Samoa, Heart of Polynesia
by: David Stanley
The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new
South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This
"Heart of Polynesia" is politically split into two distinct
entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony,
captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In
1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.
American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the equator.
Annexed by the United States for use as a naval base in 1900, the territory
no longer has any military significance. Instead, Pago Pago currently
hosts the StarKist and "Chicken of the Sea" tuna canneries,
making it the most important commercial fishing port under the American
flag.
The Samoan environment is tropically lush, with green volcanic peaks
plunging to brilliant coral reefs, an ecotourism paradise still unspoiled
by mass tourism. Visitors often stay in open Samoan beach houses called
fale (pronounced FAH-lay) and adopt the laidback local lifestyle. Swimming,
snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, deep sea fishing, and hiking
opportunities are all close at hand.
Samoan culture is alive and strong, and local traditions can add another
fascinating layer to your travel experience. Most Samoans are subsistence
farmers who reside in small villages governed by chiefs (matai). The
egalitarian ideals of this communal society place loyalty to family
and religion above all. Visitors can sample this culture at the weekly
"fiafia" island night dance shows staged at most of the larger
hotels and beach resorts. Buffets of authentic Samoan dishes are an
essential part of these events.
Samoa's climate is sultry, alternately sunny and rainy, but always
hot and humid. Cooling sea breezes make the shoreline the best place
to be yearround. The nicest months weatherwise are May to September,
"winter" south of the equator. The rainy season runs from
November to April, with increasingly intense hurricanes sweeping in
due to global warming. Yet you can get long spells of bright sunny weather
even during the "rainy" season, and Samoa's excellent Vailima
beer (created by German brewmasters) tastes best at this time of year.
Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably
bigger and less expensive than American Samoa. However the rugged scenic
beauty of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, should not be
missed. In recent years some of the most strikingly beautiful parts
of the territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National
Park. There's great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu
in the seldom visited Manua Group.
Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it's no
accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis
Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried
on a hilltop above Apia, the capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated
to the author. Somerset Maugham's short story "Rain" about
Sadie Thompson and the repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse
at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several
times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant
and inn. In "Tales of the South Pacific," James A. Michener
based the prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper
named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa's largest resorts.
Michener's book was later made into the musical "South Pacific."
Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles
on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local
ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between the islands,
and getting around by public bus or rental car is no challenge. Visas
are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, although
a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory.
About The Author - David Stanley is the author of Moon
Handbooks South Pacific http://www.southpacific.org/pacific.html
which has a chapter on Samoa. His online guide to Samoa may be perused
at http://www.southpacific.org/text/upolu.html.
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