Fagasā, American Samoa

Coordinates: 14°17′14″S 170°43′06″W / 14.28722°S 170.71833°W / -14.28722; -170.71833
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fagasā
Village
Ituau County
Area
 • Land1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total831

Fagasā is a village in the

Route 5).[3]

Fagasa has two sub-villages: Fagatele (Big Bay) on the west side, where Leʻatele School is located, and Fagaleʻa on the east side, by the chapel of the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS).[4]: 32 

Forbidden Bay has been described as one of the most beautiful bays in the South Pacific Ocean.[5] It can be reached by boat or from Fagasā by foot.[6]

A porpoise sanctuary is located in Fagasa Bay.[7]

Etymology

The name Fagasa translates to "Sacred Bay." The village's high chiefs, elders and orators all believe the name derived from the legend of Liavaʻa.[4]: 29 

History

The first European expedition to ever set foot on Tutuila was headed by Frenchman Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who landed at Fagasa in 1787. This encounter, however, ended tragically. A battle between the French and the Samoans found place in Aʻasu, where twelve sailors and 39 Samoans were killed.[8] On December 10, 1787, two French parties arrived at Tutuila. One under Lapérouse landed at Fagasa, while the other, under M. DeLangle, landed at Aʻasu a few miles to the west. In Fagasa, Lapérouse discovered a little bay and a sizable village, which was walled off from the rest of Tutuila Island by mountains. Lapérouse and his party were welcomed in the village and also permitted to take water from the two streams flowing through the village.[9]: 5–6 

In 1836, a group of five British

Upolu Island. The formal Christianization of Tutuila and Manuʻa Islands is said to stem from this voyage.[9]
: 37–38 

In the early hours of January 11, 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced near Fagasa and then sent more than a dozen shells over the mountain and onto the vicinity of the

Naval Station Tutuila. There was only one direct hit, which was the only Japanese-owned structure in the archipelago (owned by Frank Shimasaki).[9]: 241 [10]

In March 1991, a prehistoric

Marquesas.[11]

Demographics

Year Population[12]
2010
 831
2000
 900
1990
 717
1980
 657
1970
 649
1960
 442

Religion

Fagasa's main church is the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS). It was the first religion to be established in Fagasa. At the end of World War II, villagers decided to construct the first chapel in the village. Although transportation was difficult, the villagers carried materials and supplies over their shoulders from the Mafa Pass and down to Fagasa. The church is located right where the steep winding road ends and the flatland begins.[4]: 39 

Geography

Fagasā is situated on the north shore of

Pago Pago. A stream with fales beside it follows the steep valley down to Fagasa.[13] The buses to Fagasa go every hour from the bus station at Fagatogo Market in Pago Pago.[14] Fagasā is located in the Nofoa area of Itūʻau County.[15][16]

Fagasa lies northwest of

American Samoa National Park here, and a walking trail to the Mount ʻAlava Towers takes off from the Mafa.[4]
: 27 

The soil is rich for vegetation and forests. Families have developed the land near their homes for agricultural crops. Fagasa is surrounded by a mountain range from either end.

Upolu Island
over the horizon.

The shoreline from Fagasā Bay to Vatia Bay is within the National Park of American Samoa and contains the longest stretch of undisturbed and uninhabited coast on Tutuila Island. The forest along this coastline has never been disturbed, and steep cliffs are found here along with scenic coves such as Tāfeu Cove near Vatia. There are also waterfalls, streams, and forest-covered ridge tops.[17]

Fagasā Pass

At Fagasā Pass right outside of town is the primary trailhead for the

fruit bats. Halfway up the mountain is a coconut- and banana plantation.[18]

National park

The Tutuila unit of the National Park of American Samoa is situated between the villages on Fagasā on the west and Āfono on the east. The southern boundary follows along the crest of the Mount ʻAlava-Maugaloa Ridge above Pago Pago Harbor from Āfono Pass to Fagasā Pass. Access to the Tutuila portion of the park is via the road which runs along the perimeter of the upper Pago Pago Harbor. Lateral roads lead to Fagasa Pass the park's western end. From the Fagasā Pass National Park entrance, there is an unpaved road leaving hikers to the top of Mount ʻAlava. The road was originally constructed in order to service the television transmitters on the mountain. Road signs marking entry points to the National Park can be found near the trailhead at Fagasā Bay, and along the national park side of Fagasā Bay in order to mark the park's boundary from the ridge top down to Siufaga Point.[19]

Jagged Mount ʻAlava dominates the scenery on northern Tutuila Island. A 6-mile (9.7 km) roundtrip trail leads up to the 1,585 ft. peak. The view from atop Mount ʻAlava contains both the south and north sides of the island's Pacific coasts as well as the deep inlet in Pago Pago Harbor.[20]

Boat tours arranged by the government regularly sail around the north coast villages of Fagasā, Āfono, and Vatia.[6]

Attractions

World War II relics can be seen on the mountain ridges and shorelines of Fagasa. The American Marines left Fagasa on August 15, 1945, after it was officially declared that the Japanese forces had surrendered to the United States. On the shorelines of Fagafue and Sika, one can still find the pillbox forts or gun turrets the Marines utilized as coastal lookouts during World War II.[4]: 37 

There is a marine life sanctuary in Fagasa Bay. Tourists often hike from Mafa Pass to the Mount ʻAlava Towers, which is the main transmitting antennas of the American Samoa Government's TV station.[4]: 44 

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Things to See in American Samoa | Frommer's".
  2. ISBN 9780864425553
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-56691-172-6
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 9781546229070
    .
  5. ^ "Things to see and do in American Samoa". World Travel Guide. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9781902221847
    .
  7. ISBN 9780471769804
    .
  8. ISBN 9780864425553
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 9780405130380
    .
  10. ISBN 9780980033151
    .
  11. ISBN 9781573062992
    .
  12. ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  13. ISBN 978-0-684-13010-1
    .
  14. ISBN 978-1-56691-172-6
    .
  15. ISBN 978-0-8248-2219-4
    .
  16. ISBN 9781428985490
    .
  17. ^ "National Park Feasibility Study" (PDF). National Park Service. July 1988. p. 61. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Day Hikes" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  19. ^ National Park of American Samoa, General Management Plan (GP), Islands of Tutulla, Ta'u, and Ofu: Environmental Impact Statement (PDF) (Report). U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service. 1997. pp. 2, 21 and 31.
  20. ISBN 978-0-470-50070-5
    .
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