41. Culture Independent samoan culture is based on fa amatai, a system of government that american samoa. Despite political and economic differences over the last http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/samoa/about_destin/culture.asp

About us Send me a Brochure Tripbuilder (Shopping Cart) Send me a Quotation ... Pacific News member of Samoa Culture Independent Samoans are very tradition-oriented, very steeped in a complex set of social hierarchies, courtesies and customs that regulate their social, religious and political life. Independent Samoan culture is based on fa'amatai , a system of government that has a chief, or matai , governing an entire aiga or extended family. Wealth and food are distributed on a needs basis and honour and social standing is shared or shouldered equally by all members of the aiga . The matai represents the family on the village council, metes out justice, and makes sure that all customs are properly observed. In fact Independent Samoa has more rules of etiquette than a finishing school for young ladies and a keen sense of propriety and respect. The matai is also a living archive, responsible for remembering the ancient folk lore, the family genealogies, and the stories of the old gods, and passing them onto his successor. Although Samoan culture dates back thousands of years and is still passed on through poems, genealogies and stories of the old gods, most Samoans these days are devout Christians. Religion is a big part of Samoan life and Sunday service is the most important event in the week.

42. Atlas: American Samoa Facts on american samoa flags, maps, geography, history, statistics, Upto-date information on Government, Economy, Population culture http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/americansamoa.html

@import url("/css/atlas-styles.css"); in All Infoplease Almanacs Biographies Dictionary Encyclopedia Daily Almanac for Sep 18, 2005 Skip Navigation Home Almanacs ... Word of the Day Editor's Favorites Hispanic Heritage Month Hurricane Katrina Daylight Saving Time Ramadan ... Mississippi Infoplease Tools Periodic Table Conversion Tool Perpetual Calendar Year by Year ... Site Map College Center Scholarship Search College Resources Career Center Job Search Post Your Resume Continuing Ed. more . . . Search: Infoplease Info search tips Search: Biographies Bio search tips Map: American Samoa (territory of US) American Samoa Profile Travel to American Samoa from TripAdvisor American Samoa Almanac: American Samoa Encyclopedia: American Samoa More on American Samoa: More: Territories, Colonies, and Dependencies Countries of the World Amazon.com: Search for books on American Samoa var zflag_nid="350"; var zflag_cid="44/43"; var zflag_sid="11"; var zflag_width="300"; var zflag_height="250"; var zflag_sz="9"; Supplemental Maps for American Samoa American Samoa's islands and atolls Pacific Islands and Australia Map World Map Map Index Related Content Time Zones Highest Mountains World Geography Largest Islands ... Great Explorations Page Tools: Cite Print Email Premium Partner Content Search For: Documents Images and Maps Reference (from Newspapers, Magazines, Journals, Newswires, Transcripts and Books)

43. Pacific Service Region - American Samoa, U.S. Territory The local government is the biggest employer in american samoa. culture The samoan culture is strong and intact. The Faasamoa (samoan way of life) is http://www.prel.org/pacserv/samoa.asp

Pacific Service Region American Samoa American Samoa , a group of islands in the mid-South Pacific, is located about 2,300 miles from Honolulu. American Samoa has a land area of 76 square miles and approximately 57,291 residents (est. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau), most of whom live on Tutuila. Since American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the U.S., its people are U.S. nationals who freely enter the U.S. An estimated 65,000 Samoans have migrated to the West Coast and some 20,000 live in Hawaii. The territory has an important tuna processing industry, and its capital, Pago Pago, has a great natural harbor with dry dock and port facilities. The local government is the biggest employer in American Samoa. Culture The Samoan culture is strong and intact. The Faasamoa (Samoan way of life) is centered on the "aiga" (family), which consists of the immediate family and extended family members (maternal and paternal) such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. The family name holds special value in the hearts of Samoans and every opportunity is taken to keep that name in good standing within the community. The "matai" (chief) is the head of the family and has the final say on decisions that are made for the family and their land. Land in American Samoa is communally owned; therefore, it is up to the matai of the family to distribute the land among family members. Community hospitality is ingrained into the Samoan way of life with families commonly inviting guests into their homes.

