pago Pago, AS earlier this month. It's a high-tech, modern and informative learning center about our earth and our oceans. There's a huge globe that appears to just float, with four cameras providing 360 degree views of the earth, ocean, and marine life to the surrounding audience. The audio's narratives are provided by well known celebrity voices. Definitely worth the time if you're in Pago Pago.

What a great learning experience for me and my family! We were visiting the Samoan Islands and found this Ocean Center to be refreshing, informative and very friendly. The tour is lead by a super friendly guide who does a great job of mixing local cultural tales with scientific facts, making for a fun and interesting presentation of the local marine ecosystem. The main exhibit hall is equipped with a cool "SOS" or Science on a Sphere device that allows you to see the world and ocean in an almost 3D manner. We spent about an hour checking everything out. Free of charge and centrally located in Pago, just next door to the old Rainmaker Hotel. Worth the visit!

Newly opened and due to funding shortfalls I found it challenging to get there during limited open hours. Not open on weekends. After managing to catch the multiple buses from Leone to get there during stated open hours (called that morning and confirmed open) I found the center locked up. I was to meet someone there in a hour so I just found a shady spot to wait. The staff arrived about 45 minutes later and said they had gone out to lunch together. Once I was able to get inside it is a very nice facility, very bright and it's air conditioned. (Very important if you've ever been to Am Samoa in January!) A great place to learn about the National Marine Sanctuary. I was the only visitor so I had a personal tour guide. His family owned a small island out in the sanctuary and he was very knowledgeable about the land, ocean life, and history of the area. The center is free to visit but please consider a donation to help with their funding and enable them to remain open.