Pago Pago - Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Pago Pago was named for and inspired by the capital city of Pago Pago on the South Pacific Ocean island of American Samoa.

It should have been pronounced "pango pango" but locals called it "paygo paygo".

The restaurant featured decor from Oceanic Arts and from Eli Hedley.

Pago Pago opened on May 5th, 1949. The name was later changed to Aku Aku in the early 60s and stayed that way until 1964-65 when a fire broke out and caused much damage. When they reopened after repairs, the name was changed to Ports O' Call and then it became a restaurant called Bali Hai Indonesian & Cantonese Cuisine sometime prior to 1980.

Exterior scenes for the 1956 film "A Kiss Before Dying" were filmed at the Pago Pago (and interior bar scenes were most likely on a studio set elsewhere). However, the lower budget "Crime Against Joe" (1956) was shot entirely on location interior and exterior at the Pago Pago (see below).

The site now houses Starbuck Design, a promotional products company.