44. Pacific Arts Councils (PAC) Network american samoa Council on culture, Arts, and Humanities, american samoa Council on culture, Arts, and Humanities Commonwealth Council for Arts and culture http://www.prel.org/programs/pcahe/PTG/terr-asamoa1.html

American Samoa Council on Culture, Arts, and Humanities Home Programs Territories Resources ... Contacts The arts needs of American Samoa are uniquely shaped by its geographic isolation, ethnic composition, relative poverty, local politics, and commitment to the preservation of a vital indigenous culture. During the past two years under a new Executive Director, the Arts Council has undertaken a reevaluation of its goals and programs. Based on facts and input from the local arts community, the Arts Council board and staff determined that a fundamental restructuring of the functions of the Council was in order. Basically, the Arts Council will become more of an arts service provider, trimming back on Council-run community-wide programs and acting more as a regrant organization for local schools, artists, and arts associations pursuing cofunding partnerships for sponsored projects. At the same time, the Arts Council will avail itself of new technological advancements in communication to broaden the audience of its sponsored projects. A basic decision has been made to consider the entire territory as an underserved area. While our small non-Samoan ethnic communities (Tongan, Caucasian, Korean, Filipino) will continue to be invited to and involved in Arts Council programs, there is an overwhelming public concern that the traditional artists and art forms of Samoa are under attack from the recent local tidal wave of continental electronic influence. The Arts Council decided to focus its limited resources on fostering and strengthening indigenous art forms throughout the Territory, including our outer Manua Islands.

45. Understanding Ones Culture Understanding One s culture. Introduction cultures in american samoa. Because of its history as a growing populated area of the Pacific, american samoa has http://allfreeessays.com/student/Understanding_Ones_Culture.html

AllFreeEssays.com Understanding Ones Culture Understanding One's Culture Introduction: Cultures in American Samoa Because of its history as a growing populated area of the Pacific, American Samoa has provided a huge experiment in multicultural understanding not only in the Pacific but also worldwide. Settlers from literally every neighboring Pacific Islanders as well as settlers from all around the continent have joined this country's indigenous inhabitants. These days, American Samoa is said that it would be a "melting ice " where diverse cultures would mingle and lose their distinctness as they came together, Instead, though cultures have mixed here, they have never "melted". Some have been strengthen in their distinctiveness. So, instead of a "melting ice ", we could see American Samoa as a kind of tile mosaic. On its useful surface, the bright focus of each culture contributes to a pattern in which all elements work together. It appears that this is how cultures work all over the world. They have a power in themselves, which resists dilution and homogenization. This power is based on the close relationship between the cultures and their members. In this identity lies strength; this strength is the reason we should celebrate, rather than challenge, diversity of culture in every group and individual. Culture is adaptive, integrated, and always changing. It shares these characteristics with organic life. In other words, with systems oriented towards survival. Customs that diminish the survival chances of a given society are not likely to persist. Those which enhance survival chances of a given society are not likely to customs are tried and honed as aids to survival, the mechanisms of human understanding move them constantly into integration with other facets of society. Thus change occurs in culture in an organic way.

46. STA Travel And ISIC Travelmax - Destinations: American Samoa They believe themselves to be the cradle of Polynesian culture. And right up to the early 1960s, life in american samoa remained almost entirely http://travelmax.statravel.co.uk/sisp/?fx=destination&loc_id=152354§ion=cult

47. American Samoa History And Culture - Jasons South Pacific Islands Travel Channel Papua New Guinea Adventure Diving, South Pacific Diving. http://www.pi-travel.co.nz/americansamoa/

South Pacific Islands New Zealand Australia www.jasons.com ... Contact details australia Choice Hotels Australasia Budget Motel Chain Qrama AVIS new zealand Qualmark search Queenstown Visitor Guide Backpackers Classic Wine Trail ... LOTR film locations American Samoa History and Culture In many ways a typical Pacific Island with its palm trees and white sand beaches, American Samoa has been touched by the West in a unique way. It is, in fact, the southern-most territory of the United States, and its residents are US Nationals. The island's status dates back to early struggles between the US, Britain and Germany in the late 1800s, which lasted until the US gained control in 1900. During World War II, the islands were strategically important in the fight against Japanese forces, and the capital of Pago Pago (pronounced pa-ngo pa-ngo) on Tutuila Island became a training area for the US Marine Corps. When the GIs descended on the island, the locals were exposed to Western life and everything that came with it - roads, airstrips, docks and medical facilities. Military relics dating back to this era can still be found scattered throughout American Samoa, while visitors to modern day Pago Pago will note the influence in fast food, cable TV and American football. Despite the US influence, local culture remains strong in the group, which includes the more traditional islands of Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u. Fa'asamoa - the traditional Samoan way, governs the social hierarchy, while traditional singing, dancing, weaving and tattooing ceremonies are part of the fabric of everyday life.

