Va'a-o-Fonoti (Va‘a-o-Fonoti)
The district is 38 km2 and consists of a main area around Fagaloa Bay with nine villages and a small coastal exclave about 10 km further northwest, with the village of Faleāpuna (pop. 582). The district includes areas with significant conservation and cultural values. Vaa-o-Fonoti geographical boundaries are surrounded by the larger district of Atua. The capital of Vaa-o-Fonoti is Samamea.
The small settlement of Uafato is part of the Uafato Conservation Area, a project started by the villagers in the early 1990s, to protect their environment from logging. The area has gained a reputation in the last decade for woodcarving and traditional arts and crafts in Samoa.
Vaa-o-Fonoti was established within the district of Atua in the 16th century when Fonoti Tupu Tafaifa ('King') when he was victorious in the preceding war with his siblings Vaafusuaga Toleafoa and Samalaulu. King Fonoti rewarded the people of this part of Atua for the role they played in securing his victory. Vaa-o-Fonoti ("The longboat or war canoe of Fonoti") is the honour bestowed upon the region for the bravery of the naval canoes who defeated Manono, Sapapalii and Saleaumua in the fighting that took part on the sea.
The paramount titles of the district is Ulualofaiga Talamaivao. There is no current occupant of the title.
Map - Va'a-o-Fonoti (Va‘a-o-Fonoti)
Map
Country - Samoan_Islands
Flag of Samoa |
The population of the Samoan Islands is approximately 250,000. The inhabitants have in common the Samoan language, a culture known as fa'a Samoa, and an indigenous form of governance called fa'amatai. Samoans are one of the largest Polynesian populations in the world, and most are of exclusively Samoan ancestry.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
WST | Samoan tala | T | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
EN | English language |
SM | Samoan language |