Talofa from PARADISE: Astute and avid readers of this newsletter will no doubt instantly recognize the change in format from our last newsletter in December. I am very proud to be able to say that this new format is a step in the right direction - backward. It is just like all of the ones in the recent past, except for the last one which I proudly announced was our "new look". When I took up pen in hand (literary license for "sat down at my Macintosh") a few days ago to start this latest letter, I tried to follow the format of last December and found that I wasn’t enjoying it! It just wasn’t fun. So, I thought about it and soon realized that my last newsletter (which has the generic look of hundreds of others that you see every day) was really like a "newspaper", and not the "personal" letter that I wanted to write to you. Eventually I figured out that I didn’t like writing a "newspaper", but I do enjoy these "personal" letters, and now that I have gone back to our old style, I am happy again. Who cares? - you say. Why am I wasting all this time on this subject? - you want to know. Good questions! Firstly (as our friends from the Commonwealth like to say) it proves, once again, the simple logic: "If its not broke, don’t fix it!". Secondly (?) it serves to guide us in our operation of Coconuts. We want to make the changes and improvements that make sense, but we don’t want to change the things that our guests have come to love and that make us unique. Or, stated another way, progress isn’t always good for a place like Coconuts or Samoa. So, I hope you enjoy this issue and that you write or fax me and tell me what you think. .......... Afa

PROGRESS IN SAMOA: An Oxymoron? Decide for yourself! About three years ago I sadly announced that the country was in deep trouble - they had installed the first ever traffic signals in Apia. Alas, that was just the beginning. Here is the latest spate of bad news. The police now want all drivers to wear seat belts! Before you know it, they will want all vehicles to have seat belts! There is a rumor that the government is going to require all people to take a driving test before they issue them a drivers license. That will take all of the sport out of driving - HOW RUDE! There was a recent announcement in the local newspaper that a MacDonalds fast food restaurant will be opening soon in Apia. There was also an announcement that the Marriott Hotel chain plans to build a 300 room hotel on Government land near the ferry wharf. These two announcements must be taken seriously, because I think there is a pretty good chance that one or both will really happen. Of lesser importance (because, in my humble opinion, it is more of a long shot) is the news that they are trying to build a 300 room Intercontinental Hotel on the beach at Lefaga, site of the famous "Return to Paradise Beach". So, there is a message here: Don’t put off your visit to Samoa any longer! The handwriting is on the wall! At this rate, we are well on our way to becoming another Waikiki - in a hundred years, maybe.

COCO NUTS IN THE NEWS : We were pleased to welcome back for a return visit, all the way from Germany, Mr. & Mrs. Piacenza and their lovely daughter who stayed in one of our new Beachfront Fales. They have been adopted by one of the local families - which means we will see a lot of them in the future. A special note of appreciation to the Kimlings (and Tischler Reisen), also from Germany, who recently spent 35 days at Coconuts ........ and never even got tired of Mika’s jokes. In response to the many questions I have received, I want you to know that my father, Natie (one of the original Coco Nuts), as irascible as ever, is alive and well and happily living in Hawaii with his new bride, Minnie, who spoils him terribly.

COCONUTS "STAYS FAMOUS" We have been seeing a lot of folks lately who have come to Coconuts because of having read about us in the Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit on Samoa.. The author, Deanna Swaney, is not a newcomer to Samoa, and the latest issue of her guide, published in 1994, was the result of a lot of time spent in Samoa and at Coconuts. Thanks, Deanna for the kind words about Coconuts.

HOTEL NEWS : The REALLY BIG NEWS is our new road and our new entrance! The Government has finally taken pity on us and we now have a beautiful, smooth 4 lane highway right to our front door! Impossible you say? Well, your right! I was exaggerating a bit. It isn’t a 4 lane highway, it is more like a narrow, two lane track. But it is new, and compared to our old road it is like a super highway. We also have a beautiful, new, lava-rock entry and extension to our reception fale. I have gotten so enthralled with building with lava-rock that I just can’t quit. The black rock is just beautiful and the Samoan craftsman are renown for their skill in creating rock structures. At this rate, everything at Coconuts will be made out of lava rock, unless Sieni can get me on to another track.

RESTAURANT NEWS: The outdoor, Palm Terrace has been completely re-done and you wouldn’t recognize it. The palm trees that we planted there 5 years ago have become very big and spread a beautiful umbrella of palm fronds over the area, keeping it shaded and cool, even on the hottest days. The old wooden deck has been replaced with a floor of smooth, black river stones, surrounded by a lava-rock wall (I told you I was hooked on lava-rock), and we have all new, sage green tables and chairs. There is even a new BBQ fale next to the terrace where Mika hosts a coconut shell BBQ grill, rain or shine, every Wednesday night and every Sunday afternoon. Today being Sunday, Mika’s special BBQ is local lobster, baked potato, grilled Pumpkin, Oka (marinated fish) garni, tossed green salad vinaigrette, garlic bread and a glass of wine for US$ 15.95! What a deal! The Bamboo Terrace Dining Room also has a new look, with very comfortable, padded chairs, tablecloths and candles - very romantic! It seems like the only thing that hasn’t changed is Mika ( he is still crusty, but benign), his lovely wife Julia, and his great food.

TOFA SOIFUA: Time to shut down my Mac, and join Roger & Gayle’s Sunset Cruise. We will go out to the reef armed with some of Mika’s pupus (something simple like fresh Cajun sashimi, crab puffs and spring rolls), a cold Vailima Beer and enjoy another beautiful sunset. Meanwhile, on the Palm Terrace, the band will start playing, one of the men from the village will blow the conch shell to signal the fire-knife dancer to light the beach torches, and another "sunset ceremony" will take place. Indeed, we are very blessed. Only one thing is lacking - and that is sharing Paradise with YOU! Please join us soon. Love from all of us here at COCONUTS to all of you COCO NUTS and would-be COCO NUTS!