Neiafu, Samoa

Last updated
Satellite image of western end of Savai'i island. (NASA photo, 2002) ISS004-E-6756 NASA SAVAI ISLAND, WEST END.jpg
Satellite image of western end of Savai'i island. (NASA photo, 2002)

Neiafu is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is in the Alataua Sisifo electoral district and located at the south west corner of the island. The population of Neiafu Uta is 601 and Neiafu Tai is 307. [1]

Like many villages in Samoa, Neiafu has two settlements Neiafu Tai (coastal) and Neiafu Uta (inland). [1] The settlement was previously situated by the sea, but with the advent of the modern island road, many families have moved several kilometers inland for convenience. The inland settlement, Neiafu Uta, is relatively recent. [2] The village has close kinship ties to Satupa'itea village. [2]

Neiafu-Tai is also famous in Samoan history, this is where the last Tongan warriors got on their ships and left Samoa at the end of Tongan domination of the archipelago. As they left, Tu'i Tonga said: Mālie toa, mālie tau - "brave warriors, bravely fought". The Samoan chiefly family Malietoa takes it name from this event.

Notable people from Neiafu are Opeta Palepoi who was a member of the Manu Samoa rugby team.

Related Research Articles

Falealupo Village & Electoral Constituency in Vaisigano, Samoa

Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island 20 miles (32 km) from the International Date Line used until 29 December 2011. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealupo-Tai, situated by the sea. The road to the coastal settlement is about 9 km, most of it unsealed, from the main highway. The village's population is 545.

Tuʻi Tonga Empire Empire based in Oceania during around 950s-1865

The Tuʻi Tonga Empire, or Tongan Empire, are descriptions sometimes given to Tongan expansionism and projected hegemony in Oceania which began around 950 CE, reaching its peak during the period 1200–1500.

Aʻana District in Samoa

Aʻana is a district of Samoa. It is on the western third of Upolu island, with a small exclave surrounded by Aiga-i-le-Tai. It has an area of 193 km² and a population of 23,265. The main centre is Leulumoega.

Aiga-i-le-Tai District in Samoa

Aiga-i-le-Tai is a district of Samoa 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.

Gagaʻifomauga District in Samoa

Gagaʻifomauga is a political district on the island of Savaiʻi in Samoa. The district is situated on the northern side of the island with a population of 4,878.

Tuamasaga District in Samoa

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

Faʻasaleleaga District in Samoa

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

Malietoa One of Samoas four paramount chiefs

Mālietoa is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa. 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...".

Fire knife

The fire knife is a traditional Samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. It was originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on both ends with a portion of the blade exposed in the middle. Tribal performers of fire knife dancing dance while twirling the knife and doing other acrobatic stunts. The towels are set afire during the dances, hence the name.

Sataoa Village in Tuamasaga, Samoa

Sataoa is a small village situated on the central south coast of Upolu island in Samoa. Like many villages in the country, Sataoa has two settlements, one inland and one by the coast. The population of Sataoa Uta is 1121 and Sataoa Tai is 239.

Salamumu is a village on the south west coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village has two settlements, Salamumu Uta and Salamumu Tai.

Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu and Savai'i.

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

Satapuala Village in Aana, Samoa

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.

Safotulafai Village District in Faasaleleaga, Samoa

Safotulafai is a traditional village at the east end of Savai'i island with historical and political significance in Samoa's history. It is the traditional center of the island of Savaii, now became the center of Fa'asaleleaga political district.

Salega is a traditional district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is situated on the south side of the island. The population is 3,461.

Salelavalu Uta is a village at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency Fa'asaleleaga 2 which is within the larger political district (Itumalo) of Fa'asaleleaga.

Malie is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the north coast in the Electoral Constituency of Sagaga Le Usoga which forms part of the larger political district of Tuamasaga. The village has been a traditional headquarters for the Malietoa, one of the four paramount families and royal titles of Samoa. The village has a population of 2247.

Samoa–Tonga relations Bilateral relations

Samoa–Tonga relations are the bilateral relations between the Independent State of Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga. They also interact in multilateral relations, with both of them belonging to the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

References

  1. 1 2 "Census 2016 Preliminary count" (PDF). Samoa Bureau of Statistics. 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 R. G. Crocombe, Selwyn Arutangai (1987). Land tenure in the Pacific. University of the South Pacific. p. 99. ISBN   92-5-102119-8.

Coordinates: 13°31′S172°43′W / 13.517°S 172.717°W / -13.517; -172.717