A couple residing in Palisi have been without water and electricity for almost four years. Aifaatoa Toala Filipo said they prefer the lifestyle although they have another house in the area with electricity and water.

He said their children were staying there. 

Aifaatoa said his wife and he preferred to use solar light and kerosene lamps just like the 'good old days'.

"I like it better this way. When Samoa was experiencing a power outage, we still had our lights on. For us, this was how we were back in the day. Our life here is very peaceful, we have food from our plantation, and we have our kerosene lamp and the solar light to get us by," he said.

"The only problem we have here is water. There is no water here, we get water from either up the mountain where the valley is or wait for the rainfall. But other than that, our lives are very peaceful and simple.

"Our children are living in our house in the main area, they live there because there is electricity and water for them. They are the ones who need it the most because they prepare for work and school. But for us, there is no need for electricity. 

"We don't have any use for electricity, we have our kitchen here to make food, we have our plantation, we got everything here. With the high cost of living, I believe this is the answer. None of our grandparents or parents were sick by eating taro and traditional food, even us here."

Aifaatoa believes that investing in solar light is worth it. He said the only money spent is at the time of purchase, after that, the only thing needed is the sun to charge it. 

"Solar light is the answer. If you look at it, you only need money to buy the solar light after that then it will work on its own, you only charge it using the sun for a day, and it'll last you for two or three days. But if you look at the cash power, you will be buying and buying cash power every week, and that's a lot of money," he said. 

"But then, right now our people have too much pride. They don't want to be seen using these things even the kerosene lamp. They have that mentality that people will look at them and say, "That is the lowest family, they can't even afford electricity, and so on" but, this was the way our ancestors lived back then."

He also shared that their neighbours and families in their area are also without water supply. He said they were told that the area was too steep. At the moment the water supply is up to where the Catholic Church is in Palisi.