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Posted: Friday, October 9th, 2009 4:46 AM HST

Post-tsunami repair for American Samoa mats, cloth

By Associated Press

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — The National Park Service says work is underway to restore fine mats and tapa cloths damaged when tsunamis ripped through its American Samoa visitor's center last week. Akenese Zec, the president of the Samoan weaver organization Inailau A Tina, is leading the restoration efforts. Traditional treatments for the fine mats, which are made and repaired with stripped bandana leaves, start with applying a Samoan oil to the front and back of each mat. The feathers and decorations are then removed and replaced with new decorations. Finally, the mats are placed out in the sun for three days while more oil is applied daily. The park service says most the objects hanging on the visitor center's walls survived the tsunami, but many need treatment. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)