Leone, American Samoa
Leone | |
---|---|
Village | |
Lealataua | |
Area | |
• Total | 2.37 sq mi (6.13 km2) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 1,919 |
• Density | 810/sq mi (310/km2) |
Time zone | Samoa Time Zone |
ZIP code | 96799 |
Area code | +1 684 |
Leone is the second-largest city on Tutuila Island's west coast.
The village is home to some of the oldest buildings on Tutuila Island.
Until the invention of the motorboat,
Etymology
The name originated from a famine that devastated
History
19th century
When missionary
On October 11, 1839, Commodore Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition visited Leone. Midshipman William Reynolds was assigned surveying duty under Lieutenant Joseph Underwood. In the village, they were introduced to Chief Tuitele, who was happy to welcome them as guests for the night. In his diary, Reynolds described the gentleness and civility of the villagers. He wrote: “I noticed in the men, a fondness & care displayed towards their children,” and went on to write: “While on the beach many huge fellows had infants & babbling youngsters in their arms.” He later questioned whether “these people have more claim to be good than we.”[15][16][17] Reynolds promised Chief Tuetila that he would clothe “him as a Papalangi” (white person) if he would show up to their ship on their return. The chief came, but Captain Charles Wilkes refused to see Chief Tuetila.[18][19]
In 1857, due to the large interest among locals for Christianity and its teachings, the
On June 18, 1888, Elder Joseph Henry Dean founded the first branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Leone.[21]
20th century
In the early 1900s, the Roman Catholics established the Marist Brothers School in Leone as a consequence of the unification of all Tutuila public schools. The Girls School at Leloaloa and the Boys School at
In 1920, the roads were in such condition that a roundtrip from Leone to Pago Pago, a distance of around 16 miles (26 km), took an entire day. In 1922, the Leone Rapid Transit began operations, announcing two trips per day at a round trip fare of $2.00. It was a result of $30,000 earmarked for road construction by Governor
Leone was selected in 1932 as one of four meeting places for the
From the 1920s until just after World War II, Leone gained a reputation for its
Leone was home to a bomber airstrip, known as Leone Airfield, which was completed on September 30, 1943. Leone High School and Midkiff Elementary School are situated today where the airfield once was located. It was abandoned in early 1945 due to turbulent air currents and lack of use.[28][29] The airstrip was meant to be a Marine Corps fighter strip, but only a total of two airplanes were able to land and take off before the strip was declared unsafe due to the turbulent air currents.[30][31]
In October 1982, residents in Leone celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first missionary, John Williams. The Catholic Church in town celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Sisters School, which was established in Leone in 1883 by Sisters Mary St. Vincent, St. Claire, and St. Thérese.[32]
Modern times
The highest-ranking Samoan military serviceman to lose his life in the War in Iraq, U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Max Galeai, was killed in
Leone had the most victims in American Samoa in the 2009 tsunami. A memorial garden - Leone Healing Garden - was created on the So Poloa family land, where most of the 11 victims were found.[35] The garden commemorates the loss of the 2009 tsunami that killed 22 and injured hundreds of Leone residents. Located just offshore are remnants of a fishing ship that was damaged by Cyclone Gita in 2018.[2]
In 2011, Leone Post Office was dedicated and replaced an older one destroyed by the 2009 tsunami.[36]
In 2012, Samoa's Prime Minister
In December 2012, a police substation was dedicated in Leone. The new station was constructed with federal funds.[39]
On November 1, 2014, a drive-by shooting took place in Leone. Several gunshots were fired at the front of the Leone Police Substation. No officers or other personnel were injured. Four bullets were later recovered from inside the station. Four men were charged for the shooting, which took place when two police officers were inside the station.[40]
Tsunami
Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0
Demographics
Year | Population[45] |
---|---|
2010 |
1,919 |
2000 |
3,568 |
1990 |
3,013 |
1980 |
1,652 |
1970 |
1,657 |
1960 |
1,192 |
1950 |
851 |
1940 |
711 |
1930 |
583 |
The population as of the
The population of Leone went from 1,652 as of 1980 to 3,013 residents in 1990. This increase represented an annual growth rate of around 8.2%. The proportion of residents born outside American Samoa doubled from 1980 to 1990. The village was home to 443 housing units as of 1990. Construction permits were issued for 117 new homes between 1990–95, increasing the number of total housing units to 560.[46]
Geography
Leone is a village situated southwest on Tutuila Island in American Samoa, reached by Route 1 from Pago Pago. It borders the villages of Puapua and Vailoatai to the south, Malaeloa Aitulagi to the east, and Amaluia to the west. It lies at the foothills of Malaloto Ridge by Leone Bay. Leone Falls and Leone Quarry are inland following Leafu Stream from the coast.
