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Nikolao Pula

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Nikolao Pula
Image of Nikolao Pula
Governor of American Samoa
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 19, 2024

Education

High school

Marist Brothers High School

Personal
Profession
Director
Contact

Nikolao Pula (Republican Party) is the Governor of American Samoa. Pula assumed office on January 3, 2025. Pula's current term ends on January 3, 2029.

Pula ran for election for Governor of American Samoa. Pula won in the general runoff election on November 19, 2024.

American Samoa elections are officially nonpartisan. Pula identified himself as a member of the Republican Party with the Republican National Committee.[1]

Biography

Nikolao Pula graduated from Marist Brothers High School in Atu’u, American Samoa. He went on to attend Menlo College, Brigham Young University, and George Mason University. His career experience includes working as an assistant to members of Congress, as a staff director for a U.S. House subcommittee, and for the U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. He then began working for the Department of Interior (DOI) Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) and was eventually appointed as the director of the OIA.[2]

Political career

Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.

Pula's political career includes the following offices:

Elections

2024

See also: American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024

General runoff election

General runoff election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula defeated incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga in the general runoff election for Governor of American Samoa on November 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nikolao Pula
Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)
 
59.8
 
5,846
Image of Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)
 
40.2
 
3,925

Total votes: 9,771
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula and incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga advanced to a runoff. They defeated Vaitautolu I'aulualo in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nikolao Pula
Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)
 
42.4
 
4,284
Image of Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)
 
36.2
 
3,660
Image of Vaitautolu I'aulualo
Vaitautolu I'aulualo (Nonpartisan)
 
21.4
 
2,169

Total votes: 10,113
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pula in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Nikolao Pula did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Pula’s campaign website stated the following:

HONEST GOVERNANCE

The first pillar of the taualuga o le fale Pula ma Pulu is a total commitment to Honest Governance. “Honesty is the Only Policy” in a Pula & Pulu administration, and is carried out based on the following three principles:

1) Ethical & Fair Leadership
2) Transparency
3) Accountability

Pula and Pulu will lead an administration that will rebuild trust between the American Samoa Government and its citizens by operating ethically (Fairness), by being open to scrutiny (Transparency), and by taking responsibility for its actions (Accountability).

You can trust Pula and Pulu to provide Honest Governance because they have the courage to do what is right based on their faith and moral conviction. During 50+ years of experience in public service, they have demonstrated their commitment to withstand the pressure or temptation to compromise their values.

ETHICAL & FAIR LEADERSHIP

Pula and Pulu’s ethical leadership will make decisions based on their moral principles and values, in conformance with the American Samoa Constitution and the laws of the land. Pula and Pulu will apply the Rule of Law and fairness to provide equitable treatment for all individuals regardless of their background or status. Together, these qualities will foster trust, integrity, and legitimacy in the government.

TRANSPARENCY

The honest governing style of the Pula & Pulu administration will include providing the public with open information about governmental processes, actions, and decisions. People will be able to judge for themselves whether the Pula & Pulu administration is fair. This style of open information will allow people to pursue government jobs, contracts, and other opportunities on an equal basis. Pula and Pulu firmly believe that such a governing style is essential for fostering trust, promoting democracy, and ensuring citizens are informed and engaged in the workings of their government.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Pula & Pulu administration will ensure that all those in position of power are held responsible for their actions and decisions. They will put in place mechanisms for transparency, oversight and consequences for misconduct or negligence. Pula and Pulu Accountability will foster trust between the government and the public by demonstrating a commitment to upholding standards and serving the interest of the people.

The Pula & Pulu administration will respect the “checks and balances” in our form of democratic government, honoring the authority and role of the Fono and the Judiciary.

