Vailoatai is a village in southwestern Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. It is located on the eastern end of Leone Bay. The village is known for its beautiful malae (ceremonial village-green), nested along the island's rugged southern coast and lined by the fale tali mÃÂlà  (guest houses) of its village chiefs.
The original name of the village was TuÃÂulu. In 1926, TuÃÂulu and another village called Vailoa, combined to form the Vailoa-tai village. Although the village is officially named Vailoatai according to the American Samoa Constitution, "Vailoa-tai" really only refers to the area of village towards the sea ["tai" - the side towards the sea or seaside]. Other areas of the village include Vailoa-uta ["uta"- the side towards the land or inland] and Falëlë. Together, the village as a whole is commonly referred to as Vailoa.
Vailoatai along with Taputimu, Ità «'au (Malaeloa) and Fà «tiga form the ità «mÃÂlà  (county/district) of TuÃÂlÃÂtai. The village serves as the county's principality as the titular head of the district (fa'asuaga) is located here.
The Vailoa name is short for "le vai na le iloa" (the unknown/unseen water) in reference to the legend of a time long ago when King Tuimanu'a and his traveling party stopped in the area and the difficulty they encountered in their search for water.
Another version is that the Vailoa name is short for "vai-vai-loloa" (land always covered with water) in reference to the Vailoa-uta area that was covered by water or a lake. The area is still prone to flooding during heavy rains due to its geography.
The name of the village, Vailoa-uta, is derived from the Samoan language and translates into English as âÂÂLong River Inland".
Vailoatai is a historical marker of the ÃÂtua (a political district of 'Upolu) migration to Tutuila with many Vailoa family names originating from the ÃÂtua sub-district of FaleÃÂlili. The village honors this legacy to this day, recognizing FaleÃÂlili in its faâÂÂalupega (ceremonial greetings).
The migration of ÃÂtua families to Tutuila occurred after the defeat of MÃÂlietoa by Tui ÃÂtua in the 16th century. The political effect of this migration was the addition of six more counties to the original four counties of Tutuila to make the overall organization of the island in keeping with the 'Upolu pattern.
The village and the district became a proponent of this government (mÃÂlà Â) as can be seen in the old Samoan parable, the War between Tuveve and SÃÂtele.
Fofà  ma Aità «lagi (an honorific that is still used to refer to the entire western district) became le Falelima i Sisifo (the five houses of the west), which includes ÃÂlÃÂtaua, Fofà Â, LeÃÂsina (Aità «lagi), TuÃÂlÃÂ-tai and TuÃÂlÃÂ-uta (MaâÂÂupà «) counties.
Sua ma VÃÂifanua (an honorific that is still used to refer to the entire eastern district) became le Falelima i SasaâÂÂe (the five houses of the east), which includes Ità «'au (ma Nofoa), MaâÂÂopà «tasi (Launiusaelua), SÃÂâÂÂole, Sua and VÃÂifanua counties.
The raising of the U.S. flag over Tutuila saw the end of ÃÂtua's influence over the island, much to the relief of local chiefs who were tired of the endless wars in 'Upolu. They did not want to remain under the control of 'Upolu paramount chiefs, Germany or Great Britain. PC's SÃÂtele of Vailoa and Fuimaono of Aoloau/Vailoa were two of the signatories to the Tutuila Deed of Cession in 1900.
Sources:
Afio mai lau afioga SÃÂtele o le alo o SalamÃÂsina
Afio mai alo o FÃÂnene
Susà « mai le sa'o o TuiÃÂsina ma le 'ÃÂiga sàTuiÃÂsinÃÂ
Alala mai lau tà ÂfàMaiavatele, ma le fofoga ole AvailopÃÂ
Mamalu mai le 'ÃÂiga Faletolu ma FaleÃÂlili
In 1907, the village celebrated the opening of its first Christian chapel with the London Missionary Society (LMS). LMS missionaries note that an elaborate feast marked the special occasion with attendance by dignitaries and family members from around the island.
In 1915, the Manu'a islands suffered severe damage from a hurricane, and the village hosted (among other villages in Tutuila) many residents from Manu'a while relief efforts took place there.