It is situated on the southwestern tip of Tutuila Island and is recognized as
Pala Lagoon is a long stretch of swamp beginning from the main bridge on the road back to the foot of the mountains. The swamp has been a natural resource for marine life growth and is home to a number of bird species. Aualii Stream and Leafu Stream flow down from Mulimauga Ridge and through the village before discharging into Pala Lagoon. Leone has a large number of
Leone Pala Special Management Area
In 2013, American Samoa received a $269,000 National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant. The grant will be used by the American Samoa Department of Commerce in order to restore 18.3 acres (7.4 ha) of coastal wetland habitat in Leone. The Leone wetland area is one of the largest and most important
Dominant vegetation in Leone's mangrove wetland includes the swamp
Leone Falls
Leone Falls is a waterfall with a freshwater pool used for swimming. The waterfall is reached by following the road up past the grey Catholic church near the town center to the end of the pavement. Then follow the dirt path to the head of the valley, where the waterfall is located. An artificial catchment barrier is placed at the bottom, which creates a pool used for swimming. The waterfall is also enhanced by a water pipe on the side of the falls.[4][53] The falls are closed on Sundays due to religious observances.[citation needed]
Barry's Bed & Breakfast is a motel in a quiet residential area of Leone near the waterfalls.[54][55]
Petroglyphs
Leone is one of three places in American Samoa where prehistoric petroglyphs have been discovered. The petroglyphs were the first to be discovered in the territory when they were found during Dr.
The Leone Bay petroglyphs take the form of figurative engravings or rock carvings and have been engraved into the stone surface by pecking (hammering the stone with a sharp instrument), bruising (rubbing the surface with another stone), and abrading (a combination of bruising and pecking). In 1966, rock previously covered with algae was exposed and more petroglyphs were discovered. These took the shape of what appeared to be an octopus, a jellyfish, a turtle, and an incomplete human figure.[58]
Politics
Leone has been described as the “capital” of the Western District.[59]
The village council banned the establishment of foreign-owned and operated businesses in 2002.[60]
Economy
As of 2000, there were 47 registered commercial enterprises in the village of Leone. They included 8 grocery stores, 7 bus- and taxi services, 7 retail stores, 5 wholesale operations, 3 professional services, 2 landscaping businesses, 2 bakeries, a cable service business, a janitorial service, a fast-food restaurant, a car repair, a pool hall, a laundromat, a gas station, a commercial diving contractor, a silk screen printing service, and a distributor of amusement machines. Commercial crop production and
Leone Quarry
The 50-acre (20 ha) Tatagamatau quarry above Leone is the largest in existence. It has been entered into the
The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) did an investigation of the Tatagamatau adze quarry site in Leone, and revealed the site to be the oldest and largest of its kind in western Polynesia. It is also the only fortified adze quarry in the world.[62]
Historical sites
Historical sites in Leone include the two listings on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places: Leone Quarry and Fagalele Boys School as well as Siona Church. Other sites include:[63]
- Numiatoga (Fagatele), which is an area towards Leone's east coast. From this settlement of the 16th century Tongans, the warriors of Tutuila Island went to war with the Tongans under the leadership of Fuā'autoa, who later became known as Mauga. The Tongans were startled by the surprise attack, and they sailed away and promised to never to return to Tutuila as warriors, but rather as partners and peacemakers.
- Mauga o Alii (Mountain of Chiefs). In prehistoric times, villagers would hear loud ringing sounds from the middle of the tall mountains behind the village just before the death of a prominent chief. It was a premonition in the premodern days; according to some of the elders, the ringing sounds can still be heard today.
- A historic monument dedicated to Reverend John Williams is located in front of the Leone Congregational Christian Church (Siona).
A memorial woman sculpture is located by the sea and was placed there in order to signify the site where the first missionaries arrived in Leone.[64]
Sports
Leone's Moso’oi women's cricket team was the American Samoa national women's cricket champion for several years. The Leone Whites village rugby team has been the American Samoa Rugby Union's champion for a number of years. Leone teams have also participated in softball championship leagues and volleyball tournaments. Several residents of Leone have become football players in the National Football League (NFL), including Joe Salave'a, Gabe Reid, Eddie Siaumau, and Samoa Samoa.[65]
Leone is the birthplace and hometown of Jaiyah Saelua, an American Samoan Soccer player who was the first transgender player to play in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.[66][67]
Landmarks
- Leone Quarry: Most important archeological site in American Samoa.
- Fagalele Boys School: May be the oldest building on Tutuila Island.
- John Williams' Church (Zion Church): Oldest church in American Samoa.
- The church has a monument to John Williams, Samoa's first missionary.[68][69][70]
- Leone Healing Garden
- Leone Falls
Education
American Samoa Department of Education operates public schools, including Leone High School and Midkiff Elementary School.
Notable people
- Jaiyah Saelua, first transgender player to play in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, born and raised in Leone
- Joe Salave'a, NFL player and football coach
- Tauese Sunia, former Governor of American Samoa
- Napoleon Andrew Tuiteleleapaga, author, poet and musician
- Andra Samoa, chief executive and environmentalist
- Sika Anoa'i, wrestler
- Jerome Kaino, rugby player
- John Kneubuhl, screenwriter and historian
- Shalimar Seiuli, dancer, attended Leone High School
- Sven Ortquist, West Samoan artist, lived in Leone
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