48. Samoan Culture - Fa'a Samoa, The Samoan Way! We Are samoa samoan culture Talofa Lava! Ulufale maia i le tatou Fale Tali Malo! The Flag Day is the biggest holiday in american samoa. http://members.tripod.com/~blssooalo/samoan-culture.html

setAdGroup('67.18.104.18'); var cm_role = "live" var cm_host = "tripod.lycos.com" var cm_taxid = "/memberembedded" Search: Lycos Tripod Movie Clips Share This Page Report Abuse Edit your Site ... Next Loading...We Are Samoa... Samoan Culture Talofa Lava! Ulufale maia i le tatou Fale Tali Malo! Alala maia, se'i palu le Ava, (the Ava ceremony is in progress), known by many as, KAVA. This traditional ceremony is to welcome any visitor or neighboring village matais. O le Ava e feiloa'i ai malo taua. Here is a sample lyrics from a traditional Ava song and dance. Le Ava ose taleni taua i le aganu'u, pe a alu ose usu, o le matai ma lana iu'u ae a te'a le inati, le aumaga ia fa'a nati nati, a o le taupou i le tanoa aua ne'i sasi le palu Ava ia popoto ai uma o tama'ita'i... "You lie on a mat in a cool Samoan hut and look out on the white sand under the high palms and a gentle sea, the black line of reef a mile out with moonlight over everything. And then amongst it all are the loveliest people in the world, moving and dancing like gods and goddesses. It is sheer beauty, so pure it is difficult to breathe it in." written by: Robert Louis Stevenson IMMIGRATION CONCERNS?, FAQ, Q/A...

49. American Samoa - Samoa - Talofa - Welcome To The Sooalo/Mao/Toleafoa/Fosi/Ulufal american samoa Fono Directory Independent State of samoa Parliament samoan culture and Fa a samoa Contact WebMaster w/your questions or suggestions http://members.tripod.com/~blssooalo/

setAdGroup('67.18.104.18'); var cm_role = "live" var cm_host = "tripod.lycos.com" var cm_taxid = "/memberembedded" Search: Lycos Tripod Star Wars Share This Page Report Abuse Edit your Site ... WELCOME! Talofa and Welcome to the Sooalo/Mao Samoa Website 2003...Happy Holidays! from blssooalo.tripod.com SamoaWeb Talofa! Welcome to our web site. As is customary in Samoan culture, the village chiefs have gathered to greet you, our guest, as you enter our site. Enjoy your visit and please let us know what we can do to make this site your favorite site. Soifua. We Wish Our Friends, Family and Visitors A Visit Family Member Sites THE MAO'S ROBERT'S SOOALO- IOSE'S FAMILY FRIENDS PATA'S FALESAMOA THE SOLOMONA'S SOOALO PHOTO GALLERY MALIA LINA AND FAMILY BARRY'S WEB PAGE PR STORY CELEBRATE MOM AND DAD FAMILY PR STORY IN LOVING MEMORY CRYSTAL'S WEB PAGE If you would like us to add your family web page to our directory, please click Here or Please provide the URL to your site and we will add your site to our growing directory. Faafetai. Happy Anniversary, Raquel Toefo'i Rath

50. Dances Of Life | American Samoa Hip hop culture in particular is popular among samoan youth. Contemporary versions of the fa ataupati in american samoa even incorporate a few moves http://www.piccom.org/dancesoflife/samoa.html

Home About the Film Lesson Plans E-cards ... Purchase American Samoa: Fa'a Samoa and the dance While Samoa was politically divided into eastern and western colonial territories in 1899, the value of the Samoan way of life and identity or fa'a Samoa is consistent throughout the islands. Fa'a Samoa forms the basis for social and political organization, music, dance and the arts across both political groups and in the large Samoan diaspora connecting these islands to urban centers in New Zealand, Australia, California and Hawai'i. The fa'a Samoa is based on a chiefly or matai system in which titles are earned through a combination of merit and birth. Transformations in the arts are taking place across Samoa. Hip hop culture in particular is popular among Samoan youth. In this essay we explore the significance of Samoan dance through the work of ethnomusicologist Richard Moyle. The fa'a Samoa is based on a chiefly or matai system in which titles are earned through a combination of merit and birth. Each aiga or family group possesses a chiefly title which defines their place within the community. All titles are strictly ranked within Samoan society and there is a high degree of sensitivity to matters of social status. The untitled members of a family give tautua or service to their matai who represents the group and in turn serves their interests. The titles are divided into two categories

