Vaisala is a small village on the northwest coast of Savai'i island in

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

. The village lies within the political district of

Vaisigano Vaisigano is a political district at the western tip of Savai'i island in Samoa. The capital of the district is Asau. This area is also referred to as 'Itu Asau' (Asau district) in the Samoan language. The population of Vaisigano is 6,543 ...

. The village's population is 465. It is located close to the coast in the northwestern corner of the island. To the west are the neighbouring villages of Auala and Asau. A significant family from Vaisala is the Va'ai family. Va'ai Kolone, a ''matai'', was a Member of Parliament of the Vaisala area who became a

Prime Minister of Samoa The prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa () is the head of government of Independent State of Samoa, Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Legislative Assembly, and is appointed by the O le Ao o ...

twice in the 1980s. A progressive leader, he was also the founder the

Human Rights Protection Party The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP, ) is a Samoan political party. It was founded in 1979 and dominated Samoan party politics for decades thereafter, leading every government until their defeat in 2021. Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele ...

which has since been the dominant party in Samoan politics and currently in power. Va'ai Kolone's father, a government clerk in the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

administration of Samoa during

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

, foresaw the importance of education and sent his own sons to boarding schools in the capital

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of Tuamasaga. The Apia Urban A ...

. The Vaisala Hotel situated at a white sandy beach is one of the largest hotels at the west end of Savai'i. In 2009, the village council of chiefs banished their Member of Parliament for the Vaisigano No. 1 district, Va’ai Solia Papu Va’ai, over a domestic dispute. He was allowed to return a few months later following a presentation of gifts and reconciliation with the chiefs. In 2007, the same Member of Parliament had survived being shot by a gunman while attending a meeting in the village of

Falealupo Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island from the International Date Line used until 29 December 2011. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealup ...

References

Populated places in Vaisigano {{Samoa-geo-stub