Acknowledgements

In addition to the authors of the Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Report for American Samoa: 

2002–2006, we would like to thank and credit each of the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) 

staff members who supported the Report by helping to cover ongoing workloads, staff cruises, 

process data, provide administrative and management support, and most importantly, by helping 

to maintain high morale during the long days and nights of writing.

Stephane Charette

Edmund Coccagna

Susan Cooper Alletto

Bonnie DeJoseph

Matthew Dunlap

Alice Fongtran

Amy Hall

Vikram Khurana

Kyle Koyanagi

Frances Lichowski

Kevin Lino

Daniel Merritt

Megan Moews

Michael Parke

Noah Pomeroy

Luis Salinas

Darryl Tagami

Rossyn Tasaka

Haiying Wang

Jonathan Weiss

Juliana Wong

Kevin Wong

Charles Young

Brian Zgliczynski

CRED also thanks the former staff members and numerous partners who planned and participated in 

the American Samoa Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program cruises. Without their assistance, 

the cruises and this Report’s creation would not have been possible.

Paula Ayotte

Sun He Bak

Tony Beeching

Gene Brighouse

Holly Bolick

Jim Bostick

Jeff Burgett

Joseph Chojnacki

Andrew Cornish

Peter Craig

Meghan Dailer

Nancy Daschbach

Ed DeMartini

Eva DiDonato

Guy DiDonato

Eric Dobbs

Terry Donaldson

Siaifoi Fa’aumu

Katie Fagan

Doug Fenner

Beth Flint

Scott Godwin

Lara Hansen

Kyle Hogrefe

Stephani Holzwarth

Jeremy Jones

Elizabeth Keenan

Bill Kiene

Christy Kistner

Joseph Laughlin

Frances Le’iato

Tanya Maiava-Ochoa

James Maragos

Ramzi Mirshak

Bruce Mundy

Craig Musburger

Marcia Oshiro

Kimberly Page

Penetekoso Peau

Linda Preskitt

Francesca Riolo

Fatima Sauafea

Joshua Seamon

Jamie Smith

Meredith Speicher

Wallace Thompson

Della Tuamoheloa

Aline Tribollet

Todd Wass

Douglas Wilson
CRED has been fortunate to work with many wonderful partners in American Samoa at various 

institutions and agencies. While this list is by no means comprehensive, we do want to sincerely 

thank the individuals who have helped us along the way.

Governor Togiola T.A. Tulafono, who took time out of his busy schedule to meet with us and learn 

about our research efforts; Lelei Peau, the American Samoa Point of Contact for the U.S. Coral 

Reef Task Force and strong conservation advocate, who has maintained his support since the 

beginning; Andy Cornish, whose expertise helped start the monitoring effort in American Samoa; 

and Christopher Hawkins and Meredith Speicher, who have provided us with on the ground 

coordination and support.

At the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Director Ray Tulafono, who has remained 

supportive and interested in our efforts through the years, and helped provide staff and resources 

for American Samoa Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (ASRAMP) research cruises; 

Doug Fenner, who participated in the 2006 cruise and has provided extensive knowledge and 

feedback integral to improving our research; and Tony Beeching, who provided extensive advice, 

coordination, and logistical support to implement the first ASRAMP cruise in 2002.

At the National Park of American Samoa, Peter Craig, who has provided and continues to provide 

invaluable insights and support as we continue to evolve our research program; Eva DiDonato, for 

her assistance and logistical support during the early years, particularly in supporting replacement 

of sea surface temperature buoys. 

At the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Nancy Daschbach for sharing her wealth 

of knowledge and for continually supporting our research; Bill Kiene for his feedback on the 

Report and continual support and encouragement; and Gene Brighouse for her coordination and 

support. At NOAA Fisheries, Fatima Sauafea for her coordination and especially her help in our 

mapping efforts. At the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, Guy DiDonato for 

his watershed advice.

We thank the many officers and crews of the NOAA Ships Townsend Cromwell, Oscar Elton Sette, 

and Hi`ialakai, who have worked incredibly hard over the years to safely support the challenging 

and demanding around-the-clock operations of Pacific RAMP. 

The staff of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided valuable advice and assistance in planning 

and prosecuting the ASRAMP cruises. Jim Maragos participated in all three ASRAMP cruises 

and Beth Flint was part of the terrestrial team in 2002. Don Palawski provided guidance on 

management concerns at the Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Dominique Horvath 

was endlessly patient and helpful in providing assistance with logistics support and special use 

permit applications. Our work at Rose Atoll NWR was conducted under U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Permits 12521-02009, 12521-02010, 12521-04001, 12521-06006, 12521-06007, 12521-06008, 

12521-06009, 12521-06010 and 12521-06011.

When ashore we’ve relied on the warm hospitality of Tisa and Candyman who always welcomed 

all of us on the beautiful beach at Alega, Tutuila. On Ofu, Marge and Tito Malae were always 

gracious and patient hosts at Vaoto Lodge.
Finally, we would like to give a very special thanks to the many important but often unrecognized 

folks who made the Pacific RAMP possible. In the early years, Tom Hourigan and the late Dail 

Brown of NOAA Fisheries played a leading role in the creation of CRED; their vision and steadfast 

support resulted in the first Pacific long-term, integrated ecosystem-based monitoring program. 

We hope our efforts make them proud. David Kennedy and his team at the NOAA Coral Reef 

Conservation Program, including Roger Griffis and Kara Meckley, have continually provided 

valuable advice and financial support, and we are lucky and grateful to be working with them. 

At the Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, many thanks to Kevin Higaki and his 

wonderful team for keeping CRED afloat.

This Report is dedicated to Governor Tauese P. F. Sunia, who passed away in 2003 but had never 

missed a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting during his lifetime. He was instrumental in moving 

marine resource conservation forward, and will always be remembered for his staunch commitment 

to protecting coral reef ecosystems. We appreciate his gracious hospitality in hosting and honoring 

the participants of ASRAMP 2002. Finally, we will always remember his kind and thoughtful ways 

and his enthusiasm for life, as evidenced by his beautiful songs and the twinkle in his eyes.