A family history brought the Phillipps sisters from Wellington, New Zealand to Samoa.

Wendy, Julia and Kaye Phillipps flew into Samoa to visit the place where their grandparents tied the knot in the 1920’s. 

Julia said their grandmother Queenie travelled from New Zealand on a trading boat called Mokoia to bring some products to Samoa.

“At the time, our grandfather Arthur Phillips was an accountant for the Hospital Board of Samoa,” she said.

“So it was around that time that our grandmother came to Samoa that she met our grandfather. In the year 1920’s on the month of November our grandparents got married here and we were told they were married at the Protestant Church in Apia,” she told the Dear Tourist team. 

“And after that they had their wedding reception at the Sheraton Hotel which was called Aggie Grey back in the days.”

This is their first time in Samoa and they stay at Le Manumea Hotel, which they describe as a beautiful accommodation. 

“The staff members are very nice, the rooms are beautiful and the view from there is just amazing,” Julia said. 

According to Julia, they have found what they had set out to search for in Samoa. 

“She made the front page of a newspaper in Apia when she was here,” said Julia.

“Now that we have found what we were looking for, we will spend three days in Apia and then we will be going to Saletoga Sands for a holiday, a few walks and snorkeling.”

“This coming Sunday we will also be attending the church that our grandparents had married in so we are looking forward to that.”

Kaye added the one thing they would be doing the most is soaking up Samoa’s sunshine. 

“We want to get more sunshine, warmth and relax at the beach,” she said.

“But so far we have been greeted with so much love and kindness by the people of Samoa. Samoa is a nation of really beautiful people on the inside and on the outside.”

“They are very caring and genuine and just lovely, and we have travelled quiet a lot in Europe, Rarotonga and Fiji and Samoa beats it.”

“It’s fresh and clean and the environment is just beautiful.”

The sisters shared that Samoa shouldn’t spoil its natural surroundings and maintain its uniqueness and cultural identity. 

“Keep it simple, it’s a beautiful view here and there are so much church buildings. So far it’s the warmth of the people here, we feel safe and feel cared for and we don’t get that feeling in other countries.”

They agreed that Samoans are genuine and lovely people.