51. Dances Of Life | American Samoa We live our culture day in and day out. We are born into music, we are born into I recently returned home to american samoa after spending ten years in http://www.piccom.org/dancesoflife/samoa2.html

Home About the Film Lesson Plans E-cards ... Purchase Sandra King, Samoan Ceremonial Taupou Music and dance is an integral part of who we are as a people. We live our culture day in and day out. We are born into music, we are born into dance, it's a part of who we are. And when there's a celebration, you can be sure that Samoans will sing and they will dance. You can put a hundred different Samoans together and you can ask them to sing one song and they would all be in harmony. Most people were looking to me to be a practicing attorney. But that wasn't where my heart was. The role of the taupou as ceremonial maiden is very traditional. Usually young chaste women are selected, and it's a daughter of the high chief. Her key role that is when she dances the taualunga in the finale of any celebration in Samoan culture. The taualunga of a taupou is an elegant dance that portrays the beauty and elegance and the dignity of the Samoan culture. So her movements are very gentle and refined. And not jumping all over the place and bouncing all over the place like the men and the women who are around the taupou . Traditionally, they're supposed to be like the ghosts or the or the spirits that are supposed to try and distract the

52. You're Home With The Samoa News The samoan culture is alive and well in american samoa (as well as in the nearby independent nation of samoa). samoans are the original Polynesian people http://www.samoanews.com/homepage.html

WELCOME TO THE ON-LINE HOME OF THE SAMOA NEWS We are American Samoa's daily newspaper, publishing six days a week (no paper on Sundays). Our web site includes the six most recent issues of the newspaper, but no archives of older issues. At this time we are not hosting any chats or bulletin boards, but we are hosting an on-line editorial page and we encourage Letters to the Editor and/or the Webmaster . To communicate with the journalists at our newspaper, click here . For other links dealing with Samoa or related matters, click here If you want to use this web site to publicize or advertise some event or product or service, let us know ! Upon request we will send information regarding advertising rates. To return to the six most recent issues of the Samoa News , click here ABOUT SAMOA NEWS The Samoa News is privately owned by American Samoa residents and has been in existence since the 1960s. The newsroom includes about 5 full time journalists. The newspaper includes both Samoan and English material on a daily basis, but 60% of the newspaper is published in English. ABOUT AMERICAN SAMOA American Samoa is a United States territory located south of the equator in the South Pacific Ocean. About 60,000 people live here, and most of us live on the main island of Tutuila. Although U.S. citizens are allowed to settle in American Samoa, more than 90% of the residents of the territory are Samoans or part-Samoans.

53. Artok - 4/10/00: Tapa And Fa'a Samoa - Fine Mats In Samoan Culture that people of american samoa carry to show their high culture Without fine That s why people of samoa and american samoa, I m speaking for american http://www.abc.net.au/arts/artok/issues/s195630.htm

More stories on Issues: The Future For Artists From The Marovo Lagoon Tapa and Fa'a Samoa - Fine Mats in Samoan Culture Marketing Pacific Art So You Want to Go to Art School? ... In the Spirit House Tapa and Fa'a Samoa - Fine Mats in Samoan Culture By Isabelle Genoux Published online 4/10/00 "Money is a new thing to our culture, but a fine mat and siapo (tapa) are the two main things that people of American Samoa carry to show their high culture. Without fine mat, without siapo , there is no culture." - Lea'ala Elisara Pili click to enlarge Fine mats made from woven pandanus leaves have been used for centuries and they still hold a very special place in fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way of life. Lea'ala Elisara Pili, executive director of American Samoa Arts Council: "Our fine mats in the fa'a Samoan culture is one of the most valuable things in our culture. So once you present a fine mat, that's presenting the culture. That's why people of Samoa and American Samoa, I'm speaking for American Samoa only, are trying to take the fine mats to the USA so that people of Samoa, American Samoa heritage living over there still carry on the importance of the fine mat." In which context are they used?

