Manu'a is a must visit place when you decide to have a vacation in American Samoa. Oh how I miss riding my bike early in the morning in Ofu, and the water is as beautiful and clear as they come. For anyone who plans to visit Manu'a, remember to bring sunscreen when swimming out in the sun for a long period of time, the sun can hurt a lot especially when it is summer season. Oh I can't wait to visit my home again. 😭
My workmate Eddie & myself spent a month building the orange fire station at ofu airport with fletcher construction. The most enjoyable place of american samoa we had ever been. It was the most beautiful isolated paradise.
I am fixing to move to Tutuila from the US mainland next month, and I can't wait to go on a trip to Manu'a too. Honestly, I was not expecting to see such a nice house there.
Nice and peaceful Island. I feel Blessed to have had the opportunity to work and visit Ta’u. I'm going to miss swimming and bombing at the boat Harbor. 🤙
Thank you for sharing your visit. Our Pomele family will be visiting our home land Ta’u Manua after Christmas 2023. Looking forward to it, my birth place. First time returning. I was a baby when my mom and dad relocated our family to Tutuila.
Keep in mind ya’ll there are still members of the Royal Family’s in Manu’a (Maui Family) I think they lived in the Village of Tau I was reading a article about it they’re the descendants of the Hawaii Royal Family and is the last remaining Royals of the Pacific. Oh and I’ve read that they keep a low profile and some of them are in the States. It’s my dream to travel there and meet the Maui Royals and visit Historic Sites on the Island
No they are not the last. In fact, they don’t have royals anymore, for their last king gave up all his power and authority to America. Independent Samoa still has royals.
The idea of "royal" is European. What makes a royal, relatives of the Kingdoms that were established right around European colonialism? In Samoa, everyone is a royal (e tupu uma tagata). Samoan system is the Pacific way and is pre-European. Hawaii and Tonga's monarchy were a new thing brought by the age of colonialism. Samoa was a collective of autonomous districts each with their own alii sili and the many matai within villages who serve that alii. There is no such a thing as a royal family because you are a royal in your own district and family. Everyone has an alii they can claim (faasigomaga & suli) and render their service. Being a "royal" in Samoan is about being able to serve your family, work hard in the dirt and in any weather so your family's plantation is plentiful, prepare umu to feed not only your immediate but extended family, and partake in customs or maintaining order as part of the aumaga or aualuma by being in service to your village's fono (council). It isn't about being pomp with decorations and sitting around while people awe you in the fashion of European monarchies.
Is Manu'a ok now to visit? When I was in Fagatogo there was a young man went there like a month to work. But the rumous we heard the Manu'a ghost brought him back to Fagatogo for his family thanksgiving and killed. For what happen him&friends did in Manu'a. Unsolved mistery.
