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Top Attractions in Samoa

Upolu

Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is 75 kilometres long, 1,125 km2 in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as with 135,000 people the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the southeast of the "big island", Savaii. The capital Apia is in the middle of the north coast with Faleolo International Airport at the western end of the island. The island has not had any historically recorded eruptions, although three lava flows date back only a few hundred to a few thousand years. In the Samoan branch of Polynesian mythology, Upolu was the first woman on the island of the same name. In 1841, the island was the site of the Bombardment of Upolu, an incident during the United States Exploring Expedition. In the late 19th century, the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson owned a 400-acre estate at Vailima village and died there in 1894. He is buried at the top of Mount Vaea above his former home. The Vailima estate was purchased in 1900 as the official residence for the German governor and, after British/Dominion confiscation, served successively as residence for the New Zealand administrator and for the Samoan head of state after independence. An extremely small species of spider lives on Upolu. According to the Guinness Book of World Records 2005, the spider is the size of a period on a printed page.

Savaii

Savaiʻi is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savaii is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose. The island is home to 43,142 people who make up 24% of the countrys population. The only township and ferry terminal is Salelologa, the main entry point to the island, situated at the east end of Savaii. A tar sealed road serves as the one main highway, connecting most of the villages with local buses reaching most settlements. Savaii is made up of six itūmālō . Each district is made up of villages with strong traditional ties of kinship, history, land and matai chief titles. There is also some limited ecotourism development which operates mostly within the villages. The Mau, Samoas non-violent movement for political independence during colonialism in the early 1900s, had its beginnings on Savaii with the Mau a Pule movement. The island is the largest shield volcano in the South Pacific with recent eruptions in the early 1900s. The central region comprises the Central Savaii Rainforest that with 72,699 hectares forms the largest continuous patch of rainforest in Polynesia. It is dotted with more than 100 volcanic craters and contains most of Samoas native species of flora and fauna, making it globally significant in world conservation areas.

Mount Matavanu

Mt Matavanu is an active volcano on the island of Savaii in Samoa. The most recent eruptions from Matavanu occurred between 1905 1911 with lava flows on its northern side flowing towards the islands coastline and into the sea in the district of Gagaemauga. The eruptions began 4 August 1905 and stopped in November 1911. The lava flowed over 40 square miles of countryside to the lagoon and reef, destroying villages in its path between Samalaeulu to the east and Saleaula to the west. The depth of the lava flow in some parts was 400 feet. Due to the destruction of their homes by the seaside, some of the villages relocated further inland by the main island road. The lava fields can still be seen today, especially in Saleaula as well as the picturesque village of Mauga where the houses or fale are situated around a small volcanic crater. There are church ruins as well a Virgins Grave, the burial place of a girl where the molten lava flowed around rather than over it. Other volcanoes on Savaii include Mata o le Afi and Mauga Afi. The island of Savaii is an active shield volcano. Its highest peak is Mt Silisili.

Savaii

Savaiʻi is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. The island is the fifth largest in Polynesia, behind the two main islands of New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaii and Maui. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose. The island is home to 43,142 people who make up 24% of the country's population. The only township and ferry terminal is Salelologa, the main entry point to the island, situated at the east end of Savai'i. A tar sealed road serves as the one main highway, connecting most of the villages with local buses reaching most settlements. Savai'i is made up of six itūmālō . Each district is made up of villages with strong traditional ties of kinship, history, land and matai chief titles. There is also some limited ecotourism development which operates mostly within the villages. The Mau, Samoa's non-violent movement for political independence during colonialism in the early 1900s, had its beginnings on Savai'i with the Mau a Pule movement. The island is the largest shield volcano in the South Pacific with recent eruptions in the early 1900s. The central region comprises the Central Savai'i Rainforest that with 72,699 hectares forms the largest continuous patch of rainforest in Polynesia. It is dotted with more than 100 volcanic craters and contains most of Samoa's native species of flora and fauna, making it globally significant in world conservation areas.

