Fagasā, American Samoa

Fagasā is a village in the Eastern District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. The village lies by Fagasa Bay, on the north shore of the island. Its name is Samoan and translates to "Forbidden Bay."^[1] The village borders the Tutuila-section of National Park of American Samoa.^[2] The trailhead to Mount ʻAlava is located near the village by Fagasa Pass (on Route 5).^[3]

Fagasā
Village
Panorama from Forbidden Bay near Fagasa
Etymology: Samoan: "sacred bay"
Fagasā
Coordinates: 14°17′14″S 170°43′06″W
Country	United States
Territory	American Samoa
County	Ituau County
Area
• Land	1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	577

Fagasa has two sub-villages: Fagatele (Big Bay) on the west side, where Leʻatele School is located, and Fagaleʻa on the east side, by the chapel of the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS).^[4]: 32

Forbidden Bay has been described as one of the most beautiful bays in the South Pacific Ocean.^[5] It can be reached by boat or from Fagasā by foot.^[6]

A porpoise sanctuary is located in Fagasa Bay.^[7]

Etymology

The name Fagasa translates to "Sacred Bay." The village's high chiefs, elders and orators all believe the name derived from the legend of Liavaʻa.^[4]: 29

History

The first European expedition to ever set foot on Tutuila was headed by Frenchman Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who landed at Fagasa in 1787. This encounter, however, ended tragically. A battle between the French and the Samoans found place in Aʻasu, where twelve sailors and 39 Samoans were killed.^[8] On December 10, 1787, two French parties arrived at Tutuila. One under Lapérouse landed at Fagasa, while the other, under M. DeLangle, landed at Aʻasu a few miles to the west. In Fagasa, Lapérouse discovered a little bay and a sizable village, which was walled off from the rest of Tutuila Island by mountains. Lapérouse and his party were welcomed in the village and also permitted to take water from the two streams flowing through the village.^[9]: 5–6

In 1836, a group of five British London Missionary Society (LMS) missionaries, accompanied by their wives, anchored in Fagasa Bay. At Fagasa, reverend Archibald Murray went ashore and asked for the leading authority in the area. He was sent to the High Chief Mauga at Pago Pago. He returned on foot to Fagasa with Pomare, the chief's son, and rejoined his colleagues before setting sails for Upolu Island. The formal Christianization of Tutuila and Manuʻa Islands is said to stem from this voyage.^{[9]: 37–38}

In the early hours of January 11, 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced near Fagasa and then sent more than a dozen shells over the mountain and onto the vicinity of the Naval Station Tutuila. There was only one direct hit, which was the only Japanese-owned structure in the archipelago (owned by Frank Shimasaki).^{[9]: 241 [10]}

In March 1991, a prehistoric adze quarry was discovered at Fagasa and was recognized as a possible major stone tool production site for the region and islands as far away as the Marquesas.^[11]

Demographics

Year	Population[12]
2020	577
2010	831
2000	900
1990	717
1980	657
1970	649
1960	442

Religion

Fagasa's main church is the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS). It was the first religion to be established in Fagasa. At the end of World War II, villagers decided to construct the first chapel in the village. Although transportation was difficult, the villagers carried materials and supplies over their shoulders from the Mafa Pass and down to Fagasa. The church is located right where the steep winding road ends and the flatland begins.^[4]: 39

Geography

Fagasā is situated on the north shore of Tutuila, 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Pago Pago. A stream with fales beside it follows the steep valley down to Fagasa.^[13] The buses to Fagasa go every hour from the bus station at Fagatogo Market in Pago Pago.^[14] Fagasā is located in the Nofoa area of Itūʻau County.^[15][16]

Fagasa lies northwest of Pago Pago and is separated from the populated southern shore of Tutuila by a range of high mountains. It is located within a half-moon bay and enclosed by rugged mountain ridges. The road leading to Fagasa is a cut-off to the left from the main road in Pago Pago proper. A 10-minute drive connects Fagasa to the capital. The drive's highest point is the Mafa Pass, an open tunnel where visitors will first see Sacred Bay in Fagasa.^[4] Numerous monuments of historical sites have been put up by the American Samoa National Park here, and a walking trail to the Mount ʻAlava Towers takes off from the Mafa.^[4]: 27

The soil is rich for vegetation and forests. Families have developed the land near their homes for agricultural crops. Fagasa is surrounded by a mountain range from either end.^[4]: 43 Surrounding mountains include the Fuaau Ridge, Taumata Mountain, Leele Mountain, and Fatifati Mountain. Leele Stream flows down from Leele Mountain and through the village before discharging into the Pacific Ocean. Another stream, Leua, flows from Fatifati Mountain and down through Fagasa. On clear days, one can see the mountains of Upolu Island over the horizon.

