Swaying palms, island flavours and warm hospitality have defined the first-ever Samoan adventure for Lana Maxwell of Te Arawa and her daughter Loni of Ngāti Awa, a mother-daughter duo from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.

“We came here for a holiday,” said Loni. “It’s just somewhere my mum hasn’t been.”

Lana has travelled to Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and has visited the Cook Islands nine times. In just four days, they have already explored Apia town, visited markets, attended a church service at the Apia Cathedral, and enjoyed traditional performances at their hotel. “Mum loved the fire show,” said Loni. “She said it’s the best one she’s seen, and she’s seen heaps all over the islands.”

Food has been a highlight of their stay. “Everything fish,” Lana said. “No one’s tasted fish until they eat this fish. Tuna, dory — I love it.” Loni agreed, calling Samoa “a food lover’s heaven.” She singled out the seafood boil at Eagle’s Wing, saying, “It was an 80-dollar tray, which is about 53 New Zealand, and four people could have eaten it. It was beautiful seafood.”

The duo also raved about Samoa’s warmth and hospitality. “The people here are so nice,” Lana said. “Hospitality here is amazing. It doesn’t matter how clean or not it is, you still have all those little things. Everywhere we’ve gone, people say hello.”

Staying at the Lava Hotel in Apia, they praised the service and connection they felt with the staff. “The hotel is spectacular because the people are beautiful,” Loni said. 

They’ve visited the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve and plan to head south to explore the famed To Sua Ocean Trench and coastal villages. “Samoa is beautiful. Hot, but beautiful,” said Lana.

For both women, the trip has also been about celebrating milestones. Loni turned 32 during their stay. From fresh fish to fire dances, the mother-daughter duo say they’ll leave Samoa with full hearts — and shopping bags packed with gifts for family back home.

“It’s kind of in the middle — not behind, not ahead,” Lana reflected. “Samoa's just beautiful.”