ʻIliʻili, American Samoa
Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator ʻIliʻili is a village in the southwest of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located seven miles inland, southwest of Pago Pago, between the villages of Futiga and Vaitogi. It is in Tuālāuta County. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, ʻIliʻili has a population of 3,073, making it the third-most populated village in American Samoa.[1]
ʻIliʻili is home to American Samoa's only golf course, Lavalava Golf Course, which is an 18-hole golf course maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation. It is Script error: No such module "convert"..[2] Fuga Tolani Teleso was released early from the U.S. Army at the request of the American Samoa Government to oversee the construction of the ʻIliʻili golf course. He successfully completed the golf course using volunteer labor and contributions from local businesses and golfers. Additionally, Teleso personally acquired land adjacent to the golf course to establish a golf pro shop.[3]
The headquarters for the American Samoa district of the Samoa Mission of Seventh-day Adventists was relocated to ʻIliʻili in 1979.[4] The village is the principal place of Tuālāuta County and lies somewhat inland from a precipitous coastline.[5]
It is located on the Tafuna-Leone Plain less than one mile from the southern coastline of Tutuila.[6]
Etymology
The name is a tautonym and a palindrome.[7] The name translates to “small pebbles” [8][9] or just "pebbles".[10]
History
Historically, Aitūlagi was divided into two regions:[11] the northern Tuālāuta and the southern Tuālātai. High Chief Letuli governed Tuālāuta from ʻIliʻili, making ʻIliʻili a central location of authority, while High Chief Satele oversaw Tuālātai from Vailoa.[12]
ʻIliʻili was a notable location during World War II for the activities of U.S. military forces stationed in American Samoa. Situated near the island's western area, ʻIliʻili became a central point for logistical and strategic operations. The town of ʻIliʻili served as the headquarters for a portion of the tank company and the 3rd Platoon during the American military's deployment in Samoa. The troops utilized an abandoned church in ʻIliʻili as a maintenance shop and storage facility, repurposing the building to support their operational needs. ʻIliʻili was strategically significant due to its proximity to key infrastructure and its suitability for supporting infantry operations. The company headquarters and 3rd Platoon in ʻIliʻili played a role in maintaining and organizing military equipment as part of broader efforts to fortify the island against potential enemy advances. The village was also situated near key locations like the harbor and the developing airfield at Tafuna. This proximity made ʻIliʻili a practical site for staging logistical operations and housing essential military personnel.[13]
Culture
Religion
In September 2016, the pastor of the Antioch Assembly of God Church in ʻIliʻili, announced the start of a new bible college: King’s Leadership University.[14] In 2013, a Word of Faith church was dedicated at ʻIliʻili.[15] The American Samoa Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) operates the Iakina Adventist Academy at ʻIliʻili which includes K5 to grade 12.[16] ʻIliʻili is also home to the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church,[17] an Anglican church, and a Baháʼí Center.[18]
Demographics
| Year | Population[19] |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,073 |
| 2010 | 3,195 |
| 2000 | 2,513 |
| 1990 | 1,790 |
| 1980 | 970 |
| 1970 | 625 |
| 1960 | 388 |
Notable residents
- Savali Talavou Ale – Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives (since 2007)[20]
- Pita Elisara – American football offensive lineman
- A. P. Lutali – former Governor of American Samoa (1985–1989, 1993–1997)[21]
- Tuiaʻana T. Letuli - representative (1952 - 57) and police chief (1957 - 1967)
- Susana Leiato Lutali – former First Lady of American Samoa (1985–1989, 1993–1997)[21]
- Talofa Misiaita luta – community leader and U.S. Army Sergeant.[22]
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Page 38. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Watt, Abbie Le'ala Lam Yuen (2000). Tini: Trailblazer in the Wake of the Pitcairn. TEACH Services, Incorporated. Page 19. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Krämer, Augustin (1994). The Samoa Islands: Constitution, pedigrees and traditions. University of Hawaiʻi Press. Page 448. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Izuka, Scot K. (1995). “Summary of ground-water and rainfall data for Tutuila and Aunuu Islands, American Samoa, for July, 1984 through September, 1995”. U.S. Geological Survey. Page 15. Retrieved on December 21, 2024, from https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/0116/report.pdf
- ↑ Eckler, Albert Ross (1986). Names and Games: Onomastics and Recreational Linguistics. University Press of America. Page 103. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Krämer, Augustin (1994). The Samoa Islands: Constitution, pedigrees and traditions. University of Hawaiʻi Press. Page 184. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Green, Michael (2008). War Stories of the Tankers: American Armored Combat, 1918 to Today. Quarto Publishing Group USA. Page 86. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Churchill, W. (1913). "Geographical Nomenclature of American Samoa". Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, 45(3), page 191. Retrieved on December 6, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.2307/199273.
- ↑ Henry, Fred (1939). Elementary Geography of the Samoan Islands, Government of American Samoa, Tutuila, Page 21.
- ↑ Gray, John Alexander Clinton (1960). Amerika Samoa: A History of American Samoa and its United States Naval Administration. United States Naval Institute. Page 124. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Green, Michael (2008). War Stories of the Tankers: American Armored Combat, 1918 to Today. Quarto Publishing Group USA. Pages 86-89. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Page 138. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Page 224. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Page 174. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Page 198. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Pages 113 and 191. Template:ISBN.
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- ↑ Sutter, Frederic Koehler (1989). The Samoans: A Global Family. University of Hawaiʻi Press. Page 183. Template:ISBN.
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