Pulemelei Mound

The Pulemelei mound is the largest and most ancient structure in Polynesia. It is situated in Letolo Plantation in the Palauli district, at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. The stone mound is a pyramid constructed of natural basalt stones and at its base measures 65 by 60 metres and has a height of about 12 metres on the south edge and 7 metres on the north edge, and appears to have been oriented to the cardinal directions. Excavations have revealed that it was probably constructed sometime between 1100-1400 AD and was no longer used by 1700-1800 AD. The mound was constructed with a base platform made of volcanic stones, and appears to be built on vertically placed foundations stones. On top of the base stone there are three platforms on top of each other, with vertical or slightly sloping side walls. The top platform surface was level and paved with rounded stream stones, and more than 40 stone cairns were found of recent origin distributed on the top. Local informants provided that the stone piles were built when the mound was cleared of vegetation.

Apia Samoa Temple

The Apia Samoa Temple was the 24th constructed and 22nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was the first temple built in Samoa and the third to be built in Polynesia. After it was destroyed by fire, a new temple was built and dedicated on the same grounds. The intention to construct a temple in Apia was announced by the LDS Church on October 15, 1977. A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on February 19, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball giving the dedicatory prayer. Both the original temple and the rebuilt temple use a classic modern design with a single spire, on a 2-acre temple site. The original temple was 14,560 square feet , but with the rebuilding the total floor area is now 18,691 square feet . The exterior of the temple is finished with granite. The temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. The temple was open to the public for tours July 19 through 30, 1983. Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Apia Samoa Temple August 5, 1983, and rededicated the new temple on September 4, 2005. The Apia Samoa Temple is one of the more heavily used temples of the church and serves members from 20 stakes in American Samoa, and the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

Mauga Afi

Mauna Afi is a volcanic mountain on the island of Savaii in Samoa. Its name means Burning Mountain or Mountain of Fire, from the Samoan language mauga and afi . The most recent eruption of Mauga Afi was around 1725. The island of Savaii consists of a massive shield volcano and is still volcanically active. Other volcanoes on Savaii include Mt Silisili, the highest mountain in Samoa and Mt Matavanu. The eruption of Mt Matavanu destroyed villages on the central north coast of Savaii which can be seen by the lava fields in Saleaula village. In Samoan mythology the god of earthquakes is Mafuie. Another mythical figure Tiitii tricked the earthquake god so that Samoans could have fire to cook their food. Samoans well understood the connection between volcanic eruptions/earthquakes and tsunamis, as shown by the ancient term for tsunami galuafi, or "wave of fire/volcano".

Apolima

Apolima is the smallest of the four inhabited islands of Samoa and situated in the Apolima Strait, between the country's two largest islands Upolu to the east and Savai'i to the west. The island has one village settlement, Apolima Tai with a population of 75 . The small settlement is situated in the interior's flat plateau on the northern side. Apolima is a rim of an extinct volcanic crater with a maximum height of 165 m. It is a little less than one square kilometer in size and the only access to the island is by boat. The tiny island lies 2.4 kilometres northwest off the westernmost edge of Upolu's fringing barrier reef and 7 km southwest of Savai'i island. The island's appearance is of an upturned bowl with surrounding steep cliffs and a broad opening to the sea on the northern side which is the main entry point by boat.

Manono Island

Manono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km WNW off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu. There are four villages on the island with a total population of 889 . Electricity was only introduced in 1995 and there are several shops with beach fale accommodation for visitors. The boat trip from Upolu island takes about 20 minutes. The neighbouring islands are Apolima, which has a small village settlement and the islet Nu'ulopa. Manono Island is part of the political district Aiga-i-le-Tai. The majority of people in the Aiga-i-le-Tai district live on the 'mainland' at the west end of Upolu island. == Villages == The four villages and their populations on Manono Island are; Apai, west (111) Faleu, south (354) Lepuia'i, southwest (223) Salua, north (201) Out of the four inhabited islands of Samoa, Manono Island has the third largest population, after the much larger islands of Upolu and Savai'i. There are no cars or roads. The main thoroughfare is a footpath that follows the coast. Dogs and horses are banned for environmental reasons. In the early 19th century, the island was sometimes called Flat Island, because it consists of a small, flat hill and surrounding low-lying terrain, which is only visible at close approach. During the 1800s, Manono island was a stronghold for the Methodist church and its early mission in Samoa. At an annual church meeting held here on 21 September 1859 a decision was made to establish a training institution on Upolu island which eventually led to the establishment of Piula Theological College in Lufilufi.

