The Amoa Resort management in Savai'i say they were honoured to host Government leaders and the New Zealand Governor-General during the independence celebration. 

Amoa Resort Manager Elisabeth Siaosi said they used the opportunity to showcase the cuisine at the resort which she said is "exactly what is special about Savai'i."

"With a guest list including the Head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, Council of Deputy Tuiletufuga Le Mamea Ropati Mualia and visiting Hon Governor General of New Zealand RT Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Amoa Resort Savaii was keen to impress with a menu representing the very best cuisine the Big Island has to offer," Mrs. Siaosi said. 

"The menu on the day could be a map of Savaii, highlighting the delicacy of flavours and the diverse food bowl that is Savaii.  

"For entree we served faisua and limu from the turquoise Amoa lagoon, watercress & herbs sourced from Satupaitea and Lata as well as home grown beef and green papaya salad.  

"Mains included Masi Masi with locally grown bell pepper sauce whilst New Zealand beef was paired with a light aubergine caviar.    

 "This historical event in Savaii gave us a perfect window of opportunity to show to the visiting delegation through our food, exactly what is special about Savai'i.

"The ingredients are flavours all Savaiians have grown up with and today are readily available at our fingertips."

The Government delegation included Samoa's Head of State, Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, Council of Deputy, Tuiletufuga Le Mamea Ropati Mualia, New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Dr. Richard Davis and their delegation from New Zealand as well as Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and her Cabinet Ministers. 

The special guests traveled throughout the big island to attend the first ever national Independence celebrations held in Savai'i.

This newspaper had reported earlier that the owner of the Amoa Resort took Dame Cindy and her partner out snorkeling upon their arrival on Tuesday afternoon.   

"We hope that our guests enjoyed the taste of Savai'i and if they left wanting more then that’s what we want, in turn it will generate more tourism & events of the same calibre to Savaii," Mrs. Siaosi added. 

"The all Samoan crew on the day included additional youth from our local SDA Autalavou who came to our aid as additional hands and also to witness history in the making."

According to the resort manager, the independence celebration on the island offered them the opportunity, to "put the local community and Savai'i up on a pedestal."

Mrs. Siaosi added that they will remember the visit by the leaders early in the week as well as the independence celebration for a long time.

"We will remember this event happening on home soil for many years to come," she said. "More events in Savaii will create more employment opportunities across the big island and give our industry a hope that our workers will not turn to the capital of Apia or overseas for employment.  

"Using a local menu we as an industry drive more business to our farmers and fishermen and women. "

The resort manager said they are already looking forward to hosting yet another big event later this year which is the Palolo festival.   

"We've only a month to go until Palolo fever hits, which is another major culinary event on the Savaii calendar.  

"The event is set to see many travel to the Big Island just to be the first to treat the local delicacy or for on-watchers to enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of canoes in the early hours hoping to collect some of the lucrative catch."