Aiga-i-le-Tai is a

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

which includes the small islands of Manono, Apolima and tiny uninhabited Nu'ulopa lying in the Apolima Strait between the country's two main islands of

Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximate ...

and Savai'i. The district includes part of the mainland at the western end of Upolu and surrounds an

exclave An enclave is a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of only one other state or entity. An enclave can be an independent territory or part of a larger one. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is s ...

of A'ana district, namely Satuimalufilufi village. Historically, Manono island has been the centre of the district. In modern times, the main centre is Mulifanua where the inter-island ferry terminal is located for ocean crossings between Savai'i and Upolu. With an area of only 27 km², Aiga-i-le-Tai is the smallest electoral district in the country with a population (2016 Census) of 5,029. Va'a-o-Fonoti is the only electoral district with a smaller population. The words '' 'aiga i le tai'' literally means 'family by the sea' in the

Samoan language Samoan ( or , ) is a Polynesian languages, Polynesian language spoken by Samoans of the Samoan Islands. Administratively, the islands are split between the sovereign country of Samoa and the Unincorporated territories of the United States, Unit ...

Chief titles

Historically, the naval power of Manono and Apolima played a major role in political power-struggles between the national clans. One of the most important chiefly ( ''matai'') titles in the districts is Luatutu Aupa’au Leiataua. The district is also a major leg of the Sa Malietoa clan. Manono plays an important part in the election of the Malietoa title-holders, as Malie village also consults with Manono in the election of title holders, hence the importance of the Malietoa title in this district.

Mulifanua ferry terminal

Today, the ferry terminal at Mulifanua, situated on the northwest coast of Upolu, is the second-most important port on the island, after the busiest harbour in the capital

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of Tuamasaga. The Apia Urban A ...

. The port is the main inter-island connection to Savai'i island. A regular passenger and vehicle ferry operates seven days a week, during the day, between Mulifanua and

Salelologa Salelologa () is a village district at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i. It also serves as the main township for shopping and public amenities with a marke ...

ferry terminal on Savai'i. Views of Apolima and Manono can be seen during the crossing.

Archaeology

Archaeology in Samoa has uncovered pre-historic

Lapita The Lapita culture is the name given to a Neolithic Austronesian people and their distinct material culture, who settled Island Melanesia via a seaborne migration at around 1600 to 500 BCE. The Lapita people are believed to have originated fro ...

pottery sherds and adzes at Mulifanua, discovered during expansion work on the wharf in 1973. The oldest date so far from pre-historic remains at Mulifanua has been ''calculated'' by

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

scientists to a likely true age of circa 3,000 BP (Before Present). The submerged Lapita site was accidentally discovered in the 1970s during work to expand the inter-island ferry berth.Journal of the Polynesian Society: New Information For The Ferry Berth Site, Mulifanua, Western Samoa, By H. M. Leach, P 319-330
New Information for the Ferry Berth Site, Mulifanua, Western Samoa by Roger C. Green & Helen M. Leach, Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 98, No. 3, 1989. Retrieved 23 April 2010 This is the only site in Samoa where ''decorated'' Lapita sherds have been found
Temper sands in prehistoric Oceanian pottery: geotectonics, sedimentology, petrography, provenance by William R. Dickinson, p.34.Retrieved 23 April 2010 although ''plainware'' pottery remains are found in other parts of Samoa and

American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. Centered on , it is southeast of the island count ...

Gallery

File:Nu'ulopa island beach - Samoa.jpg, Visitor on Nu'ulopa island. File:ApolimafromFerry.jpg, Apolima island. File:War Chief of Manono.jpg, A ''matai'', war chief Matetau of

Manono Island Manono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km west-northwest off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu. By population, as well as by area, it is Samoa’s third larges ...

, drawn by Alfred Thomas Agate (1812-1846) File:Fale on Manono Island.jpg, ''Faleo'o'' beach fale on Manono island. File:Samoa - Mulifanua ferry.JPG, Cars wait to board the ferry at Mulifanua.

Electoral results

References

{{Authority control Districts of Samoa