In 1926, the three-part village council of Vailoa (-uta), TuÃÂulu, and Falëlë decided to consolidate the village to where it is now called Vailoa-tai.
In 1934, the Marist Le'alÃÂ School for boys opened up in the area between Vailoatai and Taputimu. The school, however, is no longer in existence.
During World War II, U.S. Marines built an airstrip that spanned Leone, Vailoa-uta and Taputimu. The whole area was leased by the American Samoa Government and the federal government to construct a back-up airstrip for the main airport at Tafuna during World War II. It was started early in 1943 - probably in January. It was completed on 30 September 1943.
Unfortunately, the airstrip could not be used due to prevailing winds, which made take-offs difficult. Only two planes were able to make use of the airstrip before it was abandoned. Government facilities and residential units have since been built over the old airstrip.
In September 1965, Leone High School was opened in the Vailoa-uta area of the village. The school was designed for students from the Western District and transfer students from Manu'a. Village elders note that the malae of Vailoa was once located where the high school stands today.
In May 1968, the government radio station WVUV-AM moved from Utulei and began operations at its new quarters in Vailoatai, next to Leone High School.
In the early 1970s, Governor Haydon pushed to privatize the station despite opposition from the Fono. By 1975, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the application by Radio Samoa, Ltd. to take over WVUV-AM from the government.
By the late 90's, the old station had gone off air and is now defunct. South Seas Broadcasting, Inc. bought what was left of the station, and in 2008, opened WVUV-FM at the Aità «lagi Building office complex in Tafuna.
Vailoatai has been a proud participant in the territory's annual celebration and commemoration of the April 17, 1900 raising of the American flag, performing the siva ma pese (song and dance) portion of the Flag Day event in 1988, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2014.
The village regularly participates in the Flag Day's cricket (men's and women's) games and fautasi (traditional Samoan long boat) races.
However, the last year the village fautasi, the Fa'asaulala, participated in the annual race was 2014.
The village also performed its siva ma pese program for the Independent State of Samoa's celebration of their independence day in 2010 and 2012.
In the book, Ole Manuà  o Tala TuâÂÂu ma Fisaga o Tala Ave, the village of Vailoa defeated the cannibal king TuifeâÂÂai with the assistance of two brothers from ÃÂtua, High Chiefs Lutu and Solosolo. The two brothers then sailed further east and established themselves as Sa'ousoali'i of Launiusaelua.
Fagatogo elders believe the brothers received the name of their village malae, Malaeoletalu, from this war. Malaeoletalu is also the name of the malae of the SÃÂlesÃÂtele village in Falealëlë.
TuÃÂulu was specifically set aside to prepare human sacrifices for Tuife'ai during his reign. A forceful blow was applied to the back of the head, or tuÃÂulu, using a traditional heavy war club like the talavalu.
In 1926, TuÃÂulu and Vailoa combined to form the Vailoatai village.
Tuife'ai is a title that has many tala (legends) from Manu'a, Tutuila and 'Upolu. Sunia notes that the title goes back as far as 500 A.D., and that the Tuife'ai of that time is responsible for the first failed invasion of the Manu'a kingdom.
The title established familial ties with the MÃÂlietoa in the 13th or 14th century and was later renamed TuisÃÂmoa of the Poutasi village, Falealëlë.
Asotau is the name of the village malae. It is a historical marker of the Tafa'ifàIâÂÂamafana's failed invasion of ManuâÂÂa in the 18th century. The counties of Sua and VÃÂifanua rallied under PC LeâÂÂiato to expel IâÂÂamafana's forces from TuÃÂlÃÂtai, where the king sought refuge under the protection of his relative, PC SÃÂtele, during his retreat from ManuâÂÂa.
After a battle ensued, the conflict was resolved peacefully via a traditional style intercession known as a seumÃÂlà Â. King IâÂÂamafana and his forces returned to 'Upolu, and the village took the words âÂÂaso tauâ (Day of War) as the name of its malae to commemorate the event.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the layout of the malae was modeled after that of a Samoan chiefly guesthouse. Each of the faletalimÃÂlà  at the perimeter of the malae is like each of the posts of a guest house, just on a larger scale.