Fagaʻitua, American Samoa

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Fagaʻitua
Village
Fagaʻitua is located in American Samoa
Fagaʻitua
Fagaʻitua
Coordinates: 14°16′03″S 170°36′50″W / 14.26750°S 170.61389°W / -14.26750; -170.61389
Country United States
Territory American Samoa
CountySua
Area
 • Total0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total287
 • Density540/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone)
ZIP code
96799
Area code+1 684

Fagaʻitua is a village in the east of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on the central coast of Fagaʻitua Bay. It is in Sua County,[1] a county also known as ʻo le falelima i sasaʻe ("the house of the five in the east"). Fagaitua is located at a shallow bay on the south coast of the island, in-between Lauli'i and Alofau. It is home to Luafagā, Le'iato's house of chiefs, and the big malae Malotumau.[2]

Coral reefs at Fagaʻitua suffered significant damage during the 2009 tsunami.[3]

Fagaʻitua is home to the smallest and most rural high school in American Samoa. Fagaʻitua High School (FHS), whose student body is around 500 as of 2018, practices football at the old rugby field by Pago Pago Bay. It has never had its own field but has utilized the uneven turf at Onesosopo Park, which is replete with volcanic stubble, water, toads, and sand traps. Rob Shaffer was hired as a teacher by Fagaʻitua in February 1972 and eventually also took over coaching of the high school's football team. Shaffer has played varsity as a quarterback for Oceanside High School under head coach Herb Meyer.[4]

In 2018, a monument was made for the Fagaʻitua High School Alumni Association in order to commemorate Fagaʻitua High School's 50th anniversary. The statue will eventually be mounted onto the pedestal which was designed and constructed by the American Samoa Department of Public Works. It is located in front of Fagaʻitua High School. The statue depicts a Viking warrior with his head tilted towards the east and the Eastern Star. The statue was made locally on Tutuila Island.[5]

Demographics

[edit]
Year Population[6]
2020 287
2010 433
2000 483
1990 455
1980 422
1970 302
1960 309
1950 255
1940 212
1930 152

Notable residents

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Tuʻuʻu, Misilugi Tulifau Tofaeono (2002). History of Samoa Islands: Supremacy & Legacy of the Malietoa (na Fa'alogo i Ai Samoa). Tuga'ula Publication. Page 427. ISBN 9780958219914.
  2. ^ Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. Page 426. ISBN 9780824822194.
  3. ^ "American Samoan coral damage reassessed". 3 November 2009.
  4. ^ Ruck, Rob (2018). Tropic of Football: The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL. The New Press. ISBN 9781620973387.
  5. ^ "Commemorative monument sparks criticism from some FHS alums". 13 July 2018.
  6. ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  7. ^ "Funeral services for Mrs. Susana Lutali set for June 29". Samoa News. 2012-06-24. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-30.