Fagaʻalu is a village in central Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is also known as Fagaʻalo.[1] It is located on the eastern shore of Pago Pago Harbor, to the south of Pago Pago. American Samoa's lone hospital, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, is located in Fagaʻalu. The village is centered around Fagaalu Stream.
Fagaʻalu
Faalu | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Fagaʻalu | |
| Coordinates: 14°17′47″S 170°41′1″W / 14.29639°S 170.68361°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| Territory |  American Samoa |
| County | Maoputasi |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 731 |
| • Density | 1,800/sq mi (680/km2) |
Fagaʻalu has been named one of the best places to surf in American Samoa.[2] It is one of thirteen villages in American Samoa that have been declared Marine Protected Areas.[3]
History
editIn April 1941, members of the 7th Battalion showed up in villages throughout Tutuila Island. Later that month, the battalion cleared large jungle areas and began on the construction of the Camp Samuel Nicholas in Fagaʻalu.[4]
Geography
editFagaʻalu Bay is located between Niuloa Point in the south and Tulutulu Point in the north. The bay is considered a part of "outer Pago Pago Harbor." The main drainage in the Fagaʻalu watershed is the Fagaʻalu Stream and its 8 tributaries. The stream is known as Matafao Stream in the drainage's upper reaches near Mount Matafao. Smaller drainages are situated on the southeast and northeast sides of the village. Matafao Stream begins at around the 1,400 feet (430 m) contour and continues downslopes to a stream fall. It becomes Fagaʻalu Stream at around 500 feet (150 m) above sea level. It discharges into the Pacific Ocean in Fagaʻalu Bay. Gobie fish, Mountain bass, and Freshwater eel have been observed in Fagaʻalu Stream.[5] Fagaʻalu Bay is a calm bay with a cricket field, boat ramp, and basketball and volleyball courts.[6]
Most of Fagaʻalu is located at elevations well above potential tsunami elevations, and also set back a considerable distance from the ocean.[7]
In the central parts of Fagaʻalu is a road turning north to LBJ Hospital and other medical facilities. At the end of this road are the waterfalls Fagaʻalu Falls. Fagaʻalu Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island with its coral heads and reef formations, and sea life such as turtles and reef sharks.[8]
Whale Rock
editWhale Rock is a coral formation located in Fagaʻalu. It lies in the middle of the channel inside the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor. The formation is approximately 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter and is submerged under 16 feet (5 meters) of water. During bad weather, waves break over Whale Rock, making it more noticeable due to the surf. In calm conditions, it is easily seen beneath the water's surface.[9]
Economy
edit
There were 53 commercial business enterprises found in the village as of 2000. Several of these are located along the shoreline road and Dr Jim Turner Rd. Businesses include two bakeries, grocery stores, retail shops, and a laundromat. A quarry operation is located between the 100-foot (30 m)-125-foot (38 m) contour at the west end of Fagaʻalu. It is operated and owned by Samoa Maritime. As of 2000, the Samoa Maritime Quarry generated around 500 cubic yards (380 m3) of reject material per week.[10]
The LBJ Hospital complex consumes 7 acres (2.8 ha). The location of the hospital is a former marsh which was filled in the early 1960s in order to accommodate the hospital.[11]
LBJ Tropical Medical Center
editLyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center is the only hospital in American Samoa and the only prescription pharmacy on the island. It has been ranked among the best hospitals in the Pacific Ocean. It is home to an emergency room and there are doctors on duty at all hours.[12][13]
Tourism
editFagaʻalu is home to Virgin Falls, which is a tourist destination on the island. A 0.6-mile (0.97 km) hike past the LBJ Tropical Medical Center leads to a small rock quarry. From there, a trail climbs past a series of waterfalls, known as Virgin Falls. Several of the waterfalls have pools used for swimming.[14][15]
Fagaʻalu is home to Le Fale Pule Lodge, which sits high up on a hillside above Matafao Elementary School in Fagaʻalu. The hotel offers panoramic views of Pago Pago Harbor, and is located 300 feet (91 m) above sea level. Four of the rooms are in the main house, while there's also a separate cottage with outdoor Jacuzzis.[16]
