American samoa has a total land area of 77 miles that includes 5 inhabited islands and 1 uninhabited coral atoll. Two titles relate directly to the mailietoa line namely supremacy and legacy of the malietoa published in 2002 and malietoa superior warrior of samoa. In the cook islands to the east, the tradition is that karika, or tui manua alia, came to the cook islands from manua. American samoa institute of museum and library services. Samoan mythology and legends say they descended from the gods and heavens to inhabit these islands. American samoa became one of only places in the world the others being new caledonia and marajo island in brazil to have proactively prevented any deaths during the pandemic through the quick response from governor john martin poyer after hearing news reports of. The natural history guide to american samoa is a comprehensive guide to the parks geology, geography, and biota. The content detailed in the book ranges from the migration, discovery, and inhabitation of the western pacific and specifically samoa, today known as a territory just over a hundred years old.
The samoan people are polynesians whose ancestors settled the archipelago about 3,000 years ago. American samoa beat the apia team by half a point and won the samoa cup. A history of america samoa is a high school level textbook initiated and completed by the amerika samoa humanities council. History of samoa samoa has a long and fascinating history spanning more than 3,000 years. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions with 3 plates, 4 maps and 44 illustra augustin kramer university of hawaii press, 2000 history 728 pages. Tau is the largest of the manua group and the easternmost volcanic island of the samoan islands. The inhabitants of american samoa are american nationals, but.
Samoan culture is undoubtedly central to polynesian life, and its styles of music, dance, and visual art have gained renown throughout the. The island is the peak of a huge undersea mountain. Millions of products all with free shipping new zealand wide. This book tackles photographys role during robert louis stevensons travels throughout the pacific island region and is the first study of his familys previously unpublished photographs. High school level textbook on the history of american samoa. Samoa has a long, rich history, from the first people who arrived 3000 years ago. In american samoa, an unincorporated territory only 76. Where we once belonged by sia figiel, coming of age in samoa. The idea of sleeping in someones office was the best idea i. A history of american samoa is a high school level textbook initiated and completed by the amerika samoa humanities council. Sep 10, 2017 about three fourths of the american samoa population is considered obese, which is the highest rate in the world. The capital, pago pago, was a strategic naval base for the u. The content detailed in the book ranges from the migration, discovery, and inhabitation of the western pacific and specifically samoa, up until today, known as a territory just over a hundred years old. Culture of american samoa history, people, clothing.
The prewestern history of eastern samoa now american samoa is inextricably bound with the history of western samoa now independent samoa. In 1918, during the final stages of world war i, the flu pandemic had taken its toll, spreading rapidly from country to country. The history of american samoa begins long before the first european contact, a dutchman named jacob roggeveen 16591729. Popular samoan books showing 3 of 33 where we once belonged paperback by. Cutting across disciplinary boundaries, the book integrates photographs with letters, nonfiction, and. A richly illustrated history of the samoan islands, particularly its relationship with the. I was so enthralled by this book that after finishing the last page i just had to go back and read it all over again. The four western islands constitute the independent nation of western samoa now samoa. Since then all members of the territorys fono have been elected by the citizens.
A history of american samoa is a high school level textbook initiated by the amerika samoa humanities council. Mr shaffer has done a remarkable job of presenting samoas journey through time, melding historical figures and events with fictional characters and cultural legends to tell a story of a people who even today remain strong and proud in their age old culture. The three rugs i had brought to cushion my back worked surprisingly well. Swain island joined the territory in 1925 by an act of the congress. History of american samoa the samoan islands were settled by polynesians probably from tonga about bce. Examining the politics of each pacific island state and territory, this wellresearched volume discusses historical background and colonial experience, constitutional framework, political institutions, political parties, elections and electoral systems, and problems and prospects. Elevated obesity rates are even occurring in newborns, and type 2 diabetes is prevalent in 1 out of 5 american samoans. Nhds affiliates also provide programmatic materials and workshops for teachers and students. It was almost more comfortable than the thin mats on the cold concrete floors of the fales in samoa. A short history of western samoa by malama meleisea et al. Many scholars believe that by about 500 ce samoa had become the point of origin for voyagers who settled much of eastern polynesia.
The samoan islands were first settled some 3,500 years ago as part of the austronesian expansion. Of particular importance to samoans are the original documents containing ceremonial greetings and genealogical pedigrees. Samoa is the story of the islands and their people of ratu the ancient mariner, leading his people on a voyage of discovery. A psychological study of primitive youth for western civilisation by margaret mead, under the wi. It is believed american samoas first residents migrated to the islands from fiji, tonga, vanuatu, and indonesia some time around 600 bc. In 1981 american samoans for the first time elected a nonvoting delegate to serve a twoyear term in the u. The idea of sleeping in someones office was the best idea i had had all year. The samoan islands were first settled some 3,500 years ago as part of the austronesian. The samoans agitated for control of their countrys affairs, and in 1977 peter coleman, a samoan, became the territorys first elected governor. Photo galleries american samoa historic preservation office. The book was launched in the summer of 2009 and was adopted by the american samoa department of education soon after.
When you arrive in american samoa, their customs officials will ask you to present proof of a valid return plane ticket that departs from american samoa within 60 days of your arrival. History of american samoa news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2007 learn how and when to remove this template message. Australia oceania american samoa the world factbook. A part of the samoan island chain, it is the southernmost territory of the us. The islands are located approximately 2200 hundred miles southwest of the hawaiian islands. Drawn from the marsden project, everyday samoa 18002000. Guided by the stars, the polynesian ancestors made their way across the pacific in oceanfaring canoes thousands of years ago.
