Samoa’s case as discussed in this paper shows that accountability and transparency are not foreign ideas to local government in that country. The fono is ingrained with traditional protocols that ensure democratic deliberations and hold village council members accountable in a transparent way. Capacity building for local government in Samoa should therefore focus on strengthening fono proceedings and protocols to ensure its effectiveness in upholding accountability and transparency. There are, however, some fundamental differences in cultural practices of local governments in Pacific Island Countries. While local government in Samoa exhibits a high level of accountability and transparency mechanisms, practices in some other countries may not have the same advantages, and different approaches to capacity building may be warranted.