The King of Tonga, Samoa's Minister of Women and Youth and the head of Tokelau are among dignitaries attending American Samoa's 107th Flag Day celebration this week.
Flag Day is American Samoa's biggest holiday and marks the first raising of the United States flag on local soil in 1900, when the eastern group of islands in the Samoa group were ceded through a treaty to the United States.
A church service this evening will mark the opening of two days of celebration.
This year is the first time in more than a decade that there will be no village groups of long boats from Samoa attending. Schools had been invited this year but after the Samoa Government announced that it cannot provide financial assistance because it was focusing on preparations for the South Pacific Games in August, three schools which were sent invitations have declined.
Governor Togiola has dedicated this year's celebrations to the youth and all seven public high schools will perform traditional entertainment normally performed by villages.
