Pavaiai is a village in the
Western District of
Tutuila
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 Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisba ...
Island in
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 ...
. It borders
Mapasagafou and
Faleniu to the north,
Iliili to the east,
Futiga to the south, and
Malaeloa to the west. It is located in
Tuālāuta County
Tuālāuta County is a county in the Western District in American Samoa. It is the largest and also the most populated county in American Samoa. The county is represented by two seats in the Senate and two seats in House of Representatives in t ...
.
Pavaiai is home to several
fales that are used by villagers for dance practice, meetings, faalavelaves, and other events. It is also home to Pavaiai Elementary School, the largest elementary school in American Samoa.
History
In early 1942, the main body of the U.S. Marines arrived in American Samoa. The construction of quarters at
Utulei
Utulei or Utulei is a village in Maoputasi County, American Samoa, Maoputasi County, in the Eastern District, American Samoa, Eastern District of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. Utulei is traditionally considered to be a section of Fag ...
was incomplete, as was Camp Samuel Nicholas in
Fagaalu. Some of the Marines of the 2nd Division were therefore moved into the village of Pavaiai. A soldier later wrote about his experience in the village: "We found the Samoan people to be exceptionally clean people... The residents... were gracious and attempted to do everything possible to make the presence of the Marines pleasant."
In July 1974, a village fire destroyed the Haleck's West Building, which included Haleck's Island Motors, Video Samoa, Intercontinental Trading Company, and J & J World Travel. There was a quick replacement of the compound with new facilities in the early 1980s.
In 2005, government employees digging an area in Pavaiai village uncovered the remains of an ancient village 6.4 feet (2 m) below the surface. The senior archeologist for the
American Samoa Power Authority
The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) is a government-run public utility company providing electricity, water, wasterwater, and waste disposal services within American Samoa.
History
Governor Peter T. Coleman issued an emergency executive o ...
, David Addison, told reporters that the artifacts are estimated to be between 1500 and 2000 year-old.
Demographics
Notable people
*
Faimalo & Leomiti Nofo Tualauta
*
Galoia Pulusila Matua
*
Paogofie Sasa'e Matua
*
Tuanaitau F. Tuia Sa'o
*
Vele Kuka Tei
References
Villages in American Samoa
Tutuila
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