Tuālā-tai County is one of the five counties that make up the Western District (le Falelima i Sisifo) of American Samoa.
The other four are Ālātaua, Fofō, Leāsina (Aitūlagi) and Tuālā-uta (Ma’upū).
The villages of Fūtiga, Itū'au (Malaeloa), Taputimu and Vailoatai form Le Itūmālō o Tuālātai (the county/district of Tualatai). Part of the Puapua area starting from the junction of Taputimu Road and Route 001 to Futiga are lands that belong to Tuālā-tai families and are part of the county.
Vailoatai serves as the county’s principality as the titular head of the district (fa'asuaga) is located here.
The county is represented by one senator in the American Samoa Senate and by one representative in the American Samoa House of Representatives.
It is the fourth most populous county of American Samoa as of 2020.
Etymology
Tuālātai / Tuālā-taiPapali'i, A. M. S. (2002). ʻO si manu a aliʻi, a text for the advanced study of Samoan language and culture. United States: University of Hawaiʻi Press, page 425Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 260. ISBN 9781573062992
Tuālā, v. to put a canoe more before the wind; n. the back of a sail.Tregear, E. (1891). The Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Netherlands: Lyon and Blair.Pratt, G. (1862). Samoan Dictionary: English and Samoan, and Samoan and English, with a Short Grammar of the Samoan Dialect. American Samoa: London Missionary Society's Press.
Tuālā, who lived approximately in the 16th century, was the eldest son of Tui Ā'ana Tama-a-le-lagi and half-brother of Queen Salamāsina. He was the founder of the 'āiga sā Tuālā.Soʻo, A. (2008). Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa: An Uneasy Alliance. Fiji: IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific, page 6Simanu, '. M., Papaliʻi, A. M. S. (2011). 'O Faia Fa'atumua O Samoa Mai Tala O Le Vavau. Samoa: National Foreign Language Resource Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, page 116
The ‘tai’ suffix designates this county as being the Tuālā county on the side towards the sea, whereas Tuālā-uta is the Tuālā county on the side towards the land or inland.
The name of the county, Tuālātai, is derived from the Samoan language and translates into English as “Tuālā by the Sea".Churchill, W. (1913). "Geographical Nomenclature of American Samoa". Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, 45(3), page 193. Retrieved on December 6, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.2307/199273.
Pre-1900 History
During Samoa's pre-1900 history, Tuālā-tai and Tuālā-uta formed an usoga (alliance) that represented the larger Aitūlagi community in times of war.Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press, Page 448. Tuālā-tai was assigned as the itū’au (controller of troops) whereas Tuālā-uta was designated as the alātaua (director of wars).
On the battlefield, Faleniu of Tuālā-uta had the honor of serving as the muā'au (the vanguard or the advance army)Ua Tālā le Ta'ui, Lomiga 2(2015), page 23 while the itū’au formed the center or as the main army.
The assumption of these war-time roles by allied villages or districts was a common practice throughout pre-contact SamoaWilliamson, R. W. (1967). The Social and Political Systems of Central Polynesia. Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, Page 82Turner, 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 with its roots in the first Mālietoa government. The last intra-island conflict in which these two counties went together into battle took place in 1892.Shaffer, Robert J. (2013), American Samoa, 100 Years Under The United States Flag, Page 102
In the high titles of ceremony, the salutation, Fofō ma Aitūlagi, stands for the entire Western District of TutuilaBulletin of the American Geographical Society of New York. (1913). United States: American Geographical Society. (le fa'alupega o le Falelima i SisifoSimanu, Aumua Mata'itusi(2011). O Faia Fa'atumua O Samoa Mai Tala O Le Vavau, page 49).
Fofō is home to Leone and all of the Ālātaua villages west of it.Papali'i, A. M. S. (2002). ʻO si manu a aliʻi, a text for the advanced study of Samoan language and culture. United States: University of Hawaiʻi Press.
Aitūlagi is the name of the famed family of high orator chiefs (tama matua)Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 35. from the Malaeloa town of the same name within Leāsina county.
When Leāsina, Tuālā-tai and Tuālā-uta counties are placed as Aitūlagi opposite of Fofō,Henry, Fred (1939). Elementary Geography of the Samoan Islands, Government of American Samoa, Tutuila, Page 21. they are then called Ma'upū by way of contrast.Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press, Page 444.American Samoa, Hearings Before the Commission Appointed by the President of the United States ... September 18–20, 1930, at Honolulu, September 26–30, in American Samoa. (1931). United States: (n.p.), Page 160
Fa'alupega: Ceremonial Greetings of Tuālātai Sources:Salua, F. S. F. T. (1995). O le tafatolu o au measina: Samoa. New Zealand: Department of Communication of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Afio Sātele ma alo o Fānene
Susū le matua ma le falefia o ali'i
Maliu mai tauto'oto'o
Mamalu o Faleālili ma le Faletolu ma le fetalaiga a Itū'au
Fa'asuaga from 1900 to Present
Sātele Itulā, brother of Satele Uga (the previous titleholder who held the office jointly with Satele Pili prior to 1900). Satele Itula was one of the signatories to the 1900 Tutuila Deed of Cession. When Manu’a suffered severe damage from a hurricane in 1915, Satele led efforts to relocate more than half of that district’s population to Tutuila while relief efforts took place there.American Samoa: A General Report by the Governor, 1925 In 1920, he and Mauga Moimoi were two of the early leaders of the Mau Movement in American Samoa. Governor Terhune terminated them both from their District Governor posts due to doubts of their loyalty to his administration. They were later reinstated. Satele had pushed for the establishment of a civilian government versus a naval governor.The Forgotten Mau: Anti-Navy Protest in American Samoa, 1920–1935 DAVID A. CHAPPELL Died in 1926.
Sātele Mosooi, son of Satele Uga. Succeeded to the title in 1926.
Sātele Teutusi, son of Satele Uga, half-brother to Satele Mosooi. Succeeded to the title in 1937.
Sātele Faumuinā Solomona, son of Satele Pili. Succeeded to the title in 1948, after resigning from the Faumuina title of Sa’ole. He was the only person in the history of the territory to have held two paramount chief titles. As Satele, he became the second and last chairman of the Atoa o Ali’i (1951–52), after Le’iato Tunu. The upper house was later replaced by the Senate in the Third Legislature.Sunia, Fofo (2001), Puputoa, Host of Heroes, page 34
Sātele Mosegi (1925–1976), son of Satele Teutusi. Succeeded to the title in 1958. He was one of the Tualatai delegates to the 1960 and 1966 Am. Samoa Constitutional Conventions. In 1966, he presided over the Western District meeting that split the traditional Lealataua County into today’s Fofo and Alataua districts. He served in various government posts to include the Dept. of Public Works, Office of Attorney General and the Police Force as well as Senator and District Governor.Sunia, Fofo (2001), Puputoa, Host of Heroes, page 122
Sātele Fili Liufau, descendant of Satele Talafalemalama. Succeeded to the title in 1980. This Satele was shot and killed by Viliamu Satele (descendant of Satele Teutusi), along with Tuiloma Saevii Satele Tupea at a guesthouse in Vailoatai. Died in 1981.
Sātele Uoka Momosea (1912–1995), descendant of Satele Pili. Succeeded to the title in 1985. Served as Senator, Tualatai County, 1989–96. Died while in office.Sunia, Fofo (2001), Puputoa, Host of Heroes, page 123
Sātele Galu Teutusi (1942–2022), son of Satele Teutusi. Succeeded to the title in 2008. Served as Western District Governor (2008-2012), Secretary of Samoan Affairs (2013-2015), Senator, Tualatai County(2017-2022). Served as the Vice Chair for the 2010 Am. Samoa Constitutional Convention. Died while in office.
Legends
In the book, Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u ma Fisaga o Tala Ave, the village of Vailoa defeated the cannibal king Tuife’ai with the assistance of two brothers from Ātua,Fai’ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. . High Chiefs Lutu and Solosolo.Ua Tālā le Ta'ui, Lomiga 1(2009), Page 25.
Tuāulu, the original name of the Vailoatai village, was specifically set aside to prepare human sacrifices for Tuife'ai during his reign.Ua Tālā le Ta'ui, Lomiga 1(2009), Page 44.
Tuife'ai is a title that has many tala (legends) from Manu'a, Tutuila and 'Upolu. Sunia notes that the title goes back as far as 500 A.D., and that the Tuife'ai of that time is responsible for the first failed invasion of the Manu'a kingdom. The title established familial ties with the Mālietoa in the 13th or 14th century.Soʻo, A. (2008). Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa: An Uneasy Alliance. Fiji: IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific, Page 16
The Malaeloa Itū'au Olo Site (or defensive fortification), which was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, 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 Tuife'ai and his aumaga (army).
The other feared aitu (ghost, spirit) of the district is that of the legendary Tui Ātua from the village of Fūtiga whose victims – those who violate his taboos – can only be healed by HC Ulufaleilupe and HTC Uiagalelei.Ua Tālā le Ta'ui, Lomiga 1(2009), Page 50.
Historical Sites
Asotau is the name of the village malaefono in Taputimu and Vailoatai. It is a historical marker of the Tafa'ifā I’amafana’s failed invasion of Manu’a. The counties of Sua and Vāifanua rallied under PC Le’iatoMatuatia v. Tautunu (1910)Asuega v. Manuma (1965)In re Matai Title "Mulitauaopele"(1990) to expel I’amafana’s forces from Tuālātai, where the king sought refuge under the protection of his relative, PC Sātele, during his retreat from Manu’a.Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009) A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 52.
After a battle ensued,Lenihan, M. W. (1953). Betwixt the Here and There. United States: Dorrance.Brother Herman (1966). Tales of Ancient Samoa: Tala O Le Vavau. (n.p.): Association of the Marist Brothers' Old BoysHalloran, P. J. (1939). The Construction of the Samoan Library: Fagatogo, Tutuila, Samoa. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. the conflict was resolved peacefully via a traditional style intercession known as a seumālō.Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 53. Wendt, M. A., Suaalii-Sauni, T. M. (2014). Whispers and Vanities: Samoan Indigenous Knowledge and Religion. United States: Huia Publishers. King I’amafana and his forces returned to 'Upolu, and the county took the words ‘aso tau’ (Day of War) as the name of its malae to commemorate the event.
Landmarks