ASVB Launches “Our Paogo” to Celebrate and Preserve an American Samoa Treasure

New educational book connects children with the Paogo through culture, conservation, learning and hands-on activities

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — The American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) is proud to announce the launch of ‘Our Paogo’, a new educational book created to celebrate, preserve and pass on the story of one of American Samoa’s most important cultural and natural symbols.

Created for children ages seven and older, ‘Our Paogo’ introduces young readers to the Paogo through colorful storytelling, cultural knowledge, practical growing instructions and interactive activities. The book explores the Paogo’s role in Samoan life, including traditional uses of its leaves, fruit and roots, its connection to weaving and cultural practices, and the responsibility to protect it for future generations.

The Paogo was designated, by law, as the territorial flower of American Samoa in 1973. More than five decades later, ASVB hopes the book will help a new generation understand not only what the Paogo is, but why it continues to matter to our people.

Throughout the book, readers learn how to grow the Paogo from seed or cutting, discover traditional uses, complete word searches and coloring pages, and take part in activities designed to encourage environmental stewardship and cultural pride. The book concludes by encouraging young readers to become “Paogo Explorers” and “P.A.O.G.O. Heroes.”

ASVB sees ‘Our Paogo’ as both an educational resource and a cultural preservation initiative. It is intended to encourage conversations between children, parents, grandparents, teachers, cultural practitioners and the wider community about the knowledge surrounding the Paogo and why that knowledge should continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

The launch reflects the Visitors Bureau’s broader commitment to sharing American Samoa as more than a destination — as a place with a living culture, a unique natural environment and traditions that deserve to be understood, respected and protected.

Information regarding book distribution, community activities and upcoming Paogo initiatives will be shared through the American Samoa Visitors Bureau’s official channels.