Fagaʻitua, American Samoa Explained

Fagaʻitua
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:American Samoa
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:Territory
Subdivision Name1: American Samoa
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Sua
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:1.37
Elevation M:8
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:287
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Samoa Time Zone
Utc Offset:-11
Coordinates:-14.2675°N -170.6139°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:96799
Area Code:+1 684

Fagaʻitua is a village in the east of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on the central coast of Fagaʻitua Bay. It is in Sua County,[1] a county also known as Samoan: {{okina ("the house of the five in the east"). Fagaitua is located at a shallow bay on the south coast of the island, in-between Lauli'i and Alofau. It is home to Luafagā, Le'iato's house of chiefs, and the big malae Malotumau.[2]

Coral reefs at Fagaʻitua suffered significant damage during the 2009 tsunami.[3]

Fagaʻitua is home to the smallest and most rural high school in American Samoa. Fagaʻitua High School (FHS), whose student body is around 500 as of 2018, practices football at the old rugby field by Pago Pago Bay. It has never had its own field but has utilized the uneven turf at Onesosopo Park, which is replete with volcanic stubble, water, toads, and sand traps. Rob Shaffer was hired as a teacher by Fagaʻitua in February 1972 and eventually also took over coaching of the high school's football team. Shaffer has played varsity as a quarterback for Oceanside High School under head coach Herb Meyer.[4]

In 2018, a monument was made for the Fagaʻitua High School Alumni Association in order to commemorate Fagaʻitua High School's 50th anniversary. The statue will eventually be mounted onto the pedestal which was designed and constructed by the American Samoa Department of Public Works. It is located in front of Fagaʻitua High School. The statue depicts a Viking warrior with his head tilted towards the east and the Eastern Star. The statue was made locally on Tutuila Island.[5]

Demographics

YearPopulation[6]
287
433
483
455
422
302
309
255
212
152

Notable residents

Notes and References

  1. Tuʻuʻu, Misilugi Tulifau Tofaeono (2002). History of Samoa Islands: Supremacy & Legacy of the Malietoa (na Fa'alogo i Ai Samoa). Tuga'ula Publication. Page 427. .
  2. Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. Page 426. .
  3. Web site: American Samoan coral damage reassessed. 3 November 2009.
  4. Ruck, Rob (2018). Tropic of Football: The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL. The New Press. .
  5. Web site: Commemorative monument sparks criticism from some FHS alums. 13 July 2018.
  6. Web site: American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016. American Samoa Department of Commerce. 2019-07-25. 2019-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214131436/http://doc.as.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/American-Samoa-Statistical-Yearbook-2016.pdf. dead.
  7. News: Funeral services for Mrs. Susana Lutali set for June 29 . . 2012-06-24 . 2022-01-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130175722/https://www.samoanews.com/funeral-services-mrs-susana-lutali-set-june-29 . 2022-01-30 . live.