Aunu'u Island

Today, our long awaited Aunu’u trip arrived! (sound effects  **Dun dun dun**)

For those of you not too familiar with American Samoa, it is made up of 6 islands (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ofu, Olesega, Ta’u, and Swains Atoll). Tutuila is the main island, and, therefore, the most populous. Just off the southeast side of Tutuila is the small island of Aunu’u. It’s only approx. 3 square miles and now is only home to only approx. 500 residents. Aunu’u is visible from most of the coast, so we have been looking out at it and talking about going their for many months. Finally last weekend we agreed that the trip had to officially make it onto the calendar books.

This morning Scott and Taylor picked us all up (and by that I mean all 6 extra of us). Since we have a group of 8-9 of us that always hang out, we have become experts at jamming us all into to tiny cars. Scott and Taylor drive a very small Susuki hatch back (just slightly larger than the mini-cooper) and we routinely fit 7 in it. For today, they borrowed a friend’s car which was slightly larger, so we fit 8! 2 in the front, 3 in the back seat, and 3 in the trunk space. Since Thahn and I are the 2 smallest in the group we got the pleasure of always getting the trunk! 

We drove for about an hour to the far east side and got to the boat wharf. To get to Aunu’u you have to take a small boat for a 10-15 minute ride. Once in Aunu’u, Taylor led the way. We headed east and eventually ended up at a small beach. The tide was low but there were a few pools to sit in. (The waves and current are too rough to swim in open ocean). Scott took us to a cave at the base of the mountain. You have to lower yourself down into this small hole. From there you crawl on your hands and knees through a little tunnel as the water is just a few inches deep. After a 15 yards or so it opens up to this amazing cavern. You can wade through it and climb up onto some of the rocks as the waves rush through. It was an awesome discovery. After a few hours there we headed back to the village and the wharf. We went snorkeling by the wharf and checked out a sunken boat and then relaxed on the sandy beach just west. The water around Aunu’u is such an unbelievable color of turquoise. We joked that they must pour packets of dye in it each morning. 

The little village of Aunu’u’ is very quaint and idyllic. The houses are all small fales that are nestled into the palm tree jungle. It would be an ideal (yet isolated) place to live and absorb yourself into the Samoan culture. 

Days Memorable Moments:

• The boat ride across, looking back at Scott, John, Cynthia, Kate, and Taylor with the bright blue sky and beautiful Tutuila behind them. 
• Standing in the cave with the waves rushing through- an exhilarating rush
• Watching Taylor giver her performance of the Little Mermaid... Since Taylor has long, red hair and we live on island with big rocks jutting out of the water, we always tease her that she should re-enact the famous Little Mermaid scene where Ariel lays on the rocks singing. As we were all sitting in a swimming hole, Taylor suddenly gets upon the rocks, flips her hair, crosses her feet and shakes her ‘mermaid tale,’ and begins singing! 
• Watching this adorable girl play upon a rusted beached boat. 
• Sitting with Thahn on the beach.
• Dinner at Koko Bean.... After a long day in the sun, we went to Koko Bean for dinner. I think the sun fried my brain and gave me a bad case of the giggles. I laughed until tears several times. 

Aunu’u Day Trip Clan: Taylor, Scott, Thahn, Kate, Cynthia, John, Rosemary, Jess, Me (Jessie)

11.15.2009_Aunu'u Island