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American Samoa Unites with TALOFAPASS Technology
American Samoa Unites with TALOFAPASS Technology
Overview
Client Background
Challenge
Solution
Implementation
Outcome
Next Step
Overview
Client Background
Challenge
Solution
Implementation
Outcome
Next Step
Overview
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, many American Samoa residents were displaced and unable to return to their homes and communities. Therefore, the American Samoa Government (ASG) launched its Safe Travels Program and awarded DataHouse to implement TALOFAPASS, powered by LumiSight, to bring residents home. As flight paths reopen, travelers use TALOFAPASS web and mobile applications to expedite required forms, upload vaccination information, and complete testing requirements before departure.
In addition to streamlining traveler experiences, the TALOFAPASS system helps unite multiple ASG departments, state and local governments, and commercial organizations so they can work together and communicate effectively.
Client Background
Industry
Government Services
About the Organization
American Samoa, a U.S. territory in the South Pacific Ocean, is governed by a system that combines aspects of both the U.S. federal government and traditional Samoan customs. The American Samoa Government (ASG) is the governing body of the territory, responsible for overseeing various aspects of public life, including education, healthcare, public safety, and economic development.
Challenge
Problem Statement
Nearly 2,000 American Samoa residents were stranded in Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, and other countries when the ASG closed its borders due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Since then, American Samoa Government (ASG)’s COVID-19 task force has worked tirelessly and strategically to repatriate residents who remained displaced in Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.
Through close collaboration among American Samoa Government (ASG)’s Department of Health, Department of Medicaid, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Port Administration, the State of Hawaii, and Hawaiian Airlines, the task force organized repatriation flights and collected COVID-related information from each traveler before boarding and upon arrival. They also instituted and managed quarantine restrictions for arriving residents to ensure their community’s safety. Travelers were required to quarantine for two weeks in a Waikiki hotel before departure and quarantine again in American Samoa before returning home, which cost the American Samoa Government (ASG) over $9 million in just seven months.
Impact
As repatriation was underway, American Samoa Government (ASG) needed a more efficient and cost-effective way to adapt to the changing testing, vaccination, and travel requirements and share traveler information with multiple parties involved in the repatriation process. Numerous ASG departments needed to work together as a unified team to ensure all travelers complied with COVID-related requirements.
Inefficient and Costly Repatriation Process: The existing process for repatriation was inefficient due to disparate information systems and manual processes. This led to high costs, especially for quarantining travelers in Hawaii.
Changing Requirements: The rapidly evolving testing, vaccination, and travel requirements posed a significant challenge for American Samoa Government (ASG)G to keep up with and implement effectively.
Lack of Collaboration: The involvement of multiple American Samoa Government (ASG) departments and stakeholders required a unified approach, but disparate systems and processes hindered effective communication and collaboration.
Unsustainable Quarantine: The cost of quarantining travelers in Hawaii was unsustainable for both American Samoa Government (ASG) and the travelers, creating a financial burden and inconveniencing individuals.
Solution
Leverage the collective power of people, processes, and technology.
American Samoa Government (ASG)’s solution was to initiate a Safe Travels Program to facilitate travelers while maintaining the health and safety of American Samoa residents and everyone involved in the travel process. American Samoa Government (ASG) awarded DataHouse with a contract to implement TALOFAPASS, a technology platform powered by LumiSight, as part of the Safe Travels Program to facilitate information sharing and ensure smooth travel experiences.
LumiSight is an end-to-end platform solution that provides secure, cloud-native infrastructure and rapid application development to keep American Samoa Government (ASG)’s system flexible and scalable as travel requirements change. With LumiSight, DataHouse developed and configured TALOFAPASS in record time and continuously modifies the system to meet American Samoa Government (ASG) and the traveler’s needs.
A streamlined process empowers both travelers and government officials, facilitating a seamless experience for all involved. How TALOFAPASS works:
Traveler Registration
Residents and travelers enter personal information, travel details, and vaccination status.
COVID-19 Testing
Travelers schedule necessary COVID-19 tests.
Travel Authorization
TALOFAPASS issues a “green light” for approved travelers.
Government Oversight
American Samoa Government (ASG) staff review information to ensure compliance with travel policies.
Airport Screening
Upon arrival, airport screeners verify traveler information and determine quarantine requirements.
Quarantine Monitoring
Travelers check in during quarantine to ensure compliance.
Implementation
The project leveraged a robust and scalable AWS architecture to deploy the portal solution.
Outcome
Simplify the complex and continuously adapt to change.
American Samoa Government (ASG) chose DataHouse’s LumiSight to build TALOFAPASS because it simplifies the complex exchange of real-time information and creates streamlined experiences. LumiSight is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) and pre-engineered accelerator using AWS services that makes rapid solutions possible. With LumiSight, and DataHouse’s experience with orchestrating travelers’ information, COVID-19 testing, vaccine registries, ASG policies, and data exchange, ASG was able to launch TALOFAPASS quickly and continues to adapt the technology according to business needs and travel requirements.
TALOFAPASS provides a hub for information so that everyone involved in the travel and repatriation process can access the same information in real time. Plus, now that American Samoa Government (ASG) has LumiSight’s modern digital infrastructure, they can continuously expand their technology platform, integrate other systems, build additional applications, and engage more collaborators with harmonized processes.
Next Step
Explore innovation to advance our community.
American Samoa Government (ASG) values advanced technology and its ability to unite its residents and share American Samoa’s culture with the world. As travel restrictions ease, ASG explores additional ways to strategically leverage innovative technology to boost its economy and support its local community.
Visit americansamoa.gov and talofapass.as.gov for more information.
Read the AWS-DataHouse Client Success Story: American Samoa Selects DataHouse and AWS to Maintain Travel to Bring People Home during COVID-19.
About DataHouse
DataHouse is Hawaii’s longest-standing IT consultancy since 1975, known for solving complex IT problems. Our expertise in leveraging AWS services and solutions shows our commitment to using cutting-edge technology to make a positive impact on local and global communities. As an AWS Standard Public Sector Partner, DataHouse continues to drive innovation in partnership with public and private organizations.
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