HONEST GOVERNANCE in the Pula & Pulu administration means:
➢ There will not be sole-source contracts handed out behind closed doors.
➢ There will not be “ghost employees” getting paid without working.
➢ There will not be $36 million spent without Fono approval.
➢ The Fa’aSamoa will not be betrayed when hundreds of acres of nu’u land become private property “owned” by a few individuals with ties to the administration.
➢ The public will be informed immediately if prisoners escape from the Correctional Facility, and action will follow to ensure that escapes do not reoccur.
➢ There will be no tolerance for those who break the law; no one is above the law.
➢ There will be public release of financial reports from the government, the enterprise fund agencies (e.g., ASPA, ASTCA), the ASG Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF), and the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA).
➢ Rules will be put in place to prohibit and prevent conflict of interest contracts involving government leaders.
➢ Government career service workers will not be intimidated, threatened or suffer retaliation if they speak up about wrongdoing, or if they support a different political camp.

PRIORITIES

Part of HONEST GOVERNANCE is telling the public how their government will be led if Pula and Pulu are elected. Leaders must make tough decisions every day. There is never enough time or money to take care of every need. Therefore, leaders must establish priorities.

The top priorities of a Pula & Pulu administration will be:
• H-onest Governance
• O-ffer Quality Health Care
• P-rovide Exceptional Education
• E-xpand Economic Growth
• Eliminate Drug Trafficking
• Reduce Crime
• Taking care of the Land and Sea that is our Home (Environmental Stewardship in an age of Climate Change)
• Cultural and Community Stewardship

The Pula & Pulu campaign will explain their approach to each of their priorities during the HOPE-TALKS and the H-O-P-E pillars that support the taualuga o le fale o le Malo o Amerika Samoa.

OFFER QUALITY HEALTHCARE

“Offer Quality Healthcare”, the second pillar of the taualuga o le fale Pula ma Pulu, is a 100% commitment to the goal of providing quality, affordable, convenient, culturally safe healthcare to individuals and families throughout the atunu’u.

Pula and Pulu are passionate about seeking the best solutions to our multi-dimensional healthcare challenges. For example:

  • Our population suffers from high rates of lifestyle diseases such high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, kidney failure, obesity, and cancer.
  • Healthcare facilities are outdated and struggle to meet the needs of our community.
  • Global shortages in healthcare professionals make it difficult to recruit the appropriate personnel.

The goal of the Pula & Pulu healthcare strategy is to empower every person in American Samoa to live to achieve their optimal health. Optimal Health for American Samoa and its residents is based on the following fundamental principles:

  • The community is part of healthcare decision making.
  • Holistic approach encompassing physical, mental, spiritual, cultural, and environmental health.
  • Collaborate with federal agencies.
  • Delivery of healthcare in a culturally sensitive and safe way.
  • Integrate patient-centered models that are inclusive of our entire population, such as the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

Pula and Pulu will challenge the government healthcare system to provide shorter waits at the Emergency Room, more convenient ways to make appointments, and more consideration for the elderly and bedridden, whether through increased home visits or special accommodations at the hospital or clinics.

Pula and Pulu believe that a) preventative healthcare, and b) medical treatment healthcare, and c) behavioral healthcare and d) mental healthcare are equally important. Just as American Samoa needs properly staffed medical clinics and a hospital to treat physical ailments and promote physical wellbeing, American Samoa also needs properly-staffed clinics and facilities to treat behavioral and mental ailments and to promote behavioral and mental wellbeing.

NEW HOSPITAL and FUNDING

The next Governor will have a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a long-overdue new hospital.

The need for a new hospital was made clear in a 2019 study carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (funded by the U.S. Department of Interior). The Army Corps advised the Department of Interior that “the existing [LBJ] facility is incapable of meeting the long-term needs of the patient population because of the state of failure due to age (built in 1968), lack of preventative maintenance and environmental exposure.”

The LBJ Tropical Medical Center opened its doors in 56 years ago, when there were only half as many local residents and there was little pressure for American Samoa to host a truly modern facility.

Pula and Pulu salute the generations of leaders and healthcare providers who have made heroic efforts to provide quality healthcare in a less-than-ideal facility with inadequate resources.

At the same time Pula and Pulu are determined to use their time in office to build a modern, multi-story facility to meet the advanced needs of today and the foreseeable needs of the coming decades.

