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

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

. The village lies within the political district of

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

. 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 Auala is a small village on the northwest coast of Savai'i island in Samoa. The village is in the electoral constituency of Vaisigano East which forms part of the larger political district of Vaisigano. The village's population was 507 in 2016, a ...

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 ( sm, Palemia o le Malo Tuto’atasi o Sāmoa) is the head of government of Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly, and is appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo (Hea ...

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

Human Rights Protection Party The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP, sm, Vaega Faaupufai e Puipuia Aia Tatau a Tagata) is a Samoan political party. It was founded in 1982 and dominated Samoan party politics for decades thereafter, leading every government until their defea ...

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 (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

administration of Samoa during

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

, 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, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

. 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 Falealu ...

References

Populated places in Vaisigano {{Samoa-geo-stub