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Pago Pago, American Samoa

Finafinau

Finafinau is a nonprofit organization emphasizing youth leadership for environmental conservation. Finafinau’s main goal is to live up to their name’s English translation, to be “resilient” or “steadfast” in promoting environmental advocacy. American Samoa faces significant challenges, including tropical cyclones, landslides, coastal flooding, and erosion, compounded by substantial land subsidence. To meet these challenges, Finafinau is empowering the next generation to become environmental leaders, promoting a more sustainable community. 

“We live in a world that is damaged,” Finafinau’s former student vice president Ann Villanueva told Samoa News during a past clean-up. “It’s our priority to be the change and lessen the chances of us completely destroying our only home.” Through coast and watershed cleanups, school workshops, tree plantings, and other events, Finafinau is working to improve the environment and live up to its motto: “Save our ocean, Protect our land, and Empower our people.”

Collaborative watershed cleanup with Finafinau and the American Samoa Community College -ACNR Forestry Division, hosted in the village of Pago Pago. Photo: Finafinau

Finafinau is an all-volunteer organization created by youth, for youth, making an outsized impact on their Pacific Island home. Finafinau is one of the only organizations focused on environmental issues in American Samoa. The island’s small size – 75 square miles – and modest population of around 50,000 provides a unique opportunity to bring about territory-wide change.

Finafinau supports a generational shift towards sustainability. The annual Meal with a Mentor program pairs high school students with professional adults based on shared interests and experience for an evening of conversation, community, and good food, to foster intergenerational learning. The annual Sustainability Summit, which began in 2019, introduces students to environmental sustainability approaches on the island and provides an audience to discuss ideas of their own. Each month, Finafinau also organizes island-wide clean-ups, which often attract around 100 student volunteers.

To conclude their annual summit, students partook in a coastal clean-up and tree planting at the Pala Lagoon in the village of Tafuna. It was Finafinau led and assisted by Bluesky Communications (CEO Justin Tuiasosopo is in the middle next to the shovel) and the ASCC ASCNR Forestry Division. Photo: Finafinau

Contact
Dr. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, Executive Director
Climate impacts
Earthquakes, Flooding (ocean, riverine, urban), Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
Strategies
Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure (example: wetland restoration), Community farms/gardens, Land trusts / conservation, Community organizing and education
Environmental Justice Concerns
Incinerator/dumping/landfill, Mining, Air pollution
501c3 Tax Deductible
Yes
Accepting Donation
Yes