54. DOL WHD: American Samoa Economic Report-2005 Information on american samoa Geography, History, culture, Government, Despite the strong influence of Western industrial culture, the american samoans, http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/AS/sec2.htm

U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division www.dol.gov/esa Search / A-Z Index Find It!: By Topic By Audience By Top 20 Requested Items By Form ... By Location September 18, 2005 DOL Home ESA WHD American Samoa Economic Report ... TOC II. Information on American Samoa Geography, History, Culture, Government, and Economics Basic Information American Samoa is an unincorporated and technically unorganized territory of the United States. It is "unincorporated" because unlike Hawaii and Alaska during their years as U.S. territories, not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the territory. American Samoa is an "unorganized" territory because Congress has not provided the territory with an organic act, which would organize the government, much like a constitution would. Instead, Congress gave plenary authority over the territory to the President of the United States who has delegated this authority to the Department of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior in turn allowed American Samoans to draft their own constitution under which their government functions. American Samoans are not United States citizens. They are classified as United States nationals and have freedom of entry into the continental United States. Many Samoans have served with distinction in the U.S. armed forces.

55. National Park Of American Samoa - Fa'asamoa The National Park of american samoa, America s 50th National Park, samoan culture, customs, and traditions emphasize the importance of the extended http://www.nps.gov/npsa/fa_asamoa.htm

TALOFA! HOME Visiting Where is Samoa? Climate ... America! Fa'asamoa - The Samoan Way Photograph - Peter Craig The Samoan culture is Polynesia's oldest. It is believed that, the first people on the Samoan Islands came by sea from southwest Asia some 3,000 years ago. Over the centuries, distinct cultural traits emerged that we now call fa'asamoa (fah-ah-SAH-mo-ah). From Samoa, seafaring explorers and settlers journeyed to other Polynesian island groups hundreds of miles away. The concept of a National Park - particularly a park encompassing both natural and cultural aspects - fits well with the traditional Samoan way of life, the fa'asamoa . Samoans consider this island world to be sacred. Lands, waters, and food sources are managed in order to sustain them for the future. Samoan culture, customs, and traditions emphasize the importance of the extended family, the aiga (ah-ING-ah). Each aiga's lands are managed by its chief, or matai (mah-TIE), for the common good. The Samoan people welcome visitors; in fact, a stay with a family can be an important part of your island experience. See Visitor Information section for further information. Whether you are a guest or simply passing through a village, please observe these customs as a sign of respect.

56. National Park Of American Samoa - Heart Of The South Pacific The National Park of american samoa, America s 50th National Park, So important is samoa to Polynesian culture that some believe this was where all http://www.nps.gov/npsa/location.htm

Visiting the Park HOME Visiting Where is Samoa? ... America! Samoa: The Heart of the South Pacific The Samoan archipelago includes the US Territory of American Samoa and the independent nation of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa).The islands are located 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii and 1,800 miles northwest of New Zealand, between Fiji and Tahiti. The Samoan chain stretches east to west for more than 300 miles between 13 and 15 degree south latitude (below the equator). It is just east of the international dateline, in the timezone that is one hour earlier than Hawaii. Larger, Detailed Map PDF Map American Samoa, the only US Territory south of the equator, consists of five rugged, highly eroded ;volcanic islands, and two coral atolls. The land area of the territory is 76 square miles. The population is approximately 60,000, with most people living on the main island of Tutuila. Tuna fishing and canning are major industries. Many Samoans practice subsistence farming. The Pacific Ocean occupies a third of the Earth's surface. Of the thousands of islands scattered throughout this vast world of water, most are not large enough or hospitable enough for humans to live on. There are some, such as the Samoa Islands, that possess such beauty and exotic quality that they have inspired works by artists and writers.

57. Western Samoa - Page 1 These photographs and explanations represent samoan culture as it was then, At the easternmost tip of Upolu as one flies toward american samoa, http://www.merriewood.com/pacific/wsamoa1.html

Introduction Late in 1968 I went to Western Samoa to spend a year there photographing the people and their culture and doing anthropological research. My main residence was with a Samoan family I had met several years before. When I say "family," I use the term to mean something more than a nuclear family and something considerably less than an aiga or extended family. In fact, there were usually about 25 people in this living unit. They stayed primarily in one house in Leone, a rural, village-like setting on the outskirts of Apia, Western Samoa's capital. During that year, I ventured out and stayed in a number of other areas as well, including the island of Manono and Fa'a'la Village in Paulauli (Savai'i) and both Fasito'otai and Falealili on Upolu. After that year, I returned on other occasions to spend three months in the same areas, as well as six or seven times more to spend anywhere from a few days to a week or two. Whenever I stayed in Samoa, I usually kept my camera with me. I never knew what I might see and what photographic opportunities might appear, so I tried to remain ready. The photographs in this collection are a few of several thousand that I took.

