Deep-Sea Mining Auction: The U.S. Interior Department plans to auction about 33 million acres of seabed off American Samoa for deep-sea critical minerals mining, with the sale set for Nov. 19, 2026—an historic first for the Outer Continental Shelf that’s already sparked tension with the territorial government and environmental groups. Manu’atele Travel Updates: Port Administration added voyage email alerts and improved vessel-tracking on Manu’ateleSchedule.com, letting travelers choose notifications for departures, arrivals, delays, cancellations, and weather holds—plus a new “Special Voyage Notice” section for urgent updates. Manu’atele Grounded: The MV Manu’atele can’t sail to Manu’a right now after a U.S. Coast Guard inspection found new mechanical and safety issues; it’s grounded for at least two weeks while parts and fixes are handled, with Port urging alternative travel by air and charter. Visa-on-Arrival Access: Papua New Guinea published a 2026 list of 28 countries eligible for visa on arrival, including Samoa and American Samoa’s region—useful for travelers planning Pacific hops. Polyfest Kona Tickets: Hawai‘i’s Finest is hosting Polyfest Kona featuring Sammy J and Aaradhna (July 24, 7–11 p.m., KBXtreme in Kailua-Kona) with advance and VIP ticket options and strict bag/backpack rules. Starlink Roam Rules: SpaceX changed Starlink Roam so the U.S. and Canada (and U.S. territories including American Samoa) are treated as one shared region, which can help avoid burning international roaming days on trips across the border. DST Push: The U.S. House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but American Samoa already doesn’t observe DST—so the change mainly affects mainland travel planning.