The shoreline from Fagasā Bay to Vatia Bay is within the National Park of American Samoa and contains the longest stretch of undisturbed and uninhabited coast on Tutuila Island. The forest along this coastline has never been disturbed, and steep cliffs are found here along with scenic coves such as Tāfeu Cove near Vatia. There are also waterfalls, streams, and forest-covered ridge tops.^[17]

Fagasā Pass

At Fagasā Pass right outside of town is the primary trailhead for the Mount ʻAlava Trail. This 7-mile roundtrip trail leads to a mountain summit with panoramic views of Pago Pago Harbor and surrounding areas of Tutuila Island. The trail goes through dense rainforest in the National Park, home to a variety of tropical bird species and fruit bats. Halfway up the mountain is a coconut- and banana plantation.^[18]

National park

The Tutuila unit of the National Park of American Samoa is situated between the villages on Fagasā on the west and Āfono on the east. The southern boundary follows along the crest of the Mount ʻAlava-Maugaloa Ridge above Pago Pago Harbor from Āfono Pass to Fagasā Pass. Access to the Tutuila portion of the park is via the road which runs along the perimeter of the upper Pago Pago Harbor. Lateral roads lead to Fagasa Pass the park's western end. From the Fagasā Pass National Park entrance, there is an unpaved road leaving hikers to the top of Mount ʻAlava. The road was originally constructed in order to service the television transmitters on the mountain. Road signs marking entry points to the National Park can be found near the trailhead at Fagasā Bay, and along the national park side of Fagasā Bay in order to mark the park's boundary from the ridge top down to Siufaga Point.^[19]

Jagged Mount ʻAlava dominates the scenery on northern Tutuila Island. A 6-mile (9.7 km) roundtrip trail leads up to the 1,585 ft. peak. The view from atop Mount ʻAlava contains both the south and north sides of the island's Pacific coasts as well as the deep inlet in Pago Pago Harbor.^[20]

Boat tours arranged by the government regularly sail around the north coast villages of Fagasā, Āfono, and Vatia.^[6]

Attractions

World War II relics can be seen on the mountain ridges and shorelines of Fagasa. The American Marines left Fagasa on August 15, 1945, after it was officially declared that the Japanese forces had surrendered to the United States. On the shorelines of Fagafue and Sika, one can still find the pillbox forts or gun turrets the Marines utilized as coastal lookouts during World War II.^[4]: 37

There is a marine life sanctuary in Fagasa Bay. Tourists often hike from Mafa Pass to the Mount ʻAlava Towers, which is the main transmitting antennas of the American Samoa Government's TV station.^[4]: 44

Notable people

• Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia
• Al Noga
• Isaac Sopoaga

References

1. "Things to See in American Samoa | Frommer's".
2. Talbot, Dorinda; Swaney, Deanna (1998). Samoa. Lonely Planet. p. 166. ISBN 9780864425553.
3. Stanley, David (1999). South Pacific Handbook. Moon Travel Books. p. 437. ISBN 978-1-56691-172-6.
4. Faiʻivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tuʻu Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave (in Samoan). Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. ISBN 9781546229070.
5. "Things to see and do in American Samoa". World Travel Guide. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
6. Fidgeon, Tamsin (2004). Columbus World Travel Guide 2004-2005. Highbury Columbus Travel Pub. p. 9. ISBN 9781902221847.
7. Goodwin, Bill (2006). Frommer's South Pacific. Wiley. pp. 400–401. ISBN 9780471769804.
8. Talbot, Dorinda; Swaney, Deanna (1998). Samoa. Lonely Planet. p. 13. ISBN 9780864425553.
9. Gray, John Alexander Clinton (1980). Amerika Samoa. Arno Press. ISBN 9780405130380.
10. Kennedy, Joseph (2009). The Tropical Frontier: America's South Sea Colony. University of Hawaii Press. p. 207. ISBN 9780980033151.
11. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. p. 357. ISBN 9781573062992.
12. "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
13. Leib, Amos Patten (1972). The Many Islands of Polynesia. Scribner. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-684-13010-1.
14. Stanley, David (1999). South Pacific Handbook. Moon Travel Books. p. 446. ISBN 978-1-56691-172-6.
15. Krämer, Augustin (2000-01-01). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. p. 424. ISBN 978-0-8248-2219-4.
16. U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Census of population and housing (2000): American Samoa Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics. DIANE Publishing. p. 210. ISBN 9781428985490.
17. "National Park Feasibility Study" (PDF). National Park Service. July 1988. p. 61. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
18. "Day Hikes" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
19. National Park of American Samoa, General Management Plan (GP), Islands of Tutulla, Ta'u, and Ofu: Environmental Impact Statement (PDF) (Report). U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service. 1997. pp. 2, 21 and 31.
20. Hughes, Holly; Murphy, Sylvie; Flippin, Alexis Lipsitz; Duchaine, Julie (2010-02-02). Frommer's 500 Extraordinary Islands. Frommers. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-470-50070-5.