Vatia, American Samoa
Vatia | |
|---|---|
Village | |
UTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone) | |
| ZIP Code | 96799 |
| Area code | +1 684 |
Vatia is a village on
Vatia is home to several concrete bunkers from
Vatia is one of the oldest settlements on Tutuila Island and it has historically been regarded as the principal place of eastern Tutuila. Vatia dwells around Vatia Bay which is protected and surrounded by green forested mountains and rich coastal reefs on its seafront.[1]: 48
Vatia Bay has been described as Tutuila Island's most scenic area. A steep ridge curves around the village's west side and leads to
: 59Etymology
Vatia literally translates to “between the tombs of those with paramount status.”[1]: 49
History
Vatia is one of the oldest villages on Tutuila Island. The original Vatians lived on a narrow ridge known as Toafaiga as far back as the 18th century. In the 1980s, archeologists from the National Park Service documented the findings of remnants of different architectural structures and house foundations on the ridge. One archeological finding was that of a house foundation which was constructed of coral slaps. This may have been a ceremonial center, temple, or a meeting house for the village.[1]: 48 and 53
Remains found in
Old Vatia is located on Faiga Ridge, above and southwest of Vatia. The site was first re-discovered in 1963 by William K. Kikuchi, but it was not investigated until the 1980s. It was first recorded by the Eastern Tutuila Archeology Project, which noted that Old Vatia is “probably the largest ridgetop site in American Samoa.”[10][11]
Geography
Vatia is located on an edge of the wide, coral-fringed Vatia Bay. Vatia's location on the northern coast separates the village from the more populated places on the island. It is around ten miles northeast of
National Park
Vatia serves as the center for the Tutuila-section of
Lower Sauma Ridge Trail is another hiking trail through National Park land. This interpretive trail begins at a scenic overlook point on the road to Vatia. The trail leads to an archeological site of an ancient star mound. Along the trail are exhibits and views of the Vai'ava Strait National Natural Landmark and Pola Island, which is a nesting area for seabirds. Lower Sauma Ridge Trail is a 0.4-mile roundtrip hike.[14]
Boat tours arranged by the government regularly sail around the north coast villages of Vatia,
Pola Island
Vai'ava Strait
Mount 'Alava
Mount ‘Alava Adventure Trail is a challenging 5.6-mile roundtrip hiking trail, which is situated across the road from the trailhead for Lower Sauma Ridge Trail. This loop goes along the ridges of
Population
| Year | Population[22] |
|---|---|
2010 |
640 |
2000 |
648 |
1990 |
608 |
1980 |
394 |
1970 |
391 |
1960 |
333 |
1950 |
273 |
1940 |
213 |
1930 |
160 |
Vatia has an estimated population of 640 as of late 2010. This is an increase of around 60% since 1980. Vatia had a median age of 22, and over 60% of the village's population was between 0 and 45 years old. Many residents work for the government of American Samoa and the private sector.
Religion
Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS) is the main religion in Vatia, although there are members of Assemblies of God, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Methodism and the Voice of Christ Full Gospel Church, Inc.
Education
American Samoa Department of Education operates public schools, including Mount Alava Elementary.
Wildlife
Pola Island and the nearby Polauta Ridge are the most important nesting and roosting areas in American Samoa for several bird species. Some bird species here include:[24]
- Red-footed booby (Sula sula)
- Brown booby (Sula leucogaster)
- Greater frigatebird(Fregata minor)
- Lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel)
- Brown noddy (Anous stolidus)
- Black noddy (Anous minutus)
- Blue-gray noddy(Drocelstema cerulea)
- Gray-backed Tern(Stema lunata)
Sports
The men's and women's cricket teams were competitors in the Annual
Points of interest
- Ma’a-o-Tu’ulaumea, legendary landmark
- National Park of American Samoa
- Mount 'Alava Adventure Trail
- Tuafanua Trail
- U.S. National Register of Historic Places
- Pola Island (Pola Tai), named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of American Samoa by the Pago Pages
- Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS)
- Vai'ava Strait, 250-acre National Natural Landmark[20]
- Vatia Beach
- World War II remnants, several concrete bunkers from World War II are located near the coastline
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9781546229070.
- ISBN 9780471769804.
- ^ "Homestay - Details". National Park Service. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ United States National Park Service (1997). National Park of American Samoa, General Management Plan (GP), Islands of Tutulla, Ta'u, and Ofu: Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. National Park Service. Page 21.
- ^ ISBN 9781566914116.
- ISBN 9780958219914.
- ISBN 9780824822194.
- ^ ISBN 9780864422255.
- ISBN 9780470500705
- ^ a b "Vatia, Old". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021.
- ^ "PROJECT SITES". Archaeology of Samoa. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Vatia and Pola Tai". AFAR. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Jean P. Haydon Museum". Fodor's Travel. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Day Hikes" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ISBN 9781426216510.
- ISBN 9781902221847.
- ISBN 9781573062992.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Paul J.; Rauzon, Mark J. (2004). INVENTORY AND MONITORING OF SEABIRDS IN NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA (PDF) (Report). University of Hawai'i. p. 34. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ISBN 9780470500705
- ^ ISBN 9781573061117.
- ISBN 9781627876575.
- ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce.
- ^ "Birds". US Fish & Wildlife service. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service (1997). ”National Park of American Samoa, General Management Plan (GP), Islands of Tutulla, Ta'u, and Ofu: Environmental Impact Statement.” Page 129.