AMERICAN SAMOA LOCATION AND POLITICAL STATUS American Samoa consists of seven islands located 2,300 miles southwest of Honolulu and 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand. It is administered by a Governor and a Secretary (sometimes referred to as the Lieutenant Governor), who are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The territory's relations within all branches of the U.S. Government are handled through a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Territorial Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. Legislative power in the territory is vested in the Legislature of American Samoa, composed of a senate and a house of representatives. Members of the legislature, or Fono as it is called, are selected in one of two ways: Members of the senate are elected in accordance with Samoan custom by the county councils, while members of the house are elected by popular vote. The judicial authority of the Government is independent of the executive and legislative powers and is excercised under the direction of the Chief Justice of American Samoa, who is appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The seat of the territorial government is at Pago Pago, Tutuila Island. The seven islands comprising American Samoa are Tutuila; Annu’u; Ta'u; Olosega, and Ofu (collectively known as the Manu'a group); Swains; and Rose, the last two being coral atolls. The land area of all seven islands is only 76.2 square miles, of which over 96 percent is owned communally and is regulated as to occupancy and use by Samoan custom. Tutuila is the main island. It runs east and west and is almost bisected by famed Pago Pago Bay, recognized as one of the best natural harbors in the South Pacific. Governmental operations and much of the commercial activities of American Samoa are located in the bay area. Annu'u lies about a mile southeast of Tutuila, while the Manu'a group is located about 60 miles east. Swains Islands, privately owned, is about 280 miles north of Tutuila; Rose Island, which is uninhabited, lies approximately 250 miles eastward of Tutuila. According to the 1970 U.S. Census Bureau figures, the population of American Samoa is 27,159. (31) The people of Samoa are closely related to the Hawaiians, Tahitians, Tongans, and New Zealand's Maoris. Friendly and generous, they are among the last remaining true Polynesians. Dedicated to ceremonial and mythological practices which are centuries old, they cling steadfastly to the Samoan culture and to traditions. The Interior Department has strongly supported this cultural preservation by the Samoan people, while encouraging them to advance in the areas of health and education. The Samoan social structure centers around the aiga (pronounced "eye-inga"), an extended family which may encompass as many as several thousand relatives. At the head of the aigas are matais (pronounced "muh-tíes"), or chiefs, who guide the communal economy which still exists to a great degree. The matais are responsible for control of family lands and property, and it is their responsibility to care for the well-being of their aigas and to represent them in the county and district councils. Although a Samoan language exists and is the common language of the home, English is the official language and is understood throughout the territory. United States exploration of what is now American Samoa began in 1839 when a vessel commanded by Lt. John Wilkes made the first American stop on what was then eastern Samoa. In 1872, the need for a coaling station in the South Pacific brought the U.S.S. Narragansett to Tutuila, where Cmdr. Richard Meade entered into an agreement with High Chief Mauga of Pago Pago. The agreement was never ratified by the U.S. Senate, but it did serve to prevent other nations from making claims on Pago_Pago harbor as international competition for bases in the South Pacific increased. Following the failure of a pact 10 years earlier, the United States, Great Britain, and Germany signed a convention in 1899 whereby the United States retained eastern Samoa, but gave up all claims to the islands of Upolu and Savai'i, which now comprise the independent state of Western Samoa. Upon ratification of this convention, President McKinley, on February 19, 1900, directed the Navy to establish U.S. authority in what is now American Samoa. As a naval station was being built in Pago Pago harbor, a series of deeds of cession was negotiated with the chiefs of Tutuila on April 17, 1900. Four years later, the king of the Manu'a chain ceded his islands to the United States. These and other agreements provided that Samoan chiefs would continue to govern so long as they did not violate U.S. laws or act to obstruct the advancement of civilization. Swains Islands was settled in 1856 by American trader Eli Jennings and his Samoan wife. Although it had been linked historically to the Tokelau island chain, Jennings' citizenship tied it to American Samoa. The island officially became part of American Samoa in 1925, although the Jennings family still owns Swains and its people still work the island for its copra. The Naval Government of American Samoa remained in effect until June 30, 1951, when administration of the territory was transferred to the Department of the Interior by Executive order. In 1960, the Secretary of the Interior ratified and approved the first Constitution of American Samoa. A Revised Constitution, approved by constitutional convention and a majority of the voters of the territory in the 1966 election, was ratified and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on June 2, 1967, and became effective July 1, 1967. CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY American Samoa enjoys a tropical climate. Temperatures range between 70 and 90 degrees Farenheit, while the humidity averages about 80 percent. Rainfall varies from year to year and from place to place in the territory, but some sections of American Samoa recorded as much as 200 inches of rain annually. Most of this occurs between December and April, the wettest time in the islands. Except for Swains and Rose Islands, which are coral atolls, the islands of American Samoa are volcanic in origin. Tutuila is mountainous, with a spiny, jungle-covered range running from one end of the island to the other. Tropical forests abound, and coconut palms are profuse. Breadfruit and taro grows with little attention. Semi-wild pigs exist throughout the islands, and Samoan waters are abundant with a variety of fish. OPPORTUNITIES American Samoa offers a wide range of opportunities for the tourist, businessman, or professional person. Famed for its beauty and way of life, American Samoa attracts an increasingly growing number of tourists each year. Good accessibility to most parts of the island enable the visitor to enjoy scenery unparalleled in its magnificence and sample the varied aspects of life among a people known for their friendliness. A number of fine harbors and crystal clear waters attract a large number of sailing enthusiasts. American Samoa's free-port status enables visitors to the territory to return to the United States with up to $200 worth of duty-free goods. Shops feature items imported from around the world at prices considerably lower than those stateside. Under a carefully administered program, the Government of American Samoa encourages the introduction of investment capital. Although a general policy of "Samoa for Samoans" exists, business investment, large or small, which serves to bolster the Samoan economy and provide job opportunity for the Samoan labor force, is encouraged. Favorable Samoan tax laws add to Samoa's attraction as an investment opportunity. The public school system in American Samoa extends from early childhood through the community college level. Although the majority of teachers are Samoan, approximately 15 percent come from outside the territory. Educational television is utilized as one of the methods. of instruction in Samoan classrooms. A bachelor's or master's degree in Education is required of all nonSamoans interested in educational positions. A well-equipped hospital in American Samoa provides modern medical services for the people of the territory. Occasionally, there is need of non-Samoans with experience and training in the health profession. American Samoa does not grant permanent resident status to non-Samoans. AMERICAN SAMOA TODAY American Samoa today is a land of contrasts, standing on the threshold of a new era in its history. While not exactly the fabled paradise portrayed by Michener and Maugham, it is still one of the garden spots of the earth. Though the advances of the modern era have been introduced, they have been tempered so as not to destroy the rich cultural heritage of the Samoan people. Where the twentieth century may prevail 6 days a week, the seventh is reserved for family and quiet relaxation. Whereas Representatives are sent to the Samoan legislature by the electoral process, Senators take their seats according to customary procedures which have elevated them to high office. Neither east or west, ancient or modern, American Samoa today is a blend of space and time. Its government and its people seek to acquire those advances of contemporary society that can only improve upon a rich and treasured past. |