Vailoatai, American Samoa


Vailoatai is a village in southwestern Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. It is located on the eastern end of Leone Bay. The village is known for its beautiful malae (ceremonial village-green) located along the island’s rugged southern coast, lined by the fale talimalo (guest houses) of its village chiefs.

Vailoatai
Village
Etymology: Samoan: "long river seaward"
Vailoatai
Coordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W
Country United States
Territory American Samoa
IslandTutuila Island
Named forSamoan mythology[1]:49
Area
 • Land2.50 sq mi (6.5 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,447
 • Density256.2/sq mi (98.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone)
ZIP Code
96799
Area code(s)+1 684

The original name of the village was Tuaulu[2]. In 1926, Tuaulu and Vailoa combined to form Vailoatai village[3]. Although the whole of the village is named Vailoatai, residents further divide it into Vailoauta and Falīlī areas.

Vailoatai along with Taputimu, Fūtiga and Malaeloa (Itū'au) combine to form the Tūalātai district. The village serves as the district's principality as the titular head of the district is located here.

Vailoatai is a historical marker of the Atua (a political district of Independent Samoa) migration to Tutuila with many Vailoa family names originating from the Atua sub-district of Falealili [4] . The village honors this legacy in its fa’alupega (constitution) by giving Falealili special honors and recognition[5].

The migration of Atua families to Tutuila occurred after the defeat of Malietoa by Tui Atua[6][7][8] approximately around 1500 A.D.[9] The political effect of this migration was the addition of more counties to the original four counties of Tutuila [10]:

Fofō ma A'itulagi (an honorific that is still used to refer to the entire western district) became Falelima i Sisifo, which includes Alataua, Fofō, Leasina (A’itulagi), Tūalātai and Tūalāuta (Ma’opū) counties.

Sua ma Vaifanua (an honorific that is still used to refer to the entire eastern district) became Falelima i Sasa’e, which includes Itū'au Malosi (ma Nofoa), Ma’opūtasi (Launiusaelua), Sa’ole, Sua and Vaifanua counties. The HTC Tuā'olo, of the Ma'opūtasi district, counts as the island's tenth county vote; this was a gift Tui Manu’a bestowed upon the chief upon his return from Salamāsina’s installation as Sāmoa's first Tafa'ifā (monarch)[11].

The raising of the U.S. flag over Tutuila saw the end of Atua’s influence over the island, much to the relief of local chiefs who were tried of the endless wars in Upolu. They did not want to remain under the control of Upolu paramount chiefs, Germany or Great Britain[12]. Sātele and Fuimaono of Vailoa were two of the signatories to the Tutuila Deed of Cession in 1900[13].

In 1907, the village opened its first church with the London Missionary Society (LMS). LMS missionaries note that an elaborate feast marked the special occasion with attendance by dignitaries and family members from around the island [14].

In 1915, the Manu'a islands suffered severe damage from a hurricane, and the village hosted (among other villages in Tutuila) many residents from Manu'a while relief efforts took place there[15].

In 1934, the Marist Le'alā School for boys opened up in the area between Vailoatai and Taputimu. The school, however, is no longer in existence[16].

During World War II, U.S. Marines built an airstrip that spanned Leone, Vailoatai and Taputimu. Unfortunately, the airstrip could not be used due to prevailing winds, which made take-offs difficult [17]. Only two planes were able to make use of the airstrip before it was abandoned[18]. Government facilities (to include Leone Midkiff Elementary and Leone High School) and residential units have been built over the old airstrip.

Legends

In the book, Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u ma Fisaga o Tala Ave, the village of Vailoa defeated the cannibal king Tuife’ai with the assistance of two brothers from Atua[19]. Tuife'ai is a title that has many tala (legends) from Manu'a, Tutuila and Upolu. Sunia notes that the title goes back as far as 500 A.D. [20], and that the Tuife'ai of that time is responsible for the first attempted invasion of the Manu'a kingdom.

Historical Sites

Asotau is the name of the village malae. It is a historical marker of the Tafa'ifā I’amafana’s failed invasion of Manu’a. The counties of Sua and Vaifanua rallied under PC Le’iato to expel I’amafana’s forces from Tūalātai, where the king sought refuge under the protection of his relative, PC Sātele, during his retreat from Manu’a[21]. Brother Herman notes that a battle ensued[22]; Sunia writes that the conflict was resolved peacefully instead[23]. I’amafana and his forces returned to Upolu, and the village took the words ‘aso tau’ (Day of War) as the name of its malae to commemorate the event.

Notable People

Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician who served as the territory's lieutenant governor and congressional delegate.

Fagaoalii Lefagaoali'i Sātele Sunia (c. 1946 – September 5, 2015) was an American Samoan literacy advocate and educator. She served as the First Lady of American Samoa from January 1997 to March 2003 during the tenure of her husband, former Governor Tauese Sunia, who died in office in 2003.

Notable Landmarks

Leone High School is a senior high school in Vailoatai and Leone, Western District, American Samoa.

Le'ala Shoreline National Natural Landmark is 35 acres and was designated in 1972.[24] Le'ala Sliding Rock is a natural rock formation between Vailoatai and Taputimu, which is a scenic landmark as well as a natural playground or slide. It is located in Tūalātai in the Western District of Tutuila.


Demographics
Population growth[25]
20101447
2000989
1990805
1980677

References
  1. Fai'ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. ISBN 9781546229070.
  2. Fai’ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. ISBN 9781546229070.
  3. Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940
  4. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press.
  5. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press.
  6. Freeman, J. (1943). THE SEUAO CAVE. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 52(3), 101-109. Retrieved August 7, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/20702941
  7. Tauiliili, Pemerika L. Anoafale O Le Gagana Ma Le Aganuu.
  8. Henry, Fred (1939). Elementary Geography of the Samoan Islands, Government of American Samoa, Tutuila
  9. Henry, Fred (1939). Elementary Geography of the Samoan Islands, Government of American Samoa, Tutuila
  10. Henry, Fred (1939). Elementary Geography of the Samoan Islands, Government of American Samoa, Tutuila
  11. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 51. ISBN 9781573062992
  12. Kruse, Line-Noue Mamea (2018). The Pacific Insular Case of American Samoa
  13. Tutuila Deed of Cession, 2 April 1900
  14. The London Missionary Society Tutuila Mission. ASHPO(2012).
  15. American Samoa: A General Report by the Governor, 1925
  16. Fai’ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. ISBN 9781546229070.
  17. Gray, J.A.C. (1960). Amerika Samoa and its Naval Administration. Page 243.
  18. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 238. ISBN 9781573062992
  19. Fai’ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. ISBN 9781546229070.
  20. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 35. ISBN 9781573062992
  21. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 52. ISBN 9781573062992
  22. Brother Herman (1966). Tales of Ancient Samoa: Tala O Le Vavau. (n.p.): Association of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys
  23. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 53. ISBN 9781573062992
  24. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=LESH-AS
  25. "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2015" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.