Published irregularly by Coconuts Beach Club / P.O. Box 3684 / Apia, Western Samoa

Talofa from PARADISE: A Special Talofa Lava to all Nuts, and would-be Nuts! Ah yes …. another year has flown by and it’s time for your annual news from Paradise. I like to think of it as my offering to you of a cup of Kava, but one that you read instead of drink – and hopefully gives you the same, relaxing effect. As an old friend of mine from those long ago Beverly Hills days used to ask me – “are we having fun yet”? In those days, it was the pressure of dealing with the normal, every-day stuff that went into earning a living and trying to have fun in the jungle that was then Los Angeles. Judging by the news from the “real world” today, if I ask you that question I think the answer would probably be “not yet”. Just when you think the news can’t get any worse it seems to do exactly that. And now, instead of just dealing with the usual every day tasks, the daily routine contains the added pressure of trying to stay safe, or trying not be afraid all of the time! There is a bright spot. In our world - Paradise – things are still terrific, I’m happy to report. I hope you enjoy reading the news from Paradise and letters from our dear NUTS. If you decide to exchange the pressures of your world for those of ours, please come and join us! Now, for the State of Paradise Report ……Your Samoan chief, Tautaimatapalapala Barry Rose

PROGRESS IN SAMOA: An oxymoron? Decide for yourself (Now, this is the part of the newsletter that sometimes gets me in trouble, so I will be very careful this time) ... Last time I told you about the takeover of Polynesian Airlines by Virgin Blue and the emergence of the new carrier called Polynesian Blue. Well, I am happy to say that the change has been very beneficial for us at Coconuts and, I think, for Samoa.There are now a lot more flights from New Zealand and Australia than there used to be under Polynesian and the fares are cheaper too! What more could we ask for you say? How about the restoration, after more than a year, of flights from Hawaii. That would be nice! For at least the past 15 years, there has always been a direct flight from Hawaii to Samoa – except since Virgin took over. HOW RUDE!! Well we keep on hoping. … The government seems happy to report, on numerous occasions, that plans are now in place for a major resort to be built on our South Coast, in Vavau – about 30 minutes to the East of Coconuts – by the Warwick Hotel group of Fiji fame. It’s size has variously been reported as anywhere from 45 to 150 Fales and the date for the start of construction has variously been reported as anywhere from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2007. By the way, it’s supposed to be  very fancy.

NEWS FOR OUR COCO NUTS : Once again, I hope you enjoy the latest edition of NUT LETTERS … all 100% true! ... It often takes me longer to put together the Nut Letters than the “hard news” part. That’s because I get to read and re-read all of those wonderful letters and emails that we receive from our wonderful NUTS throughout the year – and I forget that I am supposed to be gathering together letters to share! I just get so caught up in reading about the wonderful experiences that our NUTS share with me that I get distracted. OH MY!! You see, life in Paradise can be stressful too!!  … I do have a bit of sad news to report – our beloved nighttime bartender, known to legions of NUTS as PK, passed away this year. Papali’i, a retired land surveyor, had been a chief in our village and a long time employee of Coconuts as a security guard (in the Samoan tradition) and as a bartender (in the Palagi tradition). Actually, his real job was Ambassador Of Samoan Hospitality, at which he excelled. He also happened to be one of the greatest teller of tales that I have ever heard. He enchanted a legion of NUTS, telling stories at the bar well into the night – for which he will always be remembered … Many thanks to NUTS Ernie and Helen Van Luyn and Kevin and Beverly Dunne – all here for their 6th time. And welcome back to Elizabeth and Alan Kasehaen ,returning once again – after an absence of 11 years!

COCONUTS "STAYS FAMOUS": The Sunshine Coast (Australia) Weekender Magazine of March 10, 2006 has a great article called “Go Nuts”. The writer, Susie Boswell has a delightful sense of humor and captures the essence of Coconuts quite well. Some of her comments about Coconuts are – “It’s a boutique, idiosyncratic spot, some rooms made from spent volcanic rock, gloriously and individually designed and featuring sensual open bathrooms and waterfall showers … The resort has a folksy vibe deriving from the owners’ intimate involvement; this is no corporate condominium complex designed by a committee and run by remote. It’s truly intimate and unique … So, if you’d like something a little alternative to mainstream resorts but still with all the pampering, why not tell your friends that you’re going Nuts” … And, from the Herald (Australia) March 19, 2006 article by David May – Relax the Samoan Way – “ … in 1990, with Honolulu-based restaurant owner Michael Pirics, opened a restaurant and three-stool bar…Two years later, Coconuts Beach Club became Samoa’s first luxury resort. It now boasts suites, traditional style fales (bungalows), two over-the-water fales, a tree house, a conference centre and the original Three Stool Bar. With a gecko shaped pool and swim up cocktail bar, fine dining, bar stools perched on the sand, luxuriously appointed fales and a range of water sports, Coconuts sparked a flurry of interest…” … Lastly, Coconuts was featured on an Australian television show called Getaway in Oz in October of 2006, with great footage of the new Villas, the local village, our village church and a riveting interview with Mika. … Although not a travel article, Sieni and I and Coconuts were featured in the 2006 edition of the Loyola Lawyer, a magazine published by Loyola Law School in Los Angeles – the alma mater for both of us.  Why us? Maybe because we don’t exactly fit the typical profile of their alumni?

RESTAURANT NEWS:  A couple of items here. The Coconuts Beach Club Band – the string band that has been playing for our dinner guests for 15 years - has finally produced a CD of their music. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact us. The price is US$22, including postage. … The Meal Deal is still available, and more people than ever are taking advantage of the lower price that we offer if you book it in advance. More than a third of our bookings now include the Meal Deal! All those smart NUTS!  Check out our web site for details. And, now there is a Kids Meal Deal offered for only 50% of the cost of the regular Meal Deal – and all the beer and wine that the kids want is included! Just kidding, we monitor their drinks! … Lastly, Mika has a new ice cream maker and he has gone bananas! Well, no bananas yet – but how about kiwi, chocolate almond, fresh strawberry, coconut (of course) and rum raisin! Naturally, all of these goodies are included on the Meal Deal.

HOTEL NEWS: I am delighted to report that the Royal Villas, which were completed at the end of last year, have proven to be one of our most sought after accommodations. Together with our Over-Water Fales, they are the most unique accommodations in Samoa… Well, we did it. In August we opened the Coco Beach Spa– and changed our name to Coconuts Beach Club – Resort & Spa. In all honesty, I have to say that we “borrowed” the basic architecture from the Four Seasons Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii, but added the special touch of our architect, Robert Ross. Located within an impressive outer wall constructed entirely of local lava rock are two single and one double treatment fales. These open air, thatched roof bungalows are built in the traditional Samoan style yet privately located within their own quartzite stone and luminescent wall enclosures. The combination of this traditional Samoan open-fale design with the serenity of contemporary shoji-style privacy creates an incomparably quiet and restful ambiance. The spacious spa grounds also feature a mini-gecko shaped heated spa pool, private outdoor shower, and a separate, dedicated, hardwood floor yoga room with full ocean views.

TOFA SOIFUA: Wow! I’m exhausted! This is hard work! Time to see Mika for a Catapult – maybe two. We are very blessed, here in Paradise. We have almost everything. The only thing missing is YOU.  Love from all of us, to all of you …………!