ARPA and other once-in-a-lifetime federal funding programs have allocated $300 million for a new hospital facility, but that will not be enough money. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Health Facilities Planning Agency provided a blueprint to help steer purposeful decision-making for American Samoa’s government leaders and stakeholders. The USACE provided five options ranging from renovating the existing hospital, to building a new hospital that is double in size.

Pula and Pulu support “Option C” at this time, which calls for a new multi-story hospital at the site of the existing LBJ Tropical Medical Center, at a pre-Covid construction cost estimated at $375 million to $425 million. (The other three options—click “blueprint” above, and turn to pages 4 and 5—range from $325 million to $900 million.)

Additional money will be needed to build, equip and staff this new facility. Pula and Pulu will work together with the American Samoa Congressperson and the Fono to go to Washington, DC and persuade Congress to make additional funds available to the territory for a new hospital.

Nikolao Pula spent 30 years working in Congress and as a top official at the U.S. Department of Interior. He knows how hard it will be to get the additional money we need, and he also knows how to succeed at this hard task. Nikolao Pula asks you, the voters, to give him the opportunity to go to Washington, persuade Congress that we will make wise and proper use of federal funds, and get the additional funds needed to build a new hospital.

American Samoa will always struggle to meet local healthcare demands and has long relied upon the federal government to finance a large portion of our healthcare costs, consistent with the promises made in the 1900 Deed of Cession. It is very important that we use federal funds properly and obtain and retain the full support of federal programs and the U.S. Congress.

Getting money from Congress for a new hospital is necessary, but it is just part of what is needed. Pula and Pulu will encourage, empower and support our healthcare professionals as they work with other federal agencies that provide funding for programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans healthcare, training for all the different healthcare provider jobs, tele-health and many others.

It will be a goal of the Pula and Pulu administration to achieve JCAHO certification of a local medical facility so that our local veterans do not have to travel overseas for the treatment they are entitled to.

Pula and Pulu and their healthcare team will work hard to maximize the Medicaid funding available to American Samoa by giving higher priority to allocating local funds for healthcare, thus triggering a much greater amount of federal Medicaid funds. At the same time, Pula and Pulu will continue to advocate for Medicaid funds to be made available to American Samoa with a lower local funding match than at present.

When our needs are so great, we should not be returning $172 million of Medicaid funds (2020-2023) for lack of local matching funds. The P&P administration will work with the Fono to increase the local match funding that will allow greater Medicaid financial support for our hospital and residents.

Pula and Pulu will also leverage Medicaid funding to provide healthcare-related services for children with disabilities. We understand the importance of partnering Medicaid with Special Education services to provide the healthcare needed for children with disabilities to thrive and succeed.

Many groups have helped provide healthcare in American Samoa in the past, and the Pula and Pulu administration will work with all these organizations to help them help our local Department of Health, our local hospital and its governing board, and all others involved in promoting healthcare and medical treatment in American Samoa.

P&P commends the heart-felt and generous contributions of the many groups who help the people of American Samoa respond to healthcare challenges and strive for optimal health. The P&P administration seeks to strengthen partnerships with such groups, including (but not limited to) the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, Women’s Hospital Auxiliary, Hope House, Lions Club, Shriners, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mission of Hope Ministries, American Samoa Community College, Oregon Health and Science University, Yale University, Brown University, University of Hawaii, University of Miami, Washington State University, Brigham Young University, Galeai Cancer Foundation, American Samoa Diabetes and Tobacco Coalition, Agency for Better Living Endeavors (ABLE), Empowerment for Pacific Island Communities, Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Rotary Club, American Samoa Mental Health Partnership, Alliance Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, various outreach effort from the U.S. military, the World Health Organization, the Pacific Community, and many others (apologies for any inadvertently left off of this list).

STAFFING

Staffing our only hospital has always been a significant challenge, and the recent Covid-19 pandemic revealed that we need to do more.

Pula and Pulu believe that sustained and innovative strategies can result in better staffing for our hospital and other healthcare programs by encouraging more locals to train for a healthcare career and by once again taking advantage of programs like the National Health Services Corps.

