Iliili 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 TuÃÂlÃÂuta County. As of the 2020 U.S. census, ûIliûili has a population of 3,073, making it the third-most populated village in American Samoa.
Iliili 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 . 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 ûIliûili 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.
The headquarters for the American Samoa district of the Samoa Mission of Seventh-day Adventists was relocated to ûIliûili in 1979. The village is the principal place of TuÃÂlÃÂuta County and lies somewhat inland from a precipitous coastline.
It is located on the Tafuna-Leone Plain less than one mile from the southern coastline of Tutuila.
The name is a tautonym and a palindrome. The name translates to âÂÂsmall pebblesâ or just "pebbles".
Historically, Aità «lagi was divided into two regions: the northern TuÃÂlÃÂuta and the southern TuÃÂlÃÂtai. High Chief Letuli governed TuÃÂlÃÂuta from ûIliûili, making ûIliûili a central location of authority, while High Chief Satele oversaw TuÃÂlÃÂtai from Vailoa.
ûIliûili 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, ûIliûili became a central point for logistical and strategic operations. The town of ûIliûili 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 ûIliûili as a maintenance shop and storage facility, repurposing the building to support their operational needs. ûIliûili was strategically significant due to its proximity to key infrastructure and its suitability for supporting infantry operations. The company headquarters and 3rd Platoon in ûIliûili 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 ûIliûili a practical site for staging logistical operations and housing essential military personnel.
In September 2016, the pastor of the Antioch Assembly of God Church in ûIliûili, announced the start of a new bible college: KingâÂÂs Leadership University. In 2013, a Word of Faith church was dedicated at ûIliûili. The American Samoa Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) operates the Iakina Adventist Academy at ûIliûili which includes K5 to grade 12. ûIliûili is also home to the PotterâÂÂs House Christian Fellowship Church, an Anglican church, and a BaháüàCenter.