American Samoa Culture
National Park of American Samoa - Visitor Information
There is hotel-style lodging on all three islands. Camping is prohibited within the park. Samoan people are hospitable and eager to share their culture with park visitors. For a cultural experience visitors should consider staying with local families in their fale (FAH-lay) or house. This unique opportunity will allow you to learn about the Samoan culture and lifestyle first-hand, as well as assisting the village economy. Homestays can be arranged in the village of Vatia. Contact the park office for more information. ... [Read More]
Samoa - To the Field and Back - Margaret Mead: Human Nature and the Power of Culture (Library of Congress Exhibition)
F reeman had corresponded with Mead during her lifetime and questioned her on some of her methods and results in Samoa. He argued that Mead had erred in her Samoan work and that she misunderstood the culture because she wanted to provide her professor Franz Boas with information to demonstrate his view of the importance of culture. Among other criticisms, Freeman argued that Mead ignored violence in Samoan life, did not have a sufficient background in--or give enough emphasis to--the influence of biology on behavior, did not spend enough time in Samoa, and was not familiar enough with the Samoan language. Freeman's charges did not go unchallenged. Other researchers have argued that he overemphasized the violent and competitive aspects of Samoan life, quoted Mead selectively, and studied a different part of Samoa at a later time period. Freeman subsequently published other books and articles on Mead's Samoan researches, most notably The Fateful Hoaxing of Margaret Mead (1999). In tha ... [Read More]
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Culture ... In comparison to the U.S., Samoan cost of living in general, is significantly lower due to the culture and lifestyle. Households spend most of their income on imported food (40 percent) and less on housing (20 percent) due to access to family on communal lands. The average growth rate is 11 percent. The per capita income in 1989 was $3,039. As reported in the 1990 Census, 56.5 percent of the population was below the poverty level. ... The American Samoans, together with the Hawaiians, Maoris, Tongans, and Tahitians are among the last remaining true Polynesians. Despite the strong influence of western industrial culture, the American Samoans, more than other Pacific Islanders, seem to hold more tenaciously to their ancient tradition. ... [Read More]
National Park of American Samoa - Heart of the South Pacific
The Samoa Islands are part of Polynesia, a triangular area of the Pacific bounded by Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. The Samoa Islands have been populated for 3,000 years, but known to the Western world for little more than two centuries. So important is Samoa to Polynesian culture that some believe this was where all Polynesian people originated. ... [Read More]
FEMA: New Region IX Partners - American Samoa
The native culture is Polynesian, with most islanders having relatives in both Hawaii and Western Samoa. Many believe that both Asians and Polynesians migrated to the islands long ago; both strands may be seen in the faces of the people. Europeans first visited the islands in 1722. Among the native population, there is significant German and Scottish blood. ... [Read More]
National Park of American Samoa - Tutuila
The volcanic island of Tutuila is the largest of the seven islands that comprise American Samoa. Pago Pago Harbor, a collapsed volcanic caldera is one of the largest natural harbors in the South Pacific. It cuts deeply into the south-central coast almost dividing the island in two. From east to west, a steep mountainous spine runs the 20-mile length of the island, punctuated in places by notable summits including Matafao Peak, Tutuila's tallest mountain at 2,142 feet; North Pioa Mountain, popularly known as Rainmaker Mountain, 1,718; and Mount 'Alava, the steep ridgeline looming to the north of Pago Pago Harbor, marking the south boundary of the park area. About one mile southeast of Tutuila's eastern tip is the volcanic island of Aunu'u the smallest of the inhabited islands; it can be reached by boat and explored by foot in a day. After you visit the National Park, visits to the east and west ends of the island will reveal more island and ocean scenery and insights into Samoan culture ... [Read More]
National Park of American Samoa - Nature & Science
The Samoan Archipelago is a typical Pacific Ocean Volcanic Island arc. As the Pacific Ocean plate moves in a westward direction across a stationary hot spot (a place where molten rock from the Earth's mantle pierces the lithosphere plate) it forms a line of volcanoes, some of which reach the ocean surface to form a string of islands. To the west, Western Samoa islands, are the youngest; have had less time to be eroded away; and are the largest. The eastern islands, American Samoa are the oldest. Thus, they are smaller, craggier, and have longer time to develop fringing coral reefs. The National Park of American Samoa is really 'three parks' on four separate islands--Ta'u, Ofu/Olesego, and Tutuila. American Samoa National Park is undeveloped and remote--in the Southern hemisphere and near the International Date Line and (from America) in the far Pacific. Thus, these web pages offer an average person opportunity to become a park visitor vicariously--and appreciate the park's unique cultu ... [Read More]
CIA - The World Factbook -- Costa Rica
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) ... agriculture: 8.5% ... deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution ... [Read More]
American Samoa Coastal and Marine Bibliographic Database
The protection of the coastal and marine environment has been central to the culture of the Samoan people. Recent efforts to protect these areas, and the valuable resources contained therein, have resulted in the establishment of the National Park of American Samoa and Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). The National Park encompasses thousands of acres on and around the main island of Tutuila and the Manu'a Islands. Fagatele Bay NMS is somewhat smaller, and encompasses the marine and coastal environment in and around an ancient volcano caldera on the southwestern side of Tutuila. Together, these areas will help Samoans ensure that the sea and its resources, which are so central to their culture, will be sustained for years to come. ... [Read More]
National Park of American Samoa
The Home Stay program provides an opportunity for visitors to become acquainted with Samoan people and culture in a village setting. Residents of villages associated with the National Park offer accommodations and the opportunity to learn local customs, crafts and the south Pacific lifestyle. Imagine staying in a village with the sights and sounds of the rainforest around you. Sleep in a Samoan house (fale), live with a Samoan family and start the day participating with village activities. Some may be familiar. Others, like cutting the Pandanus (laufala) tree leaves and drying them to weave mats, may not. Add to your weaving knowledge by learning simple methods, like weaving fans from palm leaves. ... [Read More]
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