One of our main goals is to preserve the culture by showing our guests (free daily tours) traditional practises like basket weaving, how to open a coconut, making of coconut oil, use of plants for herbal medicine, fishing, paddling an outrigger canoe, village walks with visits to the local school, traditional cooking (UMU) and much more.
The most important part is that we make our employees and the village proud of their culture which they regard as something important and not something that should be replaced by the western society. They understand that the culture is the reason why people travel to Samoa and it is their greatest sales tool.
We are using solar power alongside normal 220V power for lighting and for computers in the main building although the restaurant and bar are only lit by candles. All Fales (huts) are using 220V lighting and outlets, all outside lighting of the resort is lit by kerosene lamps.
Our water partly comes from the rain and we hope to be able to use our own spring in the near future. To make the water last longer, we like to inform our guests by signs to “save the water today as we hope for another sunny day in paradise tomorrow”.
We separate rubbish in different bins for composting, burnable materials or hard waste which reduces our rubbish burden on the island to a minimum. All glass bottles are recycled and brought back to the capital Apia. Only natural building material are used with no harm to the nature when replaced.
We plant fruit trees like papaya, star fruit, mango and passion fruits using the seeds from the waste when preparing fruits for breakfast. It takes time but the garden is growing bigger and bigger and it is all organic.
We are the only employer in the village with 40 employees. We support the village by buying all building material for our Fales, handmade mats, pigs, chickens, fish, fruits and vegetables from the local families. The village is also earning a small entrance fee for every car coming to our resort (plus our own). A nature (mangrove) walk way has been created by the village and many times a week guided tours are made from our resort. Each guest can make a donation helping to maintain the walk-way.
We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!
