Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 5, 1 May 1994 — The Pacific American islands [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Pacific American islands

by Patrick Johnston Guam, the Northern Marianas, and Ameiiean Samoa all have in eommon a close poliīieal association with the United States and a desire to maintain or even strengthen that association. The reasons are largely eeonomie, but it is also the case that Washington, while continuing to support them with federal grants, has also allowed these islands to maintain a certain amount of autonomy in their intemal affairs. This has allowed them to enjoy some independence and a relatively high standard of living.

Unincorporated territories - Guam and American Samoa Like Hawai'i before 1959, Guam and American Samoa are territories of the United States: They are part of the country but do not have the full status of a state. They have their own legis-

latures, vote for their govemor and send non-voting representatives to the U.S. Congress. Being "unincorporated" means, at present, they have no intention of becoming states. Guam Located about 1 ,300 miles east

of the Philippines and 1,500 miles south of Japan, Guam eame under U.S. control at the eonclusion of the SpanishAmerican war in 1898. It was taken over by the Japanese during the Second World War, and heeame a U.S. territory in 1950. Indigenous Guamanians are the Chamorros and represent approximately 40 percent of Guam's population of 133,152.

The island rehes heavily on the United States for financial support so full independence does not have widespread support. However, following the lead of the Northern Marianas and the other islands of the former Tmst Territory (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Belau), they have been considering changing their poliūeal relationship with the

U.S. to one whieh would give them a stronger political identity.

Tlie most popular proposal is to heeome a commonwealth like the Northern Marianas, but to negotiate an association that would grant them more aūtonomy than Northern Marianas presently has. American Samoa American Samoa is located in the middle of the South Pacific and is valued for its sheltered

deep-water harbor. It heeame part of the U.S. under an agree-

ment between Germany, the United States and Samoan chiefs in the late 1800s. Approximately 90 percent of its estimated 52,680 residents are Samoan. The American Samoan government has a two-house legislature, one elected by popular vote, the other elected by family chiefs. continued on page 9

Chamoru dancer

Pacific islands

from page 8 The island's economy is heavily dependent on grants from the United States. This, in addition to

the fact that loeal residents have a good deal of control of the islands, means American Samoans will likely retain the

relationship they have with America for the foreseeable future.

Young Samoan girls perform traditional Kava ceremony. Photo by Patrick Johnston