Apia Samoa Temple original

The Apia Samoa Temple (formerly the Samoan Temple) was the 24th constructed and 22nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was the first temple built in Samoa and the third to be built in Polynesia. After it was destroyed by fire, a new temple was built and dedicated on the same grounds. The intention to construct a temple in Apia was announced by the LDS Church on October 15, 1977. A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on February 19, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball giving the dedicatory prayer. Both the original temple and the rebuilt temple use a classic modern design with a single spire, on a 2-acre (8,100 m2) temple site. The original temple was 14,560 square feet (1,353 m2), but with the rebuilding the total floor area is now 18,691 square feet (1,736.5 m2). The exterior of the temple is finished with granite. The temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. The temple was open to the public for tours July 19 through 30, 1983. Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Apia Samoa Temple August 5, 1983, and rededicated the new temple on September 4, 2005. The Apia Samoa Temple is one of the more heavily used temples of the church and serves members from 20 stakes in American Samoa, and the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

Mount Vaea

Mount Vaea is a 472 m summit overlooking Apia, the capital of Samoa located on the north central coast of Upolu island. The mountain is situated south about 3 km inland from Apia township and harbour. The settlement at the foothills on the northern side of the mountain is called Lalovaea . Mount Vaea is most well known as the burial place of Robert Louis Stevenson who lived the last four years of his life in Samoa before his death on 3 December 1894. Stevenson, who had lived on the east side of Mount Vaea, had chosen the mountain top as his final resting place. The day following his death, his coffin was carried by Samoans to the summit for burial. The steep path to his grave is called the 'Road of Loving Hearts.' It takes about an hour to ascend by foot. Stevenson was called Tusitala [Samoan language]:tusi book, tala writer) by the people of Samoa. Inscribed on Stevenson's tomb is his requiem: Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie.Glad did I live and gladly die,And I laid me down with a will.This be the verse you grave for me:Here he lies where he longed to be;Home is the sailor, home from sea,And the hunter home from the hill. The ashes of his wife Fanny Stevenson, who died in California in 1914, were taken back by her daughter to Samoa in 1915 and buried beside her husband. The bronze plaque for Fanny bears her Samoan name 'Aolele' . Stevenson's estate and colonial home, Villa Vailima, is now a national museum in his honour. It is situated in the village of Vailima at the eastern foot of Mount Vaea,

Palauli

Palauli is a district and village of Samoa, with a population of 8,984. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i. The capital is Vailoa which is also referred to as Vailoa i Palauli (Vailoa in Palauli district). Geological formations of lava tubes have created the Taga Blowholes on the coast of Taga village and attracts visitors and tourists. In recent years, the inland village of Sili has refused the government of Samoa from building a hydro power plant on traditional land due to conservation and cultural concerns. The paramount title of this district is Lilomaiava, which is conferred in Vailoa. As part of the selection process for the title-holder, Vailoa must consult with Safotu village in the Gagaifomauga political district. Safotu is the northern base of the Lilomaiava title in Savai'i. Lilomaiava carried the Malietoa title into the island of Upolu, a name given to Lilomaiava after defeating the Tongan Monarchy in a gaming challenge. Malietoa in the Tongan language means strength and courage.

National University of Samoa

The National University of Samoa (Le Iunivesite Aoao o Samoa) is the only national university in Samoa. Established in 1984 by an act of parliament, the university is coeducational and provides certificate, diploma, and undergraduate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational training. About 2,000 students are currently enrolled (2010) with an estimated 300 staff. It offers a wide range of programmes including Arts, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Science, Nursing, Engineering and Maritime Training. The Centre for Samoan Studies, established within the university for the teaching of the Samoan language and culture, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as the world first degree, Master of Samoan Studies. The National University of Samoa has the distinction of being one of two universities in Samoa, the second being the University of the South Pacific - Alafua Campus which specializes in Agriculture. The campus was built in part with funding from the Government of Japan.

Apia Park

Apia Park is a multi-function sports complex located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Primarily used for rugby union events, Apia Park is the home stadium of the Samoa national rugby union team, Manu Samoa. It is also a venue for association football. In 2007, Apia Park was one of the main venues for the 2007 Pacific Games, hosting the athletics, table tennis, badminton, lawn bowls, rugby sevens and touch rugby events. The Park will be put to use again for an international event when it hosts the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, as well as the Games' athletics, rugby league and tennis competitions. The venue consists of a stadium with a capacity of 15,000, a gymnasium, as well as tennis and netball courts. The Island of Savai'i however calls the Prince Edwards Park, Lalomalava their home stadium.
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