Updated: 2-9-10, 1 p.m.
 Fanene |  Maualuga |  Peko |
Even before they left Sunday, Peko, the Bengals defensive tackle and a defensive captain, heard from his parents and two sisters that the island buzzed with the excitement of “Welcome Home” banners and a greeting at the airport as the trio prepared to meet American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono on Monday morning in the capital of Pago Pago.
“I’m really excited because I haven’t been back since I graduated,” Peko said before leaving from California for the 10-hour flight. “I’m looking forward to not only seeing my family, but other relatives and the people I grew up with. I can’t wait.”
First, Peko, defensive lineman Jon Fanene, and linebacker 
“We’re going to visit some areas that got hit hard and I’m guessing that’s going to be emotional,” Peko said.
It is a significant trip in many ways for all three. Fanene lost some relatives on his father’s side in the killer storm. Peko hasn’t been back since his 2002 graduation from Samoana High School when he left for junior college at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. Maualuga hasn’t been back since he was three years old and hasn’t seen his brother Rodney since his father’s 2006 funeral.
Peko is also using the trip to unveil his foundation, “Giving Our Kids a Brighter Future,” and it will kick off with visits to assemblies at the six high schools in Pago Pago, including his own, Tuesday and Wednesday. He also plans to do some work with youth in the Cincinnati area, a desire that he can trace back to a visit when he was at Samoana High from then Titans defensive tackle Joe Salave'a. Salave’a was born in Samoa before moving to the States and graduating from Oceanside High School in Oceanside, Calif.
“That had an impact on me that he came back to talk to us. He was a guy that made it,” Peko said. “I want to basically tell them my life story, show them what I’ve done and how important it is to get a college education.”
Peko said he and Maualuga plan to stay for a week but that Fanene plans to stay a little longer.
LOCAL 12 IN AMERICAN SAMOA
Local 12's Tara Pachmayer and photographer Ed Burkholder are traveling with the trio. You can follow their stories on Local12.com and on Local 12 News at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. all this week.
Here are the blog entries submitted by Pachmayer from American Samoa:
Tuesday, February 9, 7:01 a.m. Samoa, 1:01 p.m. Cincinnati
I'm sorry to see on local12.com that you guys are having another round of snow. I'm in the complete opposite ... intense heat ... which I am sure you would be happy to trade spots with me. Walking outside in Samoa is like walking in to a heat wall. And most buildings only have 3 sides, so you feel like you are outside even when you are inside.
We are waiting for Domata's aunt to pick us up ... I probably should hurry. I just wanted to make sure to write about how the $40,000 is going to be used by the people of Samoa. Emergency relief dollars only go so far, and sometimes only the bare minimum is done with that money. For example, a house is rebuilt with one or 2 rooms, but here in Samoa, it's not unusual for 2-3 families to live together. Brothers and sisters sometimes share homes with their respective families. There simply isn't room for people to live.
There isn't much that goes in to building their homes ... they aren't living lavish lifestyles, but they do need the space. We are off to witness Domata change some football players' lives!
Monday, February 8, Samoa time 7:55 p.m., Cincinnati time, 1:55 a.m. (February 9)
Hello again! You know how everyone thinks everyone else is a bad driver? Well, the same goes for Samoa! We have made a new friend ... our cab driver, Simise. Simise, like everyone else on the island, drives 20 miles per hour and he drives as close to the person in front of us as possible. It's amazing how driving 20 miles per hour can still be scary!
Tomorrow Domata's Aunt is going to pick us up and take us to our shoots. Speaking of aunts all the kids here call adults that are not their parents, "auntie and uncle." It is a sign of respect. A few kids here have called me "Auntie." It makes me miss my nephew back home in Cincinnati (Hi Ethan... I love you!).
I had a really nice sit down interview with Rey Maualuga today. We talked about the death of his father 4 years ago. His father was a military man that was a strict disciplinarian. Obviously Rey got in trouble with the law recently. He also addressed that in our interview, apologizing to everyone in the Bengals organization, his family and the people of Cincinnati. He says he made an error in judgment and will NEVER do it again. He will be seeking professional help after this trip to Samoa.
Tomorrow we are going with Domata Peko to his high school and some other high schools. He will speak to the kids there and he has a huge surprise for them (I know I keep teasing you with this but I promise, the surprise will be revealed soon). It's so funny to see our Samoan Bengals in Samoa. I say that because they stick out in Cincinnati with their size and hair, but here they fit right in with the crowd.
1:48 p.m. Samoa, February 8
Ed and I tried to grab breakfast before leaving the hotel this morning. We went to the internet cafe at our hotel, where they were blasting Kenny Rogers, "She Believes in Me." The song played the entire 15 minutes we were in there. It was so annoying, and I know that me writing this means that News Director Elbert Tucker will sing Kenny Rogers every time he passes me at work for the next year!
Today we saw the island for the first time, and it is beautiful. It looks like any tropical paradise you would image. There are, however, spots that have yet to be rebuilt. The Bengals donations will help rebuild homes for people here.
The Samoan Bengals delivered their $40,000 donation today. It was very touching ... very hot in the room ... but very touching. The Governor thanked them repeatedly for not turning their backs on their people. He even awarded them with medals.
We are planning a 1-on-1 interview with Rey Maualuga later this afternoon. We also have a pig roast with Peko's family this week, as well as a couple visits to high schools in the area for the surprise I keep talking about. One more exciting tidbit: the Governor invited Ed and me to a special dinner on Thursday night to honor the Samoan Bengals!
Samoa 1:17 a.m.
"We finally made it to Samoa! I can't wait to see what the island looks like in the daylight! There were at least 200 people waiting for the Samoan Bengals at the airport ... most of them were members of Domata Peko's family. They wore "Who Dey" shirts and chanted his name ... it was pretty cool. Peko's family has been so kind to Ed and me. They hugged us when we got off the plane and presented with lei's.
"I had a little more time to talk to Rey Maualuga tonight. It is important for him to be on this trip because it is a chance for him to spend time with members of his father's family. His dad died 4 years ago, so this is a healing trip for him. We'll talk about it more in the coming days ... it is just a bit overwhelming right now.
"Peko has a pretty packed schedule for us. We are going to be there when the Bengals hand over that $40,000 check for tsunami relief later today, and we are going to visit every school on the island. Peko has a HUGE surprise for all of the football players here! I can't wait to share their stories! I need to catch some z's ... the sun will be up before I know it. By the way, it is 87 degrees here ... in the middle of the night!"