Pula and Pulu will challenge its healthcare team and the American Samoa Community College to educate a local homegrown workforce and enhance the human resources pipeline to serve in the healthcare system in American Samoa. A variety of strategies will be needed, including encouraging and incentivizing more locals to pursue a healthcare education and providing competitive wages and a good work environment for healthcare professionals that are locally recruited or recruited from off-island, when necessary.

OPTIMAL HEALTH

There is more to healthcare than the nuts and bolts of personnel, facilities and funding.

Achieving optimal health for each individual and each family requires a holistic approach of mental, behavioral, spiritual, physical, cultural, and social wellbeing. Our healthcare focus has become focused primarily on disease management. We increasingly have defined healthcare to be solely focused on responding to illness and accidents, instead of a more holistic approach.

This has shifted the idea of who is responsible for “healthcare” away from the home and village to government facilities and agencies such as the LBJ Tropical Medical Center and the Department of Health.

Pula and Pulu endorse a holistic approach that will help individuals, families, and villages live a healthy life, AND provide the needed medical services when illness and accidents occur.

P&P recognize the importance of lifestyle factors and social determinants of health that affect personal and community health, including conditions where people are born, live, work, play, age, and worship.

Tobacco use, alcohol use, physical activity choices, and the food we eat are linked to the high rate of non-communicable diseases in our community, such as obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Addressing these conditions and factors can have a greater impact on personal and community health than genetic factors or access to healthcare services. Pula and Pulu will work with partners to promote Optimal Health for American Samoa residents while also providing equitable access to high quality healthcare services.

The Pula & Pulu campaign believes that research must be a cornerstone and driver of their healthcare strategy. There are large knowledge gaps about underlying causes of health issues in our population. Research can help us find the most effective ways to be healthy, stay healthy and get healthy. For example, genetic testing has led to new ways to detect illness early enough to allow for effective treatment, as well as improved management of chronic disease, and the introduction of new treatments.

Research also allows healthcare approaches that will to be tailored to our unique needs, thus reducing our reliance on findings from other populations which are significantly different than our own.

In addition to medical research, Pula and Pulu will encourage policy research on how best to fund healthcare in American Samoa, taking into account the fact that most working-age persons are foreign nationals. Such research will ask whether and how immigration or employer sponsors should bear a higher burden of cost for the subsidized healthcare provided to resident foreign nationals.

“Offer Quality Healthcare” in the Pula & Pulu administration means:

  1. The semi-autonomous Hospital Board will be encouraged to practice fairness, transparency and accountability in the conduct of their duties, in alignment with the Honest Governance principles of the P&P administration.
  2. Funding and administration of an equitable off-island referral system will be prioritized.
  3. Primary care clinics will be promoted so that the Emergency Room at the hospital can focus on emergency cases.
  4. Pula and Pulu will make it a high priority to ensure that the Department of Health and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, which are part of the executive branch, work closely and cooperatively and collaboratively with the semi-autonomous LBJ Hospital Board.

PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION

The third pillar of the taualuga o le fale Pula ma Pulu is “Provide Exceptional Education.” Pula and Pulu believe that education is the cornerstone of personal and community progress and prosperity. We are committed to ensuring that every student receives an exceptional education that empowers them to thrive after they finish high school or college, whether they stay home in American Samoa, join the military, or choose to live anywhere else.

Pula and Pulu envision an American Samoa where every student has access to high-quality education that nurtures their talents, celebrates their heritage, and prepares them for success in the 21st century. We envision schools that are centers of excellence, where teachers are supported, students are inspired, and communities are actively engaged in the educational process.

The Pula and Pulu educational platform is rooted in a firmly held goal that the education provided in American Samoa will one day be just as good as the education provided in the rest of the United States, and that in the next four years there will be continual progress towards that goal.

