The island history of American Samoa is a rich blend of traditional Polynesian culture and U.S. history. Its population is almost entirely Samoan, with a heritage that dates back 3,000 years. The society is guided by fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way), which prioritizes family, respect for elders and the community. American Samoa was colonized by the United States twice, first settling on what is now the island of Tutuila in 1900, and the Manu’a islands in 1904, combining Samoan practice with American connection. The territory’s land area of 197 km² is composed of 5 volcanic islands (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ofu, Olosega, Ta’ū) and 2 coral atolls (Rose and Swains). About 90% of the land is covered with rainforest, and Pago Pago Harbor is surrounded by craggy, verdant peaks. It’s on account of all of these things — an age-old Samoan culture, ties to the U.S., tropical rainforests and island villages — that American Samoa’s heritage is truly one of a kind.
What is fa’a Samoa and how does it shape island living?
Fa’a Samoa, or “the Samoan way,” literally. It is the cultural code in Samoa. Fa’a Samoa focuses on community life: peace and respect. According to the National Park Service, fa’a Samoa is a system of beliefs that prioritize community, mutual respect and a harmonious relationship with the natural world. In practice, the court ruling means that Samoans concentrate on family life and obey village traditions. Villages are governed by chiefs (matai) who take care of the extended family (aiga). Older people are respected in daily life and collective welfare is considered in decision-making. In brief, fa’a Samoa filters everything — how people live with each other, to the way traditional ceremonies and leadership (matai system) works.
What traditional art and customs are representative of Samoan culture?
Their Samoan ancestry is reflected in various arts and traditions. We over: Tatau are very significant. In Samoa, tattoos are badges of honor and identity. The U.S. National Park Service writes that Samoan tattoo designs signify “the things in life that are of utmost value to Samoans: community, power, status, respect, and honor”. Only Samoan people carry these tattoo markings traditionally – it is said to be disrespectful for others to have.
Also another main tradition is the weaving of ‘ie tōga (fine mats). These are the work of women and they are woven of pandanus leaves, and are of the greatest cultural significance. At weddings, funerals and chiefly title ceremonies, fine mats are presented as tokens of respect and to bind families together.
Even traditional Samoan houses, which are round with thatched roofs and open sides to create a space in which people can freely commune called a fale, constitute commentary on culture. (This open arrangement demonstrates the joy of community living.)
Dance and music are aspects of life, too — the siva Samoa dance, for instance, is taught in schools and danced at festivals. And Samoan cuisine (think cooking coconut, taro and fish in an umu earth oven) gets families and loved ones together at village feasts.
What holidays honor American Samoa’s island heritage?
| Festival | Date | Highlights |
| American Samoa Flag Day | April 17 each year | 2-day celebration with feasts, parades, church programs, cricket matches and fautasi (longboat) races. Villages, schools, and churches perform traditional dances and music. This marks the day in 1900 when Samoan chiefs ceded Tutuila to the U.S. (first raising the Stars and Stripes). |
| National Tourism Week | First week of May | Week-long events to boost tourism. Highlights include the Miss American Samoa pageant on Utulei Beach, canoe (va’a) races, parades, fireworks and community barbecues. It resembles Samoa’s Teuila Festival and showcases local culture. |
| Manu’a Cession Day | July 16 | Celebrates 1904 when the Manu’a Islands became part of American Samoa. The three Manu’a islands (Ofu, Olosega, Ta’u) have flag-raising ceremonies, church choir performances, and traditional dancing to honor their history. |
| (Bonus: Discoverer’s Day) | October (Columbus Day week) | Also known as “Discoverer’s Day” in American Samoa, it includes parades and community events, linking to historic Pacific navigation. |
The festivals are each quite local and lively. For instance, each 17th April the Flag Day is celebrated, with some extravagant dances and boat races. In villages the Samoan flag stands aloft with the U.S. flag flying beside it. Fautasi longboat races, where teams of up to 50 paddlers compete, draw crowds around Pago Pago Bay. National Tourism Week has, among other events, canoe racing and a Miss American Samoa contest. On the Manu’a Islands, folk congregate in seaside villages, listening to speeches, singing, dancing, and otherwise paying their respects by recalling the 1904 cession. These celebrations are a time when Samoans showcase their culture through events and performances.
What are the historical sites and monuments of your heritage?
American Samoa offers key cultural and historic sites. The National Park of American Samoa (on Tutuila, Ta’ū, Ofu) is home to Samoan village sites, and coral reefs, and rainforest trails. In fact, it is the only National Park in the South Pacific. There are hiking trails that pass through historic native village sites and past ancient petroglyphs.
Near Pago Pago, Tia Seu Lupe (a ceremonial “star mound” in Fatuoaiga) is a restored earthen platform on which chiefs used to sit to hold pigeon-catching games. Samoan artifacts and stories are preserved in the park and the adjacent Jean P. Haydon Museum in Fagatogo. (The museum also boasts an American Samoa flag that went to the moon in 1969.)
More World War II history still lingers; in the harbor area, there are old gun batteries at Breakers and Blunts Point that date from the 1940s. Between them, these natural and man-made sites allow visitors to witness village life in Samoa, historic monuments and wartime landmarks.
What are some ways that travelers can engage with American Samoa’s island heritage?
You can visit all the cultural sites directly by participating in guided tours, themed village events or attractions. For a deeper experience, hike the local trails that pass through Samoan villages, where local families will greet you and you can see traditional homes as well.
For Samoan music and dance, you can attend a “fiafia” night (a cultural performance). Local shops and markets offer crafts like ie tōga mats, tapa cloth, and carved wooden bowls. The Jean P. Haydon Museum, in Fagatogo, features historical artifacts and tells the story of the American Samoa.
Visitors may attend festivals (such as Flag Day) and church affairs. Travelers should respect fa’a Samoa. “Samoan culture is ancient,” as the park’s visitor guide explains, “As a visitor, it is respectful to observe this custom to the Samoan people”.
For instance, always request permission to shoot stills of people, or to enter a village and take off your footwear before entering a Samoan home or when going in to church. By respecting local traditions and participating in community festivities, guests can experience the heart of American Samoa’s island culture.
What are 3 important festivals in American Samoa?
Flag Day (April 17) – commemorates the 1900 raising of the U.S. flag; celebrations include parades, church services and traditional dances. National Tourism Week (1st week in May) – you’ll get to see the Miss American Samoa pageant as well as the port races. Manu’a Cession Day (16 July) – commemorates the cession of the Manu’a Islands in 1904; flag-raising and music.
What is faʻa Samoa?
Faʻa Samoa, that’s the Samoan way,’ she said, explaining that it is the traditional way of life, where the priority is family, respect and community. It shapes American Samoa’s daily life and ceremonies.
What is the Samoan tattoo called?
The Samoan tattoo tradition is known as tatau. It is a ritual act that is sacred to the rite of passage and the identity. Among Samoans, a tatau — which uses traditional patterns applied by a master tattooist and is meant to symbolize “community, power, status, respect, and honor” — have deep cultural significance.
What is the language of American Samoa?
More than 95% of the population speak Samoan and English. At the home and village levels the language spoken is Samoan (a Polynesian language), while in schools, government and business, English is the predominant language (although some administrative functions are conducted in Samoan).
