Malaeloa/Ituau, American Samoa Explained

Itūʻau
Etymology:Samoan

"War Side"

Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:American Samoa
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:Territory
Subdivision Name1: American Samoa
Subdivision Type2:Island
Subdivision Name2:Tutuila Island
Named For:Samoan Mythology
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Land Sq Mi:.23
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:424
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Samoa Time Zone
Utc Offset:-11
Coordinates:-14.3514°N -170.7819°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:96799
Area Code:+1 684

Itūʻau, together with Aitūlagi, make up the village of Malaeloa (long ceremonial-green).

Aitūlagi is the name of the famed family of high orator chiefs (tama matua)[1] from the Leāsina county.

Itūʻau along with the villages of Fūtiga, Taputimu and Vailoatai form the itūmalo (county/district) o Tuālātai.

Although Itūʻau and Aitūlagi align themselves with different counties, today they operate together in many respects as one village under the name of Malaeloa.

Tutuila Deed of Cession

Amituanaʻi of Itūʻau was a signatory to the Tutuila Deed of Cession of 1900.[2]

Etymology

Itūʻau can literally be translated as "war side".[3] The itūʻau and the alātaua (war path) were roles assumed by allied villages or districts during times of conflict. This was a common practice throughout pre-contact Samoa,[4] [5] with its roots in the first Mālietoa government.[6] The function of the itūʻau role can be described as a "controller of troops",[6] whereas the alātaua role can be described as a "director of wars".[6] These functions were carried out by the tulafale (talking chiefs) of the villages or districts designated with these respective roles.[3]

Historical Sites

The Malaeloa Itūʻau Olo Site (or defensive fortification), which was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015,[7] is supported by Samoan cultural histories and oral traditions relating to interregional conflicts and defenses against cannibalism during pre-contact periods. It was built to protect villagers from Tuifeʻai, the legendary cannibal king of Tutuila, and his aumaga (army).[8]

Demographics

YearPopulation[9]
424
550
627
523
467

Notes and References

  1. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 35.
  2. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 363.
  3. Maliko, Tavita (2012), O le Soga'miti, PHD Thesis, Page 140
  4. Williamson, R. W. (1967). The Social and Political Systems of Central Polynesia. Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, Page 82
  5. Turner, G. (1884). Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before: Together with Notes on the Cults and Customs of Twenty-three Other Islands in the Pacific. United Kingdom: Macmillan, Page 189
  6. Web site: Tumua and Pule. — Construction and significance in the Political history of Samoa NZETC. nzetc.victoria.ac.nz.
  7. Web site: National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions . Federal Register . 24 December 2015 . 22 March 2022.
  8. Web site: Malaeloa Olo, U.S. National Register of Historic Properties, Accepted 1-5-2016 . National Park Service . 22 March 2022.
  9. Web site: American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2015. American Samoa Department of Commerce.