Pula and Pulu believe in these five key principles:

  1. Education for all: Pula and Pulu believe that every student, regardless of background or circumstance or ability, must be provided access to an exceptional education and encouraged to take advantage of educational opportunities, including appropriate education and support for students with exceptional needs. We believe in “every student succeeds!”
  2. Excellent teachers, excellent principals, and safe, secure, healthy infrastructure/facilities are fundamental: Pula and Pulu recognize the critical role that teachers and principals play in determining the quality of education students receive. We will prioritize investments in teacher training, professional development, and support systems to attract and retain the best educators, and make sure school facilities enhance the work of the educators and provide students with a safe, secure and healthy environment.
  3. It takes a village: Pula and Pulu believe that education is a shared responsibility that calls for collaboration and partnership among parents, the public and private sector, DOE, public and private schools, villages, families, churches and the wider community. We agree that “it takes a village” to provide exceptional education for our children.
  4. Innovation and Adaptability: Pula and Pulu recognize the need to adapt to the changing demands of the modern world and the emphasis on a STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). We will embrace new technologies and methodologies that will prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
  5. The importance of culture: Pula and Pulu cherish our rich cultural Samoan heritage and will ensure that our educational curriculum instills pride and resilience in our students by providing cultural awareness and curriculum that includes Samoan language instruction, Samoan and Pasefika history, and indigenous knowledge.

Our educators and educational establishment will be guided by these key principles as they grapple with the dozens of issues that they must address in and out of the classroom every day, every semester and every school year.

Resolving these many issues will be difficult, but they must be addressed if improvements in our educational system are going to be realized. Pula and Pulu believe their primary responsibility as Governor and Lt. Governor is to make sure that the leaders in the school system share their belief in these principles and are prepared to work tirelessly to make continual progress on behalf of students and our community.

Pula and Pulu believe their job is to establish the values, principles, goals and priorities related to education, and then find and empower the best people to do the actual work: educators and educational administrators, coaches, youth group leaders, counselors, etc. Those are the people, in the classroom and out of the classroom, who know what needs to be done and how to get it done. Pula and Pulu will prioritize getting them the budget and tools that they need.

One "tool" educators and school administrators in a Pula and Pulu administration will be given is greater autonomy. This means they will have the authority to make decisions and take actions at the school and classroom level. With this new autonomy, systems of reporting and accountability will be put in place to ensure better outcomes and higher morale.

Pula and Pulu will ask American Samoa’s educators and administrators to meet their challenges (our challenges) head on and be guided by the five principles above. Such challenges cover a very wide and dynamic range, as evidenced by the following list of topics which are all important (the list is not exhaustive, and presented in alphabetical order to emphasize the wide range and large number of issues):

Academic counseling
AP courses
Art and music education
ASCC
ASVAB prep
Behavioral counseling
Bullying
Campus and classroom security
Capacity building
Air-conditioned classrooms
Class size
Classroom safety and conditions
College prep
Community needs
Decentralization
Depoliticization
Digital devices
Early Childhood Education
eRate

Federal grants
Funding
Governance (school boards)
Immigrants
Infrastructure
Internet access
JROTC
Juvenile crime
Language of instruction
Lifelong learning
Mental health
Mentoring
National test results
Online learning
Optimal school size
Peer mentoring
Pell grants
Poor results on ASCC placement exams
Private schools
PTAs
Recess
Recreation
SAT prep

Scholarship programs
School autonomy
School bathrooms
School buses and transportation
School choice
School lunch
sEBT
Social media
Sports
STEAM
Students with exceptional needs
Teacher education
Teacher of the Year
Teacher pay
Teaching English as a Second Language
Technology
Teen pregnancy
Truancy
Upgraded school facilities
Vocational education

Pula and Pulu believe that providing excellent education is a complex challenge and requires leadership that understands and appreciates our community, our students, and the wider world beyond our shores.