I have recently authored a book titled delias promise available through in which i describe the culture of the filipino people through the eyes of a filipino child. Justin maga, territorial librarian, feleti barstow public library, american samoa. Natural history guide to the park national park of american. Greg mcfallnoaa samoan archipelago with sanctuary units identified.
Edited by malama meleisea and penny schoeffel meleisea, lagaga covers samoan history from early polynesian arrival through the missionary era, independence in 1962 and the first two decades of the state of western samoa. The samoan islands were settled by polynesians probably from tonga about bce. Therefore, it can be assumed that all of the samoan islands have been inhabited by people for over 2,500 years. American samoa information providing interactive telephone number lookup and general information. A psychological study of primitive youth for western civilisatio. A daily visit to samoas extraordinary everyday past. American samoa is an incorporated, selfgoverning territory of the us. A history of american samoa hawaiian and pacific studies. A guide to the united states history of recognition, diplomatic, and consular relations in samoa. The people who brought the lapita cultural complex to the samoan archipelago were seafarers who had occupied islands at least as far west as the admiralties off the north shore of new guinea. I will keep researching everything and the history of american samoa. Natural history guide to the park national park of. Also in 1983, the south pacific games were held in apia. A history of american samoa and its united states naval administration.
These programs are independently sponsored by organizations that coordinate local and affiliate level contests where students can compete for the chance to advance to the national contest. An outline of a monograph with particular consideration of german samoa. American samoas strong faamatai chief system is said to originate from two early female chiefs, nafanua and salamasina. American samoa is an unincorporated territory of the united states.
The large harbor at pago pago contains a full us naval station. The territory, which is part of polynesia, includes the six samoan islands east of the 171 w meridian. The capital is pago pago, which is located on the island of tutilla. The islands of samoa were originally inhabited by humans as early as 850 ce. Samoa formerly western samoa, its closest neighbour and a selfgoverning country, consists of the nine samoan islands west of the meridian. Archaeological excavations in western samoa revealed lapita pottery dating back to about 800 b. The content detailed in the book ranges from the migration, discovery, and inhabitation of the western pacific and specifically samoa, today known as a. American samoa history genealogy familysearch wiki. Our attention will be focused, too, on literacy services. Authority over american samoa was initially placed with the u.
Media in category history of american samoa the following 30 files are in this category, out of 30 total. Migrants from southeast asia arrived in the samoan islands more than 2,000 years ago and from there settled the rest of polynesia further to the east. Augustin kramers account of his sojourn in the samoa islands from 1897 to 1899. Samoan islands history, polynesia history, books barnes. American samoa, unincorporated territory of the united states consisting of the eastern part of the samoan archipelago, located in the southcentral pacific ocean.
All samoan language texts have been retained in this edition. Wikimedia atlas of american samoa olosega native village 1896. This was the second time in the history of tutuila and manua when the high chiefs of what is now american samoa were together at one time the first time being in almost prehistoric days when what is now american samoa was parceled. A daily visit to samoa s extraordinary everyday past. The first settlement was the eastern tutuila village of tula. A hist or y of american samoa and its united states naval administration united states naval institute, 1960. Adele satelegaleai brought home the winning trophy from the regional womens volleyball tournament in hawaii. American samoa remains an unincorporated territory of the united states. Lata mountain on tau is the highest peak in american samoa at an elevation of 3,054 feet 931. About three fourths of the american samoa population is considered obese, which is the highest rate in the world. How to move to the islands of american samoa getaway usa.
The very earliest history of samoa concerns a political center in the easternmost samoan islands of manua, under the rule of the tui manua. This gallery consists of a single photo from june, 1922, at tau, manua, during the flag day celebrations there. Ably discussed by malama and twelve others, lagaga, first published in 1987. Samoa books, samaon language books, fale faatautusi.
The matai local chiefs of tutuila, the largest island in american samoa, ceded the island to the united states in 1900. And i am proud to grew up in a samoan family and to become a true samoan. The sanctuary is located in both territorial and federal waters of the u. The following discussion focuses on samoa since european contact. Samoas early and more current history is strongly connected with the histories of tonga and fiji, which are in the same region, and with whom it shares historical, genealogical, and cultural traditions european exploration first reached the islands in the early 18th century. There are a number of books written by misilugi tulifau tofaeono tuuu on the history of samoa and its rulers. Samoa is the story of the islands and their people. History of samoa, settlement of samoans, culture and tradition, introduction to the history of samoa. Rauzon worked in the field of island restoration, traveling throughout the american insular pacific to. Natural history guide 4 marinea island highest island km2mi type pt. Samoa, country in the central south pacific ocean, among the westernmost of the island countries of polynesia according to legend, samoa is known as the cradle of polynesia because savaii island is said to be hawaiki, the polynesian homeland. Traditional oral literature of samoa and manua talks of a widespread polynesian network or confederacy or empire that was prehistorically. Summary the united states began to interact with what is now samoa during the first half of the 19th century, when u. Support for the american samoa library cooperative, which is the territorial library consortium that shares the destiny online catalog, will continue and strengthen.
American samoa includes the inhabited islands of tutuila, tau, olosega, ofu. The transformation of american foreign relations, 18651900 1976 pp 7283, 31126. Contact with europeans began in the early 1700s but did not intensify until the arrival of english missionaries and traders in the 1830s. The tui manua is one of the oldest samoan titles in samoa. Formal relations did not begin until after samoan independence in the early 1960s.