Malaeloa/Ituau
Itū'au | |
---|---|
Village | |
Etymology: Samoan: "War Side" | |
Itū'au | |
Coordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W / 14.35139°S 170.78194°WCoordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W / 14.35139°S 170.78194°W | |
Country | United States |
Territory | American Samoa |
Island | Tutuila Island |
Named for | Samoan Mythology |
Area | |
• Land | .23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 550 |
Time zone | UTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone) |
ZIP Code | 96799 |
Area code(s) | +1 684 |
Itū'au, together with Aitūlagi, make up the village of Malaeloa (long ceremonial-green).
Aitūlagi is the name of the famed family of high orator chiefs (tama matua)[1] from the Leāsina county.
Itū'au along with the villages of Fūtiga, Taputimu and Vailoatai form the itūmalo (county/district) o Tuālātai.
Although Itū'au and Aitūlagi align themselves with different counties, today they operate together in many respects as one village under the name of Malaeloa.
Tutuila Deed of Cession[]
Amituana'i of Itū'au was a signatory to the Tutuila Deed of Cession of 1900.[2]
Etymology[]
Itū’au can literally be translated as "war side".[3] The itū'au and the alātaua (war path) were roles assumed by allied villages or districts during times of conflict. This was a common practice throughout pre-contact Samoa,[4][5] with its roots in the first Mālietoa government.[6] The function of the itū’au role can be described as a "controller of troops",[6] whereas the alātaua role can be described as a "director of wars".[6] These functions were carried out by the tulafale (talking chiefs) of the villages or districts designated with these respective roles.[3]
Historical Sites[]
The Malaeloa Itū'au Olo Site (or defensive fortification), which was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015,[7] is supported by Samoan cultural histories and oral traditions relating to interregional conflicts and defenses against cannibalism during pre-contact periods. It was built to protect villagers from Tuife'ai, the legendary cannibal king of Tutuila, and his aumaga (army).[8]
Demographics[]
Population growth[9] | |
---|---|
2010 | 550 |
2000 | 627 |
1990 | 523 |
1980 | 467 |
References[]
- ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 35. ISBN 9781573062992
- ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 363. ISBN 9781573062992
- ^ a b Maliko, Tavita (2012), O le Soga'miti, PHD Thesis, Page 140
- ^ Williamson, R. W. (1967). The Social and Political Systems of Central Polynesia. Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, Page 82
- ^ Turner, G. (1884). Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before: Together with Notes on the Cults and Customs of Twenty-three Other Islands in the Pacific. United Kingdom: Macmillan, Page 189
- ^ a b c "Tumua and Pule. — Construction and significance in the Political history of Samoa | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz.
- ^ http://www.nplnews.com/fedregister/2015/2015-32375.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335291841_Malaeloa_Olo_US_National_Register_of_Historic_Properties_Accepted_1-5-2016
- ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2015" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce.
- Villages in American Samoa
- Tutuila
- American Samoa geography stubs