Alao, American Samoa

Alao
Village
Alao
Coordinates: 14°16′3″S170°33′49″W / 14.26750°S 170.56361°W / -14.26750; -170.56361
Country	United States
Territory	American Samoa
County	Vaifanua
Area
• Total	0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	275
• Density	490/sq mi (190/km2)

Alao is a village on the narrow east coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located close to the island's easternmost point, just to the north of Aunu'u Island. Alao is home to white sand beaches, and is one of the oldest settlements in all of American Samoa. ^[1] It is located in Vaifanua County, American Samoa. ^{[2] [3]}

The village gained international attention in 2005 when the village council moved to ban Asian-owned businesses within village boundaries. Its ranking chief, Sogimaletavai Leo, told reporters that the village wanted to protect small Samoan-owned businesses. He also explained that it has been an increased number of Asian-owned stores popping up in neighboring villages on the island's east end. ^[4]

Olomoana Hill behind Alao is one of very few places in Tutuila where trachyte occurs. ^[5]

A chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is located in town.

History

In the late 19th century, the village of Alao became the first foothold for the LDS Church on Tutuila Island. ^[6]

In 1929, author Aletta Lewis (1904-1955) spent six months in the Samoan Islands and lived for a time with families in Alao. In her travelogue They Call Them Savages (1938), she recalls Alao and its people with warmth, stressing the “good feeling” she found in Samoan life and culture. ^[7]

Demographics

Population growth [8]
2020	275
2010	495
2000	528
1990	463
1980	274
1970	390
1960	386
1950	324
1940	195
1930	138

Geography

Alao is situated near the southeastern tip of Tutuila Island, where the hamlet of Utumea is located. ^[9] There is a white sand beach that stretches the whole length of the village of Alao. ^[10]

Notable people

• Jack Thompson, entrepreneur. ^[11]

References

1. Goodwin, Bill (2006). Frommer’s South Pacific. Wiley. Page 401. ISBN   9780471769804.
2. Tu’u’u, Misilugi Tulifau Tofaeono (2002). History of Samoa Islands: Supremacy & Legacy of the Malietoa (na Fa'alogo i Ai Samoa). Tuga'ula Publication. Page 427. ISBN   9780958219914.
3. Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. Page 424. ISBN   9780824822194.
4. "American Samoa village bans Asian-owned businesses". 28 January 2005.
5. Whistler, W. Arthur (2002). The Samoan Rainforest: A Guide to the Vegetation of the Samoan Archipelago. Isle Botanica. Page 98. ISBN   9780964542631.
6. Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Pages 87-88. ISBN   982-9036-02-2
7. Hughes, H.G.A. (1997). Samoa: American Samoa, Western Samoa, Samoans Abroad. World Bibliographical Series: Volume 196. Page 7. ISBN 1-85109-253-6.
8. "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
9. Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. Page 432. ISBN   9780824822194.
10. Clayville, Melinda (2021). Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Manu'a Islands. Page 49. ISBN   979-8-5560-5297-0
11. Sutter, Frederic Koehler (1989). The Samoans: A Global Family. University of Hawai'i Press. Page 191.  ISBN   978-0-8248-1238-6