Savaiʻi

For the mythical original homeland of the Polynesian peoples (sometimes referred to as Savai'i), see Hawaiki.

Savai'i

Nickname: Soul of Samoa
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	13°35′S 172°25′W
Administration
Samoa
Demographics
Population	43,103

Savaiʻi is the largest island in Samoa and the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand.

The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose. The Mau, Samoa's non-violent struggle for political independence during colonialism in the early 1900s, had its beginnings on Savai'i in Safotulafai the capital of the Fa'asaleleaga district. Savai'i is made up of six itūmālō (political districts). Each district is made up of villages with strong traditional ties of kinship, history, land and matai chief titles. Fa'a Samoa, the unique traditional culture and way of life in Samoan society, remains strong in Savai'i where there are fewer signs of modern life and development than Upolu, the country's main island where the capital Apia is situated.

Population

Savai'i is home to approximately 43,000 (2006) people who live in villages situated mostly around the coastline with a few settlements inland. Food and crops of taro, coconuts, yams, fruit and vegetables are grown in plantations behind the villages and in the interior of the island.

Samoan round fale tele (meeting house), Lelepa village, central north coast, Savai'i

Scenery & Landscape

Savai'i is mountainous, fertile and surrounded by coral reefs. Lonely Planet describes the Savai'i landscape as 'spectacular tropical terrain'. Savai'i has palm fringed beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, caves, freshwater pools, blowholes, coral reefs and lava fields in Saleaula village on the central north coast, There are also numerous archaeological sites, including star mounds, fortifications and pyramids such as the Pulemelei Mound in Palauli district.

Samoa scenic coastline with palm trees in foreground looking out to sea

Cradle of Polynesia

Rich in Polynesian history and oral tradition, Savai'i is mentioned in myths and legends across the Pacific Islands and has been called the Cradle of Polynesia.

Savaiʻi is known as the ’soul of Samoa’. "Here the 20th century has put down the shallowest roots, and the faʻa Samoa – the Samoan way – has the most meaning."

Flora & Fauna

Samoa's tropical climate and fertile soil results in a variety of flora, from colourful flowering plants to rainforests, scrublands, marshes and swamps. Animal species include flying foxes, land and sea birds, skinks and geckos. The surrounding Pacific Ocean, coral reefs and lagoons are rich in marine life. Dolphins, whales and porpoises migrate through Samoa's waters. There are wetlands in the village of Sato'alepai with large green turtles that are kept by the locals as an eco-tourism experience for visitors.

Falealupo - the last sunset in the world

The village of Falealupo on the western most point of Savai'i, is just 20 miles from the dateline, and arguably the last place in the world to see the sunset each day. Falealupo was the site of Millenium 2000 celebrations and reported by the BBC as 'the last place on earth to enter the new millenium.' Falealupo also has protected rainforests.

Falealupo Beach Fales in late afternoon, Savai'i

An island of myths & legends

Nafanua, Samoa's warrior goddess hails from the village of Falealupo, which is also the site of the entry into Pulotu, the spirit world in Samoan mythology. The Mata o le Alelo 'Eyes of the Demon' freshwater pool from the Polynesian legend Sina and the Eel is situated in the village of Matavai on the north coast in the village district of Safune.

Travel information

Savai'i has an excellent tar-seal road circling the island. The scenenic drive is mostly along the coastline where most of the locals live in villages. Salelologa is the main port and town, situated on the eastern end of the island. A regular passenger and vehicle ferry operates seven days a week between Salelologa and Mulifanua wharf on Upolu. The trip takes about 90-minutes. There's also a smaller port at Asau towards the western end of Savai'i.

Typical fishing canoe (va'a) in Samoa with small outrigger

Maota Airport is only a five-minute drive south of Salelologa. Regular flights operate between Maota airstrip and Faleolo International Airport on Upolu. The inter-island flights take about 10-minutes.

A local market (open Monday - Saturday) at Salelologa sells fresh produce of fruit, vegetables and local crafts. There are also clothing stores, several small supermarkets, a wholesaler, petrol stations, bakeries, budget hotels and accommodation, buses, taxis, rental car companies as well as public amenities such as internet access, banks and Western Union money transfer outlets. There are small local shops in every village around Savai'i, selling basic groceries.

