Fagasā, American Samoa
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Fagasā is a village in the Eastern District of
Tutuila Island Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...
in American Samoa. The village lies by Fagasa Bay, on the north shore of the island. Its name is Samoan and translates to “Forbidden Bay.” The village borders the Tutuila-section of National Park of American Samoa. The trailhead to
Mount ‘Alava Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
is located near the village by Fagasa Pass (on
Route 5 Route 5, or Highway 5, may refer to routes in the following countries: International * AH5, Asian Highway 5 * European route E05 * European route E005 Argentina * National Route 5 (Argentina), National Route 5 Australia New South Wales * ...
). Fagasa has two sub-villages: Fagatele (Big Bay) on the west side, where Le’atele School is located, and Fagale'a on the east side, by the chapel of the
Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa The Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) or the "Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano i Amerika Samoa" (EFKAS) is a theologically Calvinist and congregational denomination in American Samoa. It was established in 1980 with Galea'i ...
(CCCAS). Forbidden Bay has been claimed to be one of the most beautiful bays in the South Pacific Ocean. It can be reached by boat or from Fagasā by foot. A
porpoise Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals an ...
sanctuary is located in Fagasa Bay.


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 Liava'a.


History

The first European expedition to ever set foot on Tutuila was headed by Frenchman
Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (; variant spelling: ''La Pérouse''; 23 August 17411788?), often called simply Lapérouse, was a French naval officer and explorer. Having enlisted at the age of 15, he had a successful naval caree ...
, who landed at Fagasa in 1787. This encounter, however, ended tragically. A battle between the French and the Samoans found place in A'asu, where twelve sailors and 39 Samoans were killed. On December 10, 1787, two French parties arrived at Tutuila. One under Lapérouse landed at Fagasa, while the other, under M. DeLangle, landed at A’asu 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. In 1836, a group of five British London Missionary Society (LMS) missionaries, accompanied by their wives, anchored in Fagasa Bay. At Fagasa, reverend Archibald Murray went ashore and asked for the leading authority in the area. He was sent to the High Chief Mauga at Pago Pago. He returned on foot to Fagasa with Pomare, the chief's son, and rejoined his colleagues before setting sails for
Upolu Island Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximatel ...
. The formal Christianization of Tutuila and Manu'a Islands is said to stem from this voyage. 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). In March 1991, a prehistoric adze quarry was discovered at Fagasa and was recognized as a possible major stone tool production site for the region and islands as far away as the Marquesas.


Demographics


Religion

Fagasa's main church is the
Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa The Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) or the "Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano i Amerika Samoa" (EFKAS) is a theologically Calvinist and congregational denomination in American Samoa. It was established in 1980 with Galea'i ...
(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.


Geography

Fagasā is situated on the north shore of Tutuila, two miles southwest of Pago Pago. A stream with
fales Fales is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Almira Fales (1809–1868), American nurse *David Fales (born 1990), American football player * DeCoursey Fales (1888–1966), American lawyer, banker, collector, bibliophile and yachts ...
beside it follows the steep valley down to Fagasa. The buses to Fagasa go every hour from the bus station at
Fagatogo Market Fagatogo Market is a market centred in the Fagatogo area of Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa. It opened in 2010 for farmers and fishermen to sell fruits, vegetables and fish. Souvenirs are sold among live entertainment here when cruise ships ...
in Pago Pago. Fagasā is located in the Nofoa area of Itū'au ma Nofo County. Fagasa lies northwest of Pago Pago and is separated from the populated southern shore of Tutuila by a range of high mountains. It is located within a half-moon bay and enclosed by rugged mountain ridges. The road leading to Fagasa is a cut-off to the left from the main road in Pago Pago proper. A 10-minute drive connects Fagasa to the capital. The drive's highest point is the Mafa Pass, an open tunnel where visitors will first see Sacred Bay in Fagasa. Numerous monuments of historical sites have been put up by the
American Samoa National Park The National Park of American Samoa is a national park in the United States territory of American Samoa, distributed across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta‘ū. The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, ...
here, and a walking trail to the Mount ʻAlava Towers takes off from the Mafa. 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. Surrounding mountains include the Fuaau Ridge, Taumata Mountain, Leele Mountain, and Fatifati Mountain. Leele Stream flows down from Leele Mountain and through the village before discharging into the Pacific Ocean. Another stream, Leua, flows from Fatifati Mountain and down through Fagasa. On clear days, one can see the mountains of
Upolu Island Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximatel ...
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.


Fagasā Pass

At Fagasā Pass right outside of town is the primary trailhead for the
Mount ‘Alava Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
Trail. This 7-mile roundtrip trail leads to a mountain summit with panoramic views of Pago Pago Harbor and surrounding areas of
Tutuila Island Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...
. The trail goes through dense rainforest in the
National Park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...
, home to a variety of tropical bird species and fruit bats. Halfway up the mountain is a coconut- and banana plantation.


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. Jagged
Mount ʻAlava Mount Alava is a mountain in the National Park of American Samoa, on the volcanic island of Tutuila. Its summit has an elevation of 491m. The summit of the mountain can be reached via the Mount Alava Trail. The mountain overlooks Pago Pago Harbo ...
dominates the scenery on northern Tutuila Island. A 6-mile 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. Boat tours arranged by the government regularly sail around the north coast villages of Fagasā, Āfono, and
Vatia The gens Servilia was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The gens was celebrated during the early ages of the Republic, and the names of few gentes appear more frequently at this period in the consular Fasti. It continued to produce men of inf ...
.


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. 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.Fai’ivae, Alex Godinet (2018). ''Ole Manuō o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 44. .


Notable people

* Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia *
Al Noga AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media * Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera * Al (''Fullmetal ...


References

{{American Samoa Tutuila Villages in American Samoa