TALOFA!
While the United States’ influence on the beautiful islands of American Samoa is evident in the only U.S. territory south of the equator, a solid base of strong Samoan traditions, known as the Fa'a Samoa, or Samoan Way, remains. It means that life still moves at a relaxed, leisurely pace. In fact, the Fa'a Samoa is one of the islands' greatest assets.
The beauty of the islands is astonishing. The two coral atolls and five volcanic islands that make up American Samoa are lush and green, with sharp peaks rising along the coastline, providing settings for some of the most stunning scenery in the Pacific.
Issue 21 Travel Feature
The five islands and two coral atolls that make up AMERICAN SAMOA were shaped by volcanic activity, creating a landscape of rugged mountains and a coastline of scooped-out bays and harbors that remain largely undisturbed. The largest island is Tutuila, where the capital Pago Pago is located. Pago Pago harbor, with its beautiful scenic backdrop of densely forested mountains, remains one of the best deep water harbors in the Pacific. The Manu’a islands are made up of Olosega, Ta’u and Ofu. AMERICAN SAMOA lies just 25 minutes by air from its nearest neighbor, Western Samoa.
AMERICAN SAMOA has a history that tells quite a different tale from that of other Southern Pacific Islands. The first human inhabitants are thought to have occupied from as early as 600 BC, settling on the eastern tip of Tutuila near the present day village of Tula. It is thought these migrants came from the west on a journey that passed through Indonesia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. European discovery occurred in 1722 with Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen, who did not, however, land on the islands. They then lay untouched until 1761, and still further avoided official European interest until the 1830s, when both America and Britain sought control. America gained the island of Tutuila because of its valuable harbor at Pago Pago, using this as a strategic base during World War II. The Americans established roads, airstrips, docks and medical facilities. Many Samoans joined the US military, and so the relationship between the two countries was cemented. The Department of Interior took over from the US Navy as administrator of American Samoa in 1951. This islands group is now an unincorporated territory of the United States and resident are classified as American Nationals.
The Manu’a Islands of AMERICAN SAMOA is recognized as ancient Samoa as they are largely undisturbed and retain a strong culture oriented society. AMERICAN SAMOA, like Western Samoa, has a cultural foundation in Fa’a Samoa, meaning the Samoan Way. This strength found in Fa’a Samoa has enables the people to take in the benefits of western culture without losing their own values and customs. It places a huge emphasis on the importance family and community, each family comes under the authority of their chief (matai). The Samoans are very protective of their traditional social structure and remain true to their roots.
