Passengers stranded
on Samoa return safelyThe first flights from the storm-torn
island arrive in Honolulu
Twenty-three-year-old Waipahu resident Jason Poyer was greeted with blue skies as he peered through the window on an Aloha Airlines flight from American Samoa.
"I love it. The weather is good," said Poyer, who returned yesterday to Honolulu from American Samoa, which was wracked by Tropical Cyclone Heta.
Poyer and other passengers arrived in Hawaii after being stranded since Pago Pago International Airport was closed this week by the storm.
Several Aloha and Hawaiian airlines flights to and from American Samoa were canceled starting over the weekend. Flights between Pago Pago and Honolulu resumed Wednesday.
Tropical Cyclone Heta, with winds gusting close to 200 mph, battered the U.S. territory and neighboring South Pacific nation of Samoa on Sunday.
Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency flew to Samoa Wednesday to conduct a preliminary damage assessment. Disaster relief volunteers from the American Red Cross of Hawaii were also expected to fly to American Samoa.
Poyer said they were without electricity and water for three days.
Residents used empty buckets and trash cans to obtain water through the Fire Department and food from local grocery stores. Residents also were able to gather items such as taro from plantation fields, breadfruit and fish.
Poyer said he observed uprooted trees and corrugated roofs that were blown off from homes.
"It's a total disaster. A lot of homes were ruined," said Poyer, who was staying with his parents in Laulii Village. "It's going to be a long time before American Samoa gets back on their feet."
Andy Endemann, 22, said hundreds of families were staying at a school gymnasium and churches after the storm destroyed their homes. Endemann's grandparent's home in Malaeimi Village was damaged.
Endemann, who was headed to Cincinnati to start classes at Western Michigan University, said he was unable to contact his parents, who live in Saleia, Samoa, because of downed phone lines.
Linda Pritchard, of Samoa, said many passengers were still waiting to depart Apia.
"We were lucky to get out," said Pritchard, who has a family home in Leone Village and is on layover in Honolulu en route to Salt Lake City. She described the storm as "scary" with piercing winds at night.
To assist residents in Samoa, nonperishable food items can be dropped off at 12 Oahu fire stations in Hauula, Hawaii Kai, Kailua, Kalihi Kai, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Kuakini, Mililani Mauka, Moanalua, Waianae, Waikiki and Waipahu starting today through Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nonperishable food items can also be dropped off at the American Samoa Office at 1427 Dillingham Blvd., Room 210. No monetary donations will be accepted at fire stations or the American Samoa Office. Companies interested in donating can make arrangements to have the items picked up.
To make arrangements, call Gus Hannemann, liaison and consultant to the American Samoan Senate, at 375-7800.