Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa have today been marking the one year anniversary of the destructive earthquake and tsuanmi which claimed 186 lives.
American Samoa's Governor Togiola Tulafono told a memorial service at Utulei Beach that it was not about revisiting the horror but to remember with love and compassion those whose lives were lost that day.
He says this day will remain a day of infamy.
"Now for us we have a tradition of closure with regard to the loved ones departed. It occurs one full year from the day they return to the earth. It is called talageteu. Can we consider this event our talagateu - the day of closure?"