Film

Moana (1926), one of the earliest documentaries made in the world, was filmed in Safune on the central north coast. The film was directed by Robert J. Flaherty who lived with his wife and children in Safune for more than a year. A cave with a pool in Safune was converted into a film processing laboratory and two young men from the village, were trained to work there. Flaherty cast people from Safune in the film including local boy Ta'avale who played the lead role of 'Moana.' Another boy called Pe'a played the role of Moana's younger brother. Pe'a later became a chief with the title Taulealeausumai from the village of Faletagaloa. Playing the lead female role in the film was Fa'agase, a girl from the Safune. The film also showed the young hero 'Moana' receiving a pe'a, a traditional Samoan tattoo.

A village in Safune, the setting of the film Moana (1926)

Eco-Tourism

Like the rest of Samoa, villages and locals all around the island of Savai'i operate beach fale accommodation, like the village of Manase on the north coast, catering to tourists and visitors. These are small local businesses run by families within their villages. Island tours, diving, and other tourism related activities, like swimming with turtles at Sato'alepai, are usually available. Most of the income generated goes directly back to the villages and locals.

Surfing

Savai'i has excellent surfing off reef breaks all around the island, with the best waves during summer on the north coast and the south coast in winter. The conditions are not for novice surfers and there can be dangerous undercurrents and rips. Satuiatua Beach Fales on the south-west coast is owned by locals and was one of the first tourism accommodations attracting surfers. Other surfing spots around Savai'i include breaks off the villages of Lano, Aganoa, Lelepa, Lefagaoali'i and Fagamalo. Most villages charge a fee of $10 Samoan tala a day.

Geology

Savaiʻi is an active volcano, which last erupted in 1911 with lava flows. The island is formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. Savaiʻi is home of the Alofa’aga Blowholes, and Moso's Footprint, which date back to prehistoric times. The Pe'ape'a Cave, named after the swallows that inhabit it, is a lava tube one kilometre in length, formed during the Mt Matavanu eruptions.

Alofaaga Blowholes

Volcanic activity

The island consists of a large shield volcano similar in form to the Hawaiian volcanoes. Accordingly the island has a gently sloping profile, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,858 metres at Mt Silisili, the highest peak in Samoa. Savai'i remains volcanically active, with recent eruptions from Matavanu between 1905 and 1911, Mata Ole Afi in 1902 and Mauga Afi in 1725. The lava field at Saleaula caused by the Mt Matavanu eruptions in the early part of the 20th century are extensive enough to be visible in high altitude photographs.

World War II

During World War II, Savai'i came under the Allies 'Samoa Defense Group' which included Upolu, Tutuila and Wallis Island and later extended in 1944 to cover bases in other islands such as Bora Bora and the Cook Islands. A military governor of the Samoa Defense Group was Brigadier General Henry L. Larsen who had secret orders mandating a defensive position of the islands from east to west. The code name for the entire group of islands was 'Straw' and the code name for Savai'i was 'Strawman.' The code for Upolu was 'Strawhat,' Tutuila 'Strawstack' while Wallis Island was 'Strawboard.' A small base was set up on the central north coast village of Fagamalo, which had a wharf and achorage. Fagamalo was the main village for the colonial administration at the time on Savai'i, situated where the small post office is situated today.

In its present unprotected state, Western Samoa is a hazard of first magnitude for the defense of American Samoa. The conclusion is inescapable that if we don't occupy it the Japanese will and there may not be a great deal of time left. 8 February, 1943 Report on Western Samoa defence by 2nd Marine Brigade's intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel William L. Bales.

On 18 May, 1942 the 3rd Marine Brigade with 4,853 officers and men were on Upolu and Savai'i under the command of Brigadier General Charles D. Barrett.

See also

• Districts of Samoa (political districts)
• Culture of Samoa
• Maota (Japanese language)

External links

• "Savai'i". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.

• Official Samoa Visitors Bureau website
• Sydney Morning Herald article June 2009
• Surfing Samoa on Youtube
• The Samoan Historical Calendar 1606 - 2007 by Stan Sorensen, Historian, Office of the Governor, American Samoa & Joseph Theroux