Ava ceremony for captain & officers of Star Princess

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An ava ceremony is to be held at the Guest House at Suiga Ula o le Atuvasa on Saturday for the cruise ship that will be arriving in port on Saturday .

This is the Star Princess which is scheduled to dock at 6:30 Saturday morning.

Deputy Director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau Vaitoa Hans Langkilde said on KVZK-TV that this will be the Star Princess’ maiden voyage to American Samoa and since its arrival coincides with festivities for Flag Day, Acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga wants to use the opportunity to give the captain and senior officers a traditional welcome.

The ava ceremony hosted by Samoan Affairs will be held at the guest house in Utulei at noon.

The cruise ship which is owned by Princess Cruises is carrying 3,115 passengers and more than 1,000 crew members.

The Family Day for the “We Are One Festival” organized by the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce and ethnic communities in the territory will also be going on at Utulei during the day,  Saturday.

There’ll be dancing groups, bands, jumping houses, food, handicrafts, clothing and other goods.  Then at night is the fireworks display.

In other Flag Day news,  there’s been a change in the time for the Fautasi race on Saturday.  Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs Malemo Tausaga told KHJ News this afternoon that the race is now planned for 11 oclock instead of 8 oclock as announced earlier.

He said the later start is timed for the best ocean conditions for the race.  He said fautasi have been told to be at the starting line, 7 miles out, by 10:30 am and the race is scheduled to start at 11.