PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — First introduced to American Samoa in 1938, Scouting is now reaching new milestones on this island with the March visit from Roy L. Williams, chief Scout executive, and the growth of the program to reach nearly 100 LDS-sponsored Scouting packs, troops and teams. In celebration of the accomplishments of the American Samoa District, the Aloha Council invited Chief Scout Executive Williams to attend a weekend of festivities in American Samoa and to preside at the grand opening of the first Scout Service Center within the Pacific Basin. In all, 16 people from the national, regional and council headquarters came to American Samoa for the event. Fifty-two packs and troops, more than 600 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, participated in the event.
Elder Robert K. Dellenbach of the Seventy and president of the Church's Pacific Islands Area shared his testimony of Scouting during a Church-sponsored fireside.
He spoke to the leaders present and told them of the five T's of Scouting leadership: training, tenure, trustworthiness, time and testimony. To the delight of the congregation, he told of a personal experience he had with a grizzly bear on a fishing trip. His humor and powerful testimony touched the young Scouts and the audience of more than 500 in attendance.
Other events held that weekend were a district recognition dinner, at which the governor of American Samoa, Togiola Tulafono, was honored with the Silver Beaver Award, and an Eagle Court of Honor held to honor 12 Scouts. The Eagle Court was held Sunday evening at the Pago Pago Central Stake Center in Tafuna. Joining the visiting dignitaries at the Court of Honor was Elder Dellenbach.
The weekend began with a Scout show, the first annual Scout fiafia, which in Samoan means celebration. The fiafia included a Pinewood Derby for the Cub Scouts, and a field competition for the Boy Scouts. Packs and troops also set up displays, including crafts, model campsites and pioneering projects — some reaching 20 feet in height — as part of the event. Governor Tulafono hosted the visiting contingent and they were all treated to a traditional Samoan 'ava ceremony, used to greet visiting chiefs and royalty.
The weekend was an indication of the growth of Scouting on American Samoa since the first troop, Mapusaga (now Mesepa), was organized in 1938. Sponsored by the Church, the troop had a charter membership of more than 50 boys. The Church eventually registered nine troops from nine different wards that first year.
But because of lack of training and support, Scouting volunteers worked with limited resources for many years. Then in 2003 the Boy Scouts of America, under the Aloha Council, dedicated a full-time professional staff member — John A. Mills — to the island and work began to move forward.
In June 2003, the district introduced the first-ever pinewood derby race at the Cub Scout Day Camp, and a month later, the district held its first-ever nationally accredited summer camp program. The year ended with a Scouting LDS Relationships Conference presided over by Elder Beaver Ho Ching, an Area Authority Seventy.
