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What's in a name?

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Known as the “Heart of Polynesia” or the “Cradle of Polynesia” There is evidence that supports what many believe, that Samoa is the oldest culture where all Polynesian cultures derive. This belief, of course, does not detract from the rich beauty that makes up the cultures of Polynesia. Like siblings of one family, each has many unique characteristics and qualities that fit to serve their people and bless the world. Unlike other Polynesian cultures, Samoa does not have a migratory legend that tells of their beginnings. The legend that depicts Samoa’s beginning is one of creation, not unfamiliar to the creation story found in the bible. Because the history of Samoa is oral and for that matter the history of Polynesia. The phrase “Samoa tala lasi” is often heard when stories are told. The meaning of this phrase, is there are many versions to the same story. Each version can help to provide additional texture and meaning. To assess the accuracy of a particular version, Samoans will oft...
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Le o'o

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In Samoa, o’o is often referred to as “the first”. The young coconut shoot is also known as the o’o. This shoot is symbolic of a family. When the o’o matures it produces much fruit or offspring in its own likeness. In the beginning, when a worthy man was given authority to direct the affairs of his family he would be referred to as the o’o. For example, the first title holder of my Alofipo family in Savai’i is known as Alofipo le o’o. The title Alofipo is passed down from generation to generation but the additional salutation of “le o’o” is reserved only to honor the first. Like families, there are many types of o’o with unique qualities, characteristics and traits that are passed down to serve the next generation. The traditional economic system was based on this natural law concept. Like the “niu afa’s” fibers, from one generation to the next was used to create rope, so too did that certain family from one generation to the next served to perpetuate those important skills to make ...
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Sustainability Part One - Tourism

At the core of the Le Faleo'o project is reviving the cultural skills of American Samoa.  The financial survivability of the project will depend on multiple streams of cash flow. Tourism is only one of these streams. Between September 2019 and June 2020 there are twenty cruise ships scheduled to port in American Samoa.  Although it's wonderful to have thousands of cruise ship visitors come to the island, the fact that they only affect twenty days out of the year makes it near logistically impossible for producers to provide a consistent product.  As a result, the only products available to these visitors are tour buses, taxi tours and your occasional private tours. You also have individual vendors that participate in a makeshift flea market. The common thread that makes these type of products readily available is the fact that the bus and taxi operations are in operation year round, not just the twenty days.  The vendors and private tour operators have other...
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The Story

A few months ago I attended a tourism development meeting, it was almost a fleeting comment that the presenter made that I’m sure along with those in attendance thought insignificant, but was a gut shot to me. I was left wondering and doubting if what I just heard was true. My name is David Tuinei and I was born and raised in American Samoa. When I was a young boy I could remember as I passed through many villages seeing an abundance of evidence of traditional arts and crafts being created. Memories of being grumpy because of the early hour that my dad woke me and made me hike up a steep hillside covered with fresh dew, so that we could help a group of men and boys haul a Ifilele (Samoan Hardwood) tree trunk to have it eventually carved into a canoe are still fresh in my mind. The feeling of satisfaction that came months after that grumpy morning from taking that canoe to Lion’s Park for its inaugural launch yet resonates with me as if it just happened. The smoke-filled hut signifi...
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