In 1972, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation approved a project to develop a park in Fagaʻalu Bay. Fagaʻalu Park is located at the outer part of Pago Pago Harbor and is a grassy park with picnic tables and a white-sand beach.[17][18][19] A boat ramp has been constructed at Fagaʻalu Park on government-owned land administrated by the Department of Parks and Recreation. The construction was initiated after the former public boat ramps at Fagasa and Pago Pago were damaged from the 2009 tsunami. The park is used for recreational activities such as picnicking, swimming, fishing, and camping.[20]
On Tutuila Island, the majority of sea turtle sightings take place in Fagaʻalu Park, Lion's Park in Tafuna, and Gataivai (in Pago Pago Harbor).[21]
Demographics
edit| Year | Population[22] |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 731 |
| 2010 | 910 |
| 2000 | 1,006 |
| 1990 | 1,006 |
| 1980 | 757 |
| 1970 | 900 |
| 1960 | 531 |
| 1950 | 395 |
| 1940 | 197 |
| 1930 | 106 |
As of the early 1980s, 21 percent of Fagaʻalu residents were born abroad. By 1990, 42 percent of residents were born outside of American Samoa. As of the 1990 U.S. Census, the village was home to 153 houses. Historically, residential development has taken place along the south and north sides of Fagaʻalu Stream. Another residential area is found upland of Fagaʻalu Park along the shoreline road and adjoining steeper slopes.[23]
Notable residents
edit- Elama Faʻatonu – Olympic sprinter for the American Samoa
- Anthony Liu – Olympic judoka
- Leonard Peters – former football safety and current rugby union player
- Junior Sifa – American rugby union player
- Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga – Samoan Olympic taekwondo practitioner
- Nathaniel Tuamoheloa – Olympic wrestler for ASA
- Ching Maou Wei – Olympic swimmer
- Jerome Kaino – New Zealand rugby union player (born in Fagaʻalu; raised in Auckland, New Zealand)
- A. U. Fuimaono – politician
References
edit- ^ "Le Falepule Review - Pago Pago | Fodor's Travel".
- ^ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western Samoa and American Samoa. Lonely Planet. Page 162. ISBN 9780864422255.
- ^ "More villages to join American Samoa marine protection". 21 September 2015.
- ^ Kennedy, Joseph (2009). The Tropical Frontier: America's South Sea Colony. University of Hawaii Press. Page 203. ISBN 9780980033151.
- ^ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Pedersen2000vol2AS.pdf (Pages 25-1, 25-4 and 25-5)
- ^ Clayville, Melinda (2021). Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Manu'a Islands. Page 39. ISBN 9798556052970.
- ^ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Pedersen2000vol2AS.pdf (Page 25-16)
- ^ Clayville, Melinda (2021). Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Manu'a Islands. Page 40. ISBN 9798556052970.
- ^ U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (1977). "Sailing Directions for the Pacific Islands: Volume 3, the South-central Groups". U.S. Department of Defense. Page 166.
- ^ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Pedersen2000vol2AS.pdf (Pages 25-12 and 25-16)
- ^ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Pedersen2000vol2AS.pdf (Page 25-13)
- ^ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western Samoa and American Samoa. Lonely Planet. Page 161. ISBN 9780864422255.
- ^ United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources. Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs (2017). Assessing Current Conditions and Challenges at the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center in American Samoa: Oversight Hearing before the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western & American Samoa: a Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet Publications. Page 179. ISBN 9780864422255.
- ^ Schyma, Rosemarie (2013). Südsee. DuMont Reiseverlag. Page 268. ISBN 9783770176946.
- ^ Stanley, David (2004). South Pacific. Moon Handbooks. Page 484. ISBN 9781566914116.
- ^ Rawlings-Way, Charles (2016). Lonely Planet South Pacific. Lonely Planet. Page 303. ISBN 9781786572189.
- ^ Atkinson, Brett (2016). Lonely Planet Rarotonga, Samoa & Tonga. Lonely Planet. Page 151. ISBN 9781786572172.
- ^ "Fagaʻalu Park | American Samoa Activities".
- ^ "Fishing, swimming, marine science at youth camp". 15 July 2012.
- ^ https://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/American_Samoa/10.pdf (Page 39)
- ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Pedersen2000vol2AS.pdf (Page 25-12)