Malaeimi, American Samoa Explained

Malaeimi
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:American Samoa
Pushpin Label Position:top
Coordinates:-14.3174°N -170.7408°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Territory
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name1: American Samoa
Subdivision Name2:Tuālāuta
Population Total:1,046
Population As Of:2020
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:96799
Area Code:+1 684
Timezone:Samoa Time Zone
Utc Offset:-11
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1669451

Malaeimi is a village in American Samoa, located in Tuālāuta County. The village is home to a large number of shops and restaurants, including eateries serving native cuisine alongside Filipino, Italian, Vietnamese, and American.[1]

History

Malaeimi Valley contains an archaeological site designated AS-31-34, where Samoan ceramic potsherds have been discovered.[2]

In late 1942, the Malaeimi Valley served as a site for jungle training exercises conducted by the United States Marine Corps.[3] The U.S. military established facilities in Malaeimi Valley during World War II, including a state-of-the-art jungle warfare training center and a communications filter center. The installation featured a rifle range, the main filter center building, three officers' quarters with an associated latrine, three enlisted men's quarters with their own latrine, a mess hall, a movie projector, and a designated garbage platform. In late 1942, U.S. Marines began jungle training operations in Malaeimi Valley, but the program was halted due to high incidences of mosquito-borne illnesses. Consequently, between October 1942 and June 1943, the military evacuated 1,265 infected servicemen from Tutuila.[4] [5]

The 1987 case Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. Hodel (decided on October 9, 1987) was a significant legal ruling in the context of land ownership in American Samoa. The court invalidated the sale of land in Malaeimi to the Mormon Church, affirming the constitutional validity of restrictions limiting the ownership of native land in American Samoa to individuals of Samoan ancestry. The decision held that these restrictions did not contravene the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.[6]

Population

YearPopulation[7]
1,046
1,182
1,067
830
717

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Clayville, Melinda (2021). Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Manu'a Islands. Page 66. ISBN 9798556052970.
  2. Best, Simon (2002). Lapita: A View from the East. New Zealand Archaeological Association. Page 78. ISBN 9780959791570.
  3. Bennett, Judith A. (2009). Natives and Exotics: World War II and Environment in the Southern Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. Page 62. ISBN 9780824863715.
  4. https://npshistory.com/publications/npsa/brochures/naval-ww2-history.pdf
  5. Bennett, Judith A. (2009). Natives and Exotics: World War II and Environment in the Southern Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. Page 62. ISBN 9780824863715.
  6. Negrón-Muntaner, Frances (2017). Sovereign Acts: Contesting Colonialism Across Indigenous Nations and Latinx America. University of Arizona Press. Page 56. ISBN 9780816532124.
  7. Web site: American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016. American Samoa Department of Commerce. 2019-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214131436/http://doc.as.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/American-Samoa-Statistical-Yearbook-2016.pdf. 2019-02-14. dead.
  8. Web site: Vondersmith . Jason . Sewell's star shines brightly . April 3, 2021 . Portland Tribune . Pamplin Media Group.