Afono ( Samoan: ) is a

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

on the northeast coast of

Tutuila Island Tutuila is the largest and most populous island of American Samoa and is part of the archipelago of the Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Pacific Ocean, Central Pacific. It is located roughly north ...

American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. Centered on , it is southeast of the island count ...

. One of the island's more populous villages, it is located on the edge of Afono Bay, at the eastern edge of the

National Park of American Samoa The National Park of American Samoa is a national park of the United States located in the territory of American Samoa, distributed across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Taʻū. The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainfores ...

. It is connected by

Highway 6 Route 6, or Highway 6, may refer to routes in the following countries: International * AH6 (highway), Asian Highway 6 * European route E6 * European route E006 Albania * :de:Nationalstraße 6 (Albanien), National Road SH6 Argentina * P ...

to Vatia, which lies along the coast to the northwest, and to Aua, on the edge of

Pago Pago Harbor Pago Pago Harbor on Tutuila Island in American Samoa is one of the world's largest natural harbors. The capital, Pago Pago, is located on the inner reaches of the harbor, close to its northwesternmost point. It has the highest annual rainfall o ...

to the south via a winding stretch of highway which crosses the spine of the island. Afono has been inhabited for at least 1000 years.

History

In the late 1960s, Senator Mata’utia Tautunu championed the construction of a road over the mountains between Aūa and Āfono. The subsequent addition of the Āfono- Vatia section transformed it into the longest and most expensive secondary road in American Sāmoa. By 1998, this road became the primary access route to the

Geography

Afono is a village on the north shore of Tutuila Island in American Samoa, located by Afono Bay. Afono is situated over Afono Pass, which sits in-between

Rainmaker Mountain Rainmaker Mountain (also known as Mount Pioa and Mount Peiva) is the name of a mountain located near Pago Pago, American Samoa on Tutuila Island. Rainmaker Mountain traps rain clouds and gives Pago Pago the highest annual rainfall of any harbor. ...

and the Maugaloa Ridge. The village is home to traditional thatched huts. It is reached by following Highway 6 northbound from the village of Aua. The road from Aua includes several steep switchbacks up to Rainmaker Pass, and continues equally steeply down to the village of Afono. The village borders the Tutuila-section of

. Afono spreads out across the backside of

. Afono Bay is home to a pebbly beach but it is almost non-existent except at low tide.Clayville, Melinda (2021). ''Explore American Samoa: The Complete Guide to Tutuila, Aunuu, and Manua Islands''. Page 53. ISBN 9798556052970.

National Park

Access to the Tutuila unit of the

is primarily through a paved road which runs along the perimeter of the upper end of

. Lateral roads lead to Fagasā Pass and the park's western end and to Afono Pass at its eastern end. The latter lateral road also leads to the villages of Afono and Vatia. Road signs marking entrance points to the National Park unit have been placed along the Afono/Vatia road near Matape Hill/Craggy Point, near the park boundary in the vicinity of Afono Pass, and above the village's western side. A National Park Service visitor center has been proposed in Afono. The stands of endemic

broadleaf forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological functio ...

located between Fagasā and Afono provide habitat for large numbers of native bird species. The best and biggest known roost on Tutuila Island for the Sheath-tailed bat is located in the Anapeape Cove near Afono. Two decades ago 10,000 sheath-tailed bats were occupying the caves. Lands within the Tutuila unit presently under cultivation for substance agriculture are confined to areas above Afono and Vatia villages.

Demographics

References

Villages in American Samoa {{AmericanSamoa-geo-stub

History

Geography

National Park

Demographics

See also

References