We understand and appreciate that:

  1. Many of our youth will leave American Samoa as young adults, and need to be equipped to thrive in the wider world. (This includes ensuring that all students wishing to enter the military are prepared to pass the ASVAB. It also includes college prep and scholarships for those wanting to go off-island for higher education.)
  2. Many of our youth will stay in American Samoa and will need skills to get good jobs so they can make and support a family. This includes vocational training in the trades as well as specialized education for nurses and teachers.
  3. Our community college (ASCC) has a vitally important role to play and must be given the resources and autonomy and direction to provide excellent education beyond the high school level.
  4. Our youth face many pressures today, and those pressures are different and more difficult to navigate than the pressures youth faced in the past.
  5. We live in a bi-lingual, multi-cultural society and our education system needs to reflect that.
  6. Sports play an important role in the lives of young people, and is a positive influence on physical and mental health, as well as community.
  7. Youth should be encouraged in their various pursuits, whether it be academics or sports or arts or something else. Our youth are individuals and for them to feel part of our community, we need to allow them to express themselves.
  8. Parents and other non-government adult role models have a huge role to play in helping provide exceptional education to the young members of our community.

EXPANSION OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

The fourth pillar of the taualuga o le fale Pula ma Pulu is “Expansion of Economic Growth.” Under the Pula and Pulu administration, they believe in developing a strategic economic plan for American Samoa which involves a comprehensive approach that addresses key areas such as economic diversification, infrastructure development, workforce education, and sustainable practices under their “HOPE TO PROSPERITY” plan.

HOPE2024 unequivocally understands that essential infrastructure is needed for the people of American Samoa and their businesses to flourish. Under the Governorship of Pula’ali’i Nikolao Pula & Pulu Ae Ae Jr., HOPE2024 there will be a plan that will facilitate investment in the electricity, water, and telecommunications sectors, increasing generation capacity while creating efficient transmission and distribution networks. A focus on air and seaport is also critical in the infrastructure plan to support commerce & trade. The applicable authorities will receive training and assistance to manage this infrastructure and to increase competition to keep costs low for consumers.

Developing and implementing key policy reforms and the construction of essential infrastructure HOPE to Prosperity envisions extraordinary private-sector investment in entrepreneurship, small businesses, tourism, agriculture, housing, manufacturing, and natural resources. The goal of early-stage investment will be to remove constraints to growth and to target key projects that build momentum, generate jobs, and increase gross domestic product (GDP). From the farmers working on his plantation to support his family to the young college graduate building their first company all those in American Samoa working throughout the private sector will benefit from this plan.

HOPE to Prosperity encourages strengthening regional development and integration creates new opportunities for local businesses and increases commerce with neighboring countries. This vision will boost the economies in the pacific and reduce trade barriers across the region. Increased cooperation between trading partners will support companies in these countries which are seeking to develop international business. The plan will help the local private sector capitalize on growth opportunities by improving access to strong neighboring economies.

Strategic Plan: HOPE TO PROSPERITY for American Samoa

Under the Governorship of Pula’ali’i Nikolao Pula and Pulu Ae Ae Jr., HOPE2024 focuses on transforming American Samoa through targeted infrastructure investment, economic diversification, and regional integration. This plan is designed to enhance the quality of life, boost the economy, and create sustainable development opportunities for all residents.

