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Malaeloa/Ituau, American Samoa

Coordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W / 14.35139°S 170.78194°W / -14.35139; -170.78194
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Itūʻau
Village
Etymology: Samoan: "War Side"
Itūʻau is located in American Samoa
Itūʻau
Itūʻau
Coordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W / 14.35139°S 170.78194°W / -14.35139; -170.78194
Country United States
Territory American Samoa
IslandTutuila Island
Named forSamoan Mythology
Area
 • Land.23 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total424
Time zoneUTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone)
ZIP Code
96799
Area code+1 684

Itūʻau, together with Aitūlagi, make up the village of Malaeloa (long ceremonial-green).

Aitūlagi is the name of the famed family of high orator chiefs (tama matua)[1] from the Leāsina county.

Itūʻau along with the villages of Fūtiga, Taputimu and Vailoatai form the itūmalo (county/district) o Tuālātai.

Although Itūʻau and Aitūlagi align themselves with different counties, today they operate together in many respects as one village under the name of Malaeloa.

Tutuila Deed of Cession

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Amituanaʻi of Itūʻau was a signatory to the Tutuila Deed of Cession of 1900.[2]

Etymology

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Itūʻau can literally be translated as "war side".[3] The itūʻau and the alātaua (war path) were roles assumed by allied villages or districts during times of conflict. This was a common practice throughout pre-contact Samoa,[4][5] with its roots in the first Mālietoa government.[6] The function of the itūʻau role can be described as a "controller of troops",[6] whereas the alātaua role can be described as a "director of wars".[6] These functions were carried out by the tulafale (talking chiefs) of the villages or districts designated with these respective roles.[3]

Historical Sites

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The Malaeloa Itūʻau Olo Site (or defensive fortification), which was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015,[7] is supported by Samoan cultural histories and oral traditions relating to interregional conflicts and defenses against cannibalism during pre-contact periods. It was built to protect villagers from Tuifeʻai, the legendary cannibal king of Tutuila, and his aumaga (army).[8]

Demographics

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Year Population[9]
2020 424
2010 550
2000 627
1990 523
1980 467

References

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  1. ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 35. ISBN 9781573062992
  2. ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 363. ISBN 9781573062992
  3. ^ a b Maliko, Tavita (2012), O le Soga'miti, PHD Thesis, Page 140
  4. ^ Williamson, R. W. (1967). The Social and Political Systems of Central Polynesia. Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, Page 82
  5. ^ Turner, G. (1884). Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before: Together with Notes on the Cults and Customs of Twenty-three Other Islands in the Pacific. United Kingdom: Macmillan, Page 189
  6. ^ a b c "Tumua and Pule. — Construction and significance in the Political history of Samoa | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz.
  7. ^ "National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions". Federal Register. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Malaeloa Olo, U.S. National Register of Historic Properties, Accepted 1-5-2016". National Park Service. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  9. ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2015" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce.