Aiga-i-le-Tai

Last updated
Aiga-i-le-Tai
District
ISS014-E-5401 NASA Upolu Manono Apolima.jpg
Satellite photo showing Manono & Apolima islands & west end of Upolu under clouds. (NASA photo, 2006).
Samoa-Aiga-i-le-Tai.png
Map of Samoa showing Aiga-i-le-Tai district
Country Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
Population
 (2016)
 • Total5,029
Time zone -11

Aiga-i-le-Tai is a district of Samoa [1] which includes the small islands of Manono, Apolima and tiny uninhabited Nu'ulopa lying in the Apolima Strait between the country's two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

Contents

The district includes part of the mainland at the western end of Upolu and surrounds an exclave of A'ana district, namely Satuimalufilufi village.

Historically, Manono island has been the centre of the district. In modern times, the main centre is Mulifanua where the inter-island ferry terminal is located for ocean crossings between Savai'i and Upolu.

With an area of only 27 km², Aiga-i-le-Tai is the smallest electoral district [2] in the country with a population (2016 Census) of 5,029. Va'a-o-Fonoti is the only electoral district with a smaller population.

The words 'aiga i le tai literally means 'family by the sea' in the Samoan language.

Chief titles

Historically, the naval power of Manono and Apolima played a major role in political power-struggles between the national clans.

One of the most important chiefly (matai) titles in the districts is Luatutu Aupa’au Leiataua. The district is also a major leg of the Sa Malietoa clan. Manono plays an important part in the election of the Malietoa title-holders, as Malie village also consults with Manono in the election of title holders, hence the importance of the Malietoa title in this district. [3]

Mulifanua ferry terminal

Today, the ferry terminal at Mulifanua, situated on the northwest coast of Upolu, is the second-most important port on the island, after the busiest harbour in the capital Apia. The port is the main inter-island connection to Savai'i island. A regular passenger and vehicle ferry operates seven days a week, during the day, between Mulifanua and Salelologa ferry terminal on Savai'i. Views of Apolima and Manono can be seen during the crossing.

Archaeology

Archaeology in Samoa has uncovered pre-historic Lapita pottery sherds and adzes at Mulifanua, discovered during expansion work on the wharf in 1973. The oldest date so far from pre-historic remains at Mulifanua has been calculated by New Zealand scientists to a likely true age of circa 3,000 BP (Before Present). The submerged Lapita site was accidentally discovered in the 1970s during work to expand the inter-island ferry berth. [4] This is the only site in Samoa where decorated Lapita sherds have been found [5] although plainware pottery remains are found in other parts of Samoa and American Samoa.

Electoral results

2021 Samoan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
FAST Laki Mulipola Leiataua 1,34339.1
HRPP Leiataualesā Taupau Mulipola Oliva 83124.2-6.4
HRPP Ifopo Matia Filisi Jahnke 72721.2-3.0
HRPP Mulipola Atonio Patua Mulipola 3289.6
HRPP Pouli Taialofa Naseri 2056.0
FAST gain from Independent Swing New

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Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ; two smaller, inhabited islands ; and several smaller, uninhabited islands, including the Aleipata Islands. Samoa is located 64 km (40 mi) west of American Samoa, 889 km (552 mi) northeast of Tonga, 1,152 km (716 mi) northeast of Fiji, 483 km (300 mi) east of Wallis and Futuna, 1,151 km (715 mi) southeast of Tuvalu, 519 km (322 mi) south of Tokelau, 4,190 km (2,600 mi) southwest of Hawaii, and 610 km (380 mi) northwest of Niue. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mulifanua</span> Village District in Aiga-i-le-Tai, Samoa

Mulifanua is a village on the north-western tip of the island of Upolu, in Samoa. In the modern era, it is the capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai district. Mulifanua wharf is the main ferry terminal for inter-island vehicle and passenger travel across the Apolima Strait between Upolu and the island of Savai'i.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apolima</span> Island in Samoa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manono Island</span> Island in Western Samoa

Manono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km west-northwest off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Samoa</span> Overview of the districts of Samoa

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Tuamāsaga is a district of Samoa, with a population of 95,907. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of Upolu island.

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Faʻasaleleaga is a district of Samoa situated on the eastern side of Savaiʻi island. It has a population of 13,566.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa Laupepa</span> Malietoa

Susuga Malietoa Laupepa was the ruler (Malietoa) of Samoa in the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malietoa</span> One of Samoas four paramount chiefs

Mālietoa is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa. It is the titular head of one of the two great royal families of Samoa: Sā Malietoa. Literally translated as "great warrior", the title's origin comes from the final words of the Tongan warriors as they were fleeing on the beach to their boats, "Malie To`a, Malo e tau...".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apolima Strait</span> Strait in Western Samoa

The Apolima Strait is about 13 km wide and separates the two largest islands of Samoa: Savai'i to the northwest, and Upolu to the southeast.

Apai is one of four small villages on Manono Island in Samoa. The village population is 124.

Faleu is one of four small historic villages on Manono Island in Samoa. The village population is 250.

Salua is one of four small villages on Manono Island in Samoa. The village population is 136.

Satapuala is a village situated on the north west coast Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of A'ana Alofi 4 Electoral Constituency which forms part of the larger political district A'ana. It has a population of 1963.

Nuʻulopa is a small, uninhabited island in the Apolima Strait between the islands of Upolu and Savaiʻi in Samoa. The island is part of the Aiga-i-le-Tai district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archaeology of Samoa</span>

Archaeology of Samoa began with the first systematic survey of archaeological remains on Savai'i island by Jack Golson in 1957. Since then, surveys and studies in the rest of Samoa have uncovered major findings of settlements, stone and earth mounds including star mounds, Lapita pottery remains and pre-historic artifacts.

Manono Uta is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is situated on the north west coast of the island in the political district of Aiga-i-le-Tai.

Lepuia'i is one of four small villages on Manono Island in Samoa. The village population is 183.

References

  1. ↑ "Population and Housing Census Report 2006" (PDF). Samoa Bureau of Statistics. July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "Samoa Territorial Constituencies Act 1963". Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Augustin Krämer. The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph With Particular Consideration of German Samoa. University of Hawaii Press. p. 55.
  4. ↑ Journal of the Polynesian Society: New Information For The Ferry Berth Site, Mulifanua, Western Samoa, By H. M. Leach, P 319-330 New Information for the Ferry Berth Site, Mulifanua, Western Samoa by Roger C. Green & Helen M. Leach, Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 98, No. 3, 1989. Retrieved 23 April 2010
  5. ↑ Temper sands in prehistoric Oceanian pottery: geotectonics, sedimentology, petrography, provenance by William R. Dickinson, p.34.Retrieved 23 April 2010

Coordinates: 13°52′S172°4′W / 13.867°S 172.067°W / -13.867; -172.067

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