Powerful cyclone
closes in on SamoaCanceled flights leave visitors
from Hawaii stranded in Pago Pago
Samoans in Hawaii with family in Western Samoa and American Samoa and the parents of Hawaii high school football players are watching the progress of Tropical Cyclone Heta, which is expected to intensify into a category 3 hurricane with winds as high as 130 miles per hour.
The storm is expected to pass near the main island of Tutuila and the Manua Island group.
A hurricane watch was in effect yesterday and forecasters said a warning was likely to be issued at midnight this morning.
The Hawaii National Guard and the local chapter of the American Red Cross are also monitoring the storm in case help is needed from Hawaii.
A group of Hawaii high school athletes are stranded in Pago Pago after both Hawaiian and Aloha airlines canceled flights going in and out of American Samoa on Friday.
"I'm kind of worried because I don't know what's going to happen," said June Paileulu, whose son went on the trip to play in the Samoa Bowl with an American Samoa all-star football team.
There are 26 athletes of Samoan ancestry and five coaches on the trip.
Lyle Otineru spoke to his son, Daniel, Friday to make sure the group was prepared for the storm.
"They might be stuck there another week," Otineru said. "A lot of the boys have family down there ... so, I'm not really worried."
William Emmsley, president of the Samoan Service Provider's Association, said he and other community members with relatives in Western and American Samoa are watching the storm and readying efforts to form disaster relief campaigns if needed.
"We'll be standing by, assess the situation and see what the extent of the damage and loss of life is and respond accordingly," he said.
Western Samoa is likely to feel more of the effects of the storm, forecasters said.
The storm is predicted to pass about 160 miles west of Pago Pago in American Samoa today. The capital may get rain, high surf and winds of up to 60 mph.
Maj. Chuck Anthony, state Department of Defense spokesman, said National Guardsmen could go to Pago Pago if it's declared a federal disaster area after the hurricane hits.
Late yesterday afternoon, the cyclone was positioned about 300 miles northwest of Apia, Western Samoa, and moving at about 6 mph, according to Accuweather meteorologist Michael McAuliffe.
"You got the heavier rain and the prolonged periods of winds ... (which) can cause a lot of problems, because it's moving very slowly," he said, adding that some areas of Western Samoa could see 5 inches of rain "in a short period of time."
"They should expect damage by some waves. There could be roofs blown off and, of course, some trees that are downed."
"It's packing quite a punch," said National Weather Service meteorologist Henry Lau. "This is quite a large system."
More than 100 airline passengers were left in Pago Pago waiting for a return flight to Hawaii after airlines canceled flights on Friday.
A Hawaiian Airlines flight is scheduled to leave for American Samoa this afternoon, but there's a "good chance" it will be canceled today, said Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner.
Stu Glauberman, spokesman for Aloha Airlines, said a Tuesday flight from Honolulu to Pago Pago and back again is expected to run on schedule.
American Samoa is about 2,300 miles south of Hawaii.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
