PROGRESS IN SAMOA: An Oxymoron? Decide for yourself! Here are a few goodies: A year ago, I proudly told you that we had an email address in Samoa. Well, sometimes a year can be a long time in Paradise. As I understand it, the local internet operator, an Australian guy who started the company, was delinquent in paying his telephone bill, so the Samoan Government stepped in and took it over. I think they call it "Nationalizing" the company. But, the Australian guy still controlled the link (called talofa.net) between Samoa and the server in Australia. So, to get even, he severed the link and, guess what, no more talofa.net. (and no more nationalized company). But, never fear, we now have a new company and (in theory) a new email adress- cbc@samoa.net. Hopefully, by the time you get this, our email might actually be working. We signed on in January, but so far they can’t seem to make it work! If all else fails, email us in Honolulu at cbcsamoa@aol.com. ... In my last lettter, I also told you about a new cell phone service planned for Samoa. Well, it now exists, and we now have a cell phone at Coconuts. Surprised? You thought I was against technology? Well, we found a really great use for the phone. The only time we use it is when our normal phones go out - which is a regular event - How Rude!! Then, Ned climbs a coconut tree with the cell phone (only way to get connected) and tells the Telephone Company our line is out! ... If you have kept up with the truly important world news, then you know that the leaders of our country have changed it’s name, and Western Samoa no longer exists - it’s just "Samoa" now. .... And here is some hot news! Polynesian Airlines has re-opened their Los Angeles office and is currently promoting their code shared flights from Los Angeles and Honolulu to Samoa with Air New Zealand, and their 45 day Polypass program that allows tourists to visit Australia and New Zealand as well as Fiji, Tonga and the two Samoas. Mr. John Nickel, Regional Manager for North America, tells me that they hope to eventually have their own planes flying that route. You can reach John or the reservations staff at: tel. (310) 830 7363, or fax (310) 830 7782.

NEWS FOR OUR COCO NUTS : Lots here to tell you about! First of all, I hope you like our new enclosure - NUT LETTERS - and believe it or not, all of them are 100% true! ... A special thank you to Lisette and Dennis McConnell, Nuts from California, who designed our terrific new Web Site - http://www.coconutsbeachclubsamoa.com. If you haven’t seen it, you are in for a treat. It has lots of goodies on it, including some back issues of our newsletters, and it is simply beautiful. If you like it, please email lisette@calweb.com. ... I was happy to personally welcome Erskine and Christine Rodan, RETURNING NUTS from Melbourne, back for their SEVENTH visit in January. Do you think it has anything to do wiith the fact that this husband and wife team are also lawyers? It was also terrific to welcome back Peter and Beverly Horne, RETURNING NUTS from Sydney, for their FOURTH visit. ... Here is a reminder. When you are making your booking to return to Coconuts, be sure to tell the person that you are a RETURNING NUT and are entitled to receive a 20% discount on your room rate. It is one of the ways that we make it easy for you to come back to see us. ... Now for the latest! As a special - good only until March 31, 1999 - when you check in, just tell us that you want THE MEAL DEAL and for only $35 per person, per day, your lunch and dinner will be included, complete with unlimited quantities of our California House Wine at lunch and dinner. For dinner you can order any starter, main course and dessert - right from the regular menu! As long as Mika has it - you can have it too. Want Lobster every night? Be our guest! Just another way of saying how happy we are to have you back. Now, you can’t book the MEAL DEAL ahead of time, but just let us know when you check in that you want it and it is yours! ... Sue Stagner, the talented artist from Honolulu who designed our logo, and whose paintings are in the rooms, has just completed two great paintings of Coconuts. We are making 11" x 14" copies, suitable for framing, available to you for only US$19.95, including postage to your home. And, we are donating all profits to the Old Peoples Home in Apia. So, you can get a great souvenir of Samoa and help the Old Folks Home at the same time. You may also be helping Mika and me, since it is only a question of time before we wind up there ourselves (but not Sieni and Julia, who are much younger).

COCONUTS "STAYS FAMOUS" In the London Sunday Times, 22 March 1998, six "Island Specialists" were asked to name a destination where the dream is matched by reality. One of them, Ron Hall, said - "...Upolu is quite a large island, but there is so little on it that it feels small. Most of the interior is rainforest and all the best beaches are on the south side. There are only four hotels and the most entertaining of these, called Coconuts, is owned and run by two American dropout lawyers. Although it is a tiny, quirky resort, it has an enormous bar where everyone meets and if you sit there for an hour or two, you are well into the ways of the island." - We were delighted to receive this article from a London Nut. Over the years, Mr Hall, who is the London editor of the New York edition of Conde Nast Traveler, has written several articles praising Samoa and Coconuts and we are very grateful for his kind words. ... And, in the 1/98 edition of the Swiss magazine, DESTINATION, there is a terrific article about Coconuts. If anyone can translate the story for us we would love to know what it says!

HOTEL NEWS : The new, Over-The-Water fales have been extremely well received. Sieni and I managed to sneak in a few nights and the experience was even better than I had thought it would be. The view from the deck is indescribeable - everywhere you look it’s either tourquise water or pristine jungle - and from the tub and shower too! These fales are like no other that we have ever encountered anywhere in the world, including Tahiti. If you get the chance, I highly recommend them! ... At this very moment, our talented designer from Los Angeles, Robert Ross, is busy designing a new fale for us. It is going to be terrific! Near the beach, it will be a place to relax, read, write a letter, or just "hang out". It will also have a small restaurant with a coconut fired pizza oven and BBQ, and - another bar! We will probably be the only 20 room hotel in the world with 3 bars! In the evening, relax in comfort as we share our eclectic collection of 300 video tape movies with you!

TOFA SOIFUA: Wow! I’m exhausted! Time to shut down my Mac, head on down to see Mika, and have a sunset cocktail on the Palm Terrace. We are very blessed, here in Paradise. We have almost everything. The only thing missing is YOU. Please join us soon. Love from all of us here at COCONUTS to all of you COCO NUTS and would-be NUTS!