Easter egg hunts in Samoa are no longer a treat enjoyed by a privileged few.

In fact, you could enjoy one extravagant egg hunt in Apia on Easter Sunday and do it all over again a day later in Pago, thanks to the international dateline that conveniently runs between the two Samoas.

Unfortunately, the only thing in the way of your double celebration is the availability of flights and the high cost of airfares.

A thousand tālā will get you on the 30-minute flight to Pago, a packet of tasty chocolate and caramel Easter eggs, a spare lavalava, and some toiletries.

Making it a truly special celebration of a tradition that, I am told, began with our “ancestors” in Germany, many centuries ago.

However, let’s make these moments truly memorable and accessible to all Samoans by doing away with the monopoly of the air services by our two local airlines.

It’s time to allow the newly formed American Samoan Airline to compete, thereby increasing the availability of flights and lowering airfares for the travelling public between the two Samoas.

In the meantime, enjoy the hunt and eating those Easter eggs.

 Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP