Posted at 9:44 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007
Interior secretary given Samoan title during visit
Associated Press
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne was bestowed the Samoan chiefly title "puleleiite" Wednesday when dignitaries welcomed him to this U.S. territory.Gov. Togiola Tulafono informed Kempthorne that the title means "the ruler who can foretell the future."
Kempthorne received the title during an ava ceremony. Ava, which is also known as kava in some areas of the Pacific, is a tranquilizing, nonalcoholic drink.
Kempthorne met with Tulafono and other territorial officials to discuss a number of issues, including a new minimum wage hike for American Samoa, which is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
An island tuna cannery has already said it will lay off more than 200 workers because of the increase that goes into effect July 24.
"We share democracy. We share freedom," Kempthorne said when he addressed a working luncheon.
Kempthorne and members of his delegation later visited the National Park of American Samoa, the only national park south of the equator.
American Samoa is located about 2,300 miles south of Hawai'i.
