An escape to paradise

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 02 May 2018, 12:00AM

The relaxing nature of Savai’i brought the Maiai family to the remotest part of the big island to spend a family holiday together with some friends to experience Samoa.

Katrina Toovey and her husband Kim are staying at the Vaimoana Beach Resort in Asau, Savaii, with their kids Semisi and Lusia. Ms. Toovey says her husband is part Samoan and has roots in Sapapalii.

The family is also here to celebrate their grandfather’s 90th birthday in his country of birth and taking advantage of the time to explore further than Upolu.  

“The big island is beautiful, it is very relaxing and it was a pretty interesting drive in. I love seeing all the water spring and swimming pools along the coast, I think that’s very different. We did some great snorkeling in Upolu on the south coast and of course did the sliding rocks as well as the Piula pool.” 

“It was really fun. I think everyone enjoyed going to the markets and buying palusami and traditional foods for lunch.”

Ms. Toovey says the friends they brought over with them were having a grand time enjoying the natural beauty of Samoa.

“We have friends with us from Auckland who have never been here (a family of four), it’s their first time. The beaches are amazing and everyone has been just awestruck with the beauty and they also found it very clean, they keep their villages very clean. We’re all a bit tired after kayaking back and forth so we are all having a rest.”

The family is spending three days at the Vaimoana Seaside Resort with Katrina and Kim opting to stay in a Faleo’o by the water.

“It was quite the travel to get here, but it was nice. We had a great night with a nice sea breeze and great mattress inside the faleo’o. We went out paddle boarding and kayaking to the Turtle Island.”

That afternoon, Katrina said their family were going to relax with their friends after spending the morning in the water, but that her husband on the other hand, was walking around the resort and possibly heading out into the village to find some palusami.

“I think my husband is on a mission walking around looking for palusami,” Katrina laughs. 

“He’s been for a walk, he really wants to eat some and we can’t find any. I think there’s not a lot of foods around that are traditional. Wherever we go we are served a lot of western food. We want something that’s from here.”                         

“This is a great place, oh yeah would definitely recommend this place.”

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 02 May 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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