  1. Infrastructure Development and Modernization
    1. Objective: Enhance essential infrastructure to support economic growth and improve the quality of life.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Electricity, Water, and Telecommunications:
        1. Invest in increasing generation capacity and creating efficient transmission and distribution networks.
        2. Promote renewable energy projects to reduce costs and environmental impact.
        3. Upgrade telecommunications infrastructure to ensure reliable and high-speed internet access supporting business operations and remote work opportunities.
      2. Air and Seaport Development:
        1. Modernize air and seaport facilities to facilitate trade, tourism, and regional connectivity.
        2. Implement streamlined customs and logistics processes to support efficient commerce.
      3. Training and Assistance:
        1. Provide training for relevant authorities to effectively manage and maintain infrastructure.
        2. Encourage competition in the utility sectors to keep consumer costs low and improve service quality.
  2. Economic Diversification and Private Sector Development
    1. Objective: Diversify the economy and stimulate private-sector investment across various sectors.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Policy Reforms:
        1. Implement key policy reforms to reduce regulatory barriers, improve business conditions, and attract investment.
        2. Separate business promotion functions from regulatory roles within the American Samoa Government (ASG) to streamline support for businesses.
      2. Sectoral Focus:
        1. Tourism: Develop and market American Samoa as a unique cultural and eco-tourism destination.
        2. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Leverage improved digital infrastructure to attract BPO companies providing job opportunities.
        3. Tuna Canning and Seabed Resources: Assess the viability of traditional industries like tuna canning and explore opportunities in seabed resource extraction.
        4. Regional Healthcare and Trade: Position American Samoa as a regional healthcare hub and a duty-free trade center.
        5. Agriculture and Fishing: Support small-scale agriculture and fishing to enhance food security and promote local products.
        6. Manufacturing and Business Processing: Encourage manufacturing of products that must be produced on U.S. soil and offer business processing services.
      3. Encouraging Local Participation:
        1. Prioritize job creation for local residents across all sectors while bringing in specialized skills from outside when necessary.
        2. Attract retirees with stable income sources and encourage them to invest in local goods and services.
  3. Regional Development and Integration
    1. Objective: Strengthen regional ties and enhance economic integration with neighboring countries.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Trade and Investment Partnerships:
        1. Develop trade agreements to reduce barriers and increase access to regional markets.
        2. Promote regional cooperation to support local businesses in accessing international markets.
      2. Infrastructure Connectivity:
        1. Improve regional transportation and communication links to enhance trade and economic activities.
        2. Collaborate on regional initiatives addressing shared challenges such as climate change and disaster resilience.
  4. Workforce Development and Capacity Building
    1. Objective: Build a skilled workforce equipped to meet the demands of a modern economy.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Education and Training:
        1. Expand vocational and technical training programs in key sectors such as tourism, technology, and agriculture.
        2. Develop partnerships with educational institutions to provide relevant and high-quality training.
      2. Support for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses:
        1. Provide resources, training, and mentorship to foster entrepreneurship and support small businesses.
  5. Business Environment and Institutional Framework
    1. Objective: Create a supportive business environment with a clear regulatory framework.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Regulatory and Licensing Reforms:
        1. Simplify business licensing processes and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
        2. Reform immigration policies to facilitate the entry of needed skills while maintaining orderly and fair processes.
      2. Tax and Incentive Structures:
        1. Review and adjust tax policies to encourage investment and support economic growth.
        2. Develop targeted incentives for key industries and sectors identified for growth.
  6. Monitoring and Evaluation
    1. Objective: Ensure the effective implementation and continuous improvement of the strategic plan.
    2. Strategies:
      1. Performance Monitoring:
        1. Establish metrics and benchmarks to monitor progress across various initiatives.
        2. Conduct regular evaluations and adjust strategies as needed to respond to changing conditions.
      2. Stakeholder Engagement:
        1. Involve community members, businesses, and other stakeholders in the planning and implementation processes.
        2. Maintain transparent communication about goals, progress, and outcomes to build trust and support.
  7. Strategic Prioritization and Fiscal Responsibility
    1. Objective: Make strategic choices to prioritize initiatives and manage resources effectively
    2. Strategies:
      1. Prioritization of Projects:
        1. Focus on high-impact projects that can drive economic growth and development.
        2. Acknowledge and plan for trade-offs, ensuring that decisions align with long-term strategic goals.
      2. Fiscal Management:
        1. Manage public finances prudently, especially in the context of post-COVID-19 financial constraints and reduced external funding.
        2. Seek diverse funding sources, including public-private partnerships, international aid, and grants.

This strategic plan aims to create a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous American Samoa, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all its residents.[3]

—Nikolao Pula’s campaign website (2024)[4]

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Notable endorsements

See also

American Samoa State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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American Samoa State Executive Offices
American Samoa State Legislature
American Samoa Courts
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American Samoa elections: 20252024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
Party control of state government
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External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (D)
Governor of American Samoa
2025-Present
Succeeded by
-