58. SAMOANET - American Samoa Office Of Tourism - Talofa And Welcome! samoaNET american samoa Government Official Web Page. Enjoy a 2000 year native culture that continues to florish in the 90 s. http://www.samoanet.com/americansamoa/astamenu.html

Welcome to American Samoa - America's only South Pacific Polynesian paradise! See the sights and hear the sounds of the unspoiled natural beauty of Polynesian life and Samoan culture in a little known tropical paradise halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Enjoy a 2,000 year native culture that continues to florish in the 90's. Travel the islands and enjoy a quiet natural secluded beach. Make American Samoa your travel and vacation destination today! Fa'afetai tele lava ( thank you very much ) and enjoy your visit of Samoa! Join us in Samoa for the 5th South Pacific Mini-Games! AUGUST 11-21, 1997 Updated: July 14, 1997

59. OIA: Chapter 2 This is intended to protect american samoa s culture and customs, especially the extended family, traditional chiefs (Matai), and communal land tenure http://www.doi.gov/oia/StateIsland/chapter2.html

A Report on the STATE OF THE ISLANDS Chapter 2: AMERICAN SAMOA 2.1 American Samoa American Samoa is made up of seven islands with a total land area of 76 square miles. Located in the tropics, it is 14 degrees south of the equator and 160-173 degrees west longitude. This island chain is some 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii and over 4,100 miles southwest of San Francisco. Sydney, Australia is about 2,700 miles further to the southwest, while Auckland, New Zealand is only 1,600 miles southwest. American Samoa is the only United States territory south of the equator. The seven American Samoan islands are dispersed over 150 miles of water. Tutuila, the main island, is the center of government and business. Its famous Pago Pago harbor is one of the Pacific's deepest and most sheltered harbors. Tutuila has a land area of 56 square miles, with an estimated 95 percent of the 56,000 total population living there. The remaining 20 square miles include the three islands of Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u of the Manu'a group located 60 miles east of Tutuila; Aunu'u, a small island 1/4 mile off the eastern shore of Tutuila; Rose Atoll, a wildlife refuge 60 miles east of Manu'a; and Swain's Island, 200 miles north of Tutuila. American Samoa's population is growing rapidly. The mid-year population estimate for 1995 is 56,350. This represents growth of approximately 21% since the 1990 census showed a population of 46,773, a much higher figure than was anticipated. This growth is the result of in-migration and high birth rates, including births to non-residents. As might be expected this rapid population growth places a strain on the public infrastructure and on the ASG's ability to provide necessary services.

60. Asg Main Page Swains Island became part of american samoa by joint resolution of Congress in Despite the strong influence of western industrial culture, the american http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/asgmain.htm

OIA Field Office Lydia Faleafine-Nomura Field Representative Office of Insular Affairs Department of the Interior Post Office Box 1725 Pago, American Samoa 96799 011 (684) 633-2415 Fax Cellular Phone: 011 (684) 733-1148 EST -6 hours; DST -7 hours History By the Treaty of Berlin of 1899, the United Kingdom and Germany renounced in favor of the United States all their rights and claims over the eastern islands of Samoa. This treaty went into effect on February 16, 1900. On April 17, 1900, the matai (chiefs) of Tutuila formally ceded the islands of Tutuila and Aunu'u to the United States. On July 16, 1904, the king and matai of Manu'a ceded the islands of Ta'u, Ofu, Olosega, and Rose Atoll to the United States. Congress formally ratified the 1900 and 1904 deeds of cession retroactively in 1929. Swains Island became part of American Samoa by joint resolution of Congress in 1925. Political Status American Samoa, an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is "unincorporated" because not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the territory. The Congress has not provided the territory with an organic act, which organizes the government much like a constitution would. Instead, the Congress gave plenary authority over the territory to the Secretary of the Interior, who in turn allowed American Samoans to draft their own constitution under which their government functions.

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