American Samoa - Culture

American Samoa has a tradition of warmth and geniality, and we are anxious to continue this tradition. We hope that when you come, you will be more than a passive spectator. We are an open society... we welcome you to our island home.

Samoa is indeed a place which many people have hoped and dreamed of visiting. In today's world of crowded cities and dwindling beach space, Samoa and it's islands loom ever brighter to anyone who wishes he could travel to such places

Much of the culture is based on welcoming travelers to our islands, villages and homes. No place in the world is a visitor so lavishly received as in Samoa. We hope that someday, your dreams of visiting the Pacific islands will become a reality, and you will have a chance to share our way of life with us.

A very basic ingredient in Samoa life is the aiga (the family).
At the head of each aiga is the matai, a position of rank and authority.

Much of the Samoan social system is based on status, such as whose fale has the highest roof. The extent of the roof on one's fale's rises above the other fale's in the village depends not only on the status of the owner, but also intertwines with the elaborate social structure that governs the Samoan way of life.
One of the attractions of Polynesia is its diversity. Native peoples of the Pacific are of similar origin with the related languages, customs, and cultures, yet, each is different.
It is still a land where status is more important than material possessions and the only Polynesian culture where the title is more important than the person.

Fa'asamoa has kept Samoans strongly nationalistic, and suspicious to changes that might threaten the traditional structure of their way of life. In recent times, however, fa'asamoa has been able to bend allowing its people to withstand and absorb the ways of foreign traders, missionaries, and military forces. Today, fa'asamoa is facing its greatest challenge, as a new generation is brought up on foreign taught theories of individualism and personal freedom, which threaten the old traditions. A very basic ingredient in Samoa life is the aiga (the family).
At the head of each aiga is the matai, a position of rank and authority.

For centuries, fine mats, woven from the leaves of the pandamas tree, have been the symbol of wealth and prosperity. To this day, they are equated to the many hours, indeed sometimes years, of work put into the diligent weaving of the mat. In this way, the intrinsic value of the work in the mat is valued so highly, that for many years the mats were used for money and barter. Today, they are given mostly as gifts at special occasions like marriages, and to the bereaved families at funerals