Aoa is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

on the north-east coast of

Tutuila Island Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, A ...

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the Internationa ...

. It is located on the north coast, close to the island's eastern tip, at a narrowing of the island and is connected by road with Amouli on the south coast. Aoa is the oldest site on Tutuila to yield ceramics. Located in a large U-shaped valley on the northeast coast of the island, Aoa sits on a wide, sandy beach fronted by a large, deep bay. Fresh water is supplied by a steady river which runs through the village. It is located in

Vaifanua County Vaifanua County is a county in the Eastern District in American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country ...

. Over 40 ancient star mounds have been discovered in the bush near Aoa. Village chiefs believe these elevated stone platforms were used in the ancient chiefly sport of pigeon-snaring. Archeologists believe they served as military lookouts due to their placement at strategic vantage points, perhaps as a military lookout for enemy canoes. Besides the star mounds, lepita pottery has been discovered in Aoa. Some estimates date some of the potshards discovered here to 2000 BCE, while most of the scientific community dates them to 500 BCE. The Department of Tourism operated a camp site here complete with showers and barbecue facilities. The campsite was however closed as of 1994. It is one of few places in American Samoa with remaining patches of mangrove forest. The largest such forests are found in Nu'uuli and Leone. Aoa is adjacent to Faalefu, a neighboring village which shares Aoa Bay.

History

In 1942,

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

immigrant to the U.S., Karl Paul Lippe, was billeted in the village of Aoa. He had joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was sent to the Samoan Islands. In the village of Aoa, Lippe was embraced by High Chief Logo, who asked him to move into his '' fale''. Eventually, Lippe fell in love with Malele, the chief's daughter. At the time the young Marine was called off to war, his wife was pregnant. After World War II, he made an attempt to visit American Samoa, but was told no one was allowed to settle in the islands without the Naval Governor's permission. His request was initially denied but was later accepted when he managed to get in contact with the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington.

Geography

The steep and mountainous terrain of the northern coast separates the villages along this coast from

Pago Pago Pago Pago ( ; Samoan: )Harris, Ann G. and Esther Tuttle (2004). ''Geology of National Parks''. Kendall Hunt. Page 604. . is the territorial capital of American Samoa. It is in Maoputasi County on Tutuila, which is American Samoa's main island. ...

and other Tutuila villages. A narrow and unpaved road (as of 1975) connects Aoa with its neighboring villages.United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Pacific Ocean Division (1975). ''Water Resources Development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in American Samoa, 1975''. Division Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Pacific Ocean, Corps of Engineers. Page 36.

Demographics

References

{{American Samoa Villages in American Samoa