American Samoa governor moves against Hawaiian Air
The American Samoa governor, Togiola Tulafono, says he wants to force Hawaiian Airlines out of the territory.
The governor’s action comes after Hawaiian Air ignored his invitation earlier this month to voluntarily terminate
service to American Samoa and allow a replacement carrier to take over.
Our correspondent, Monica Miller, says he has now issued an executive order declaring that Hawaiian Airlines is engaging
in discriminatory and predatory practices, and in ethnic harassment towards the people of American Samoa.
“The governor has been fighting for the last six months to get Hawaiian Air to lower air fares to Pago Pago. He believes
that the airline is charging much lower fares in other destinations of equal distance between Honolulu and Pago Pago.
And also, he believes the airlines is imposing charges that it is not charging other places that it flies to. He is
accusing Hawaiian Air of harassing or discriminating against passengers of Samoan ancestry.”
Monica Miller says in accordance with this declaration and determination, the governor is giving Hawaiian Air notice
within 90 days from the date of his order.
She says Hawaiian Air is yet to respond.