Savaii - Information about the Island

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SAVAI'I
Savaii is becoming a popular tourist destination. But thirty years ago prospective visitors were frequently discouraged from visiting the island. “Don't go there, there's nowhere to stay and nothing to see” was the usual response to any enquiry. Despite the warning, a steady trickle of travellers did make the journey and on returning to their homelands enthused about the hospitable people and their unique culture, and about the beauty of this magnificent volcanic island.

In Savaii you will undoubtedly see evidence of the Fa'asamoa, or the traditional way of living for the Samoan people, soon after landing on her soil. As you drive through the neatly decorated villages, no doubt the colourful garden hedges, white painted rocks and neatly lined bins are part of a village movement. Such unity and collective acts are common in Savaii. Samoans have their own traditional Political system which today, integrates well with the introduced Western Political system . Every family has a chief, or a "Matai". All these Matais attend a village council meeting at least once a month, or a village 'fono' in a special meeting house in the village. A village Fono will have an elected representative known as a "Pulenuu" and this person will represent their village in the more westernised Parliament of Samoa. There are "high chiefs" or 'Ali'i" and talking chiefs or "Tulafale". The young men are called "Taule'ale'a" the married woman "mafutaga o Tina". Everyone has a role to play in the village. These village systems work to ensure the wellbeing of the entire village is upkept.

All village meetings, whatever the occasion, will involve the consumption of the traditional "Kava" drink. If you are offered a cup of Ava, please accept this and drink and at least try a little. You will not be expected to finish the entire cup be it will be considered rude to refuse. If anything, it is a good chance to experience the tongue numbing effects of the "ava" root!

In Savaii, the Tradition of Samoan Tattooing is still practiced and held in high esteem. The "Tatau"( or almost full bodied Samoan Tattoo) is undertaken by men at a certain age, and one must most definitely have the strength in mind to withstand this long and painful process. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse the female version of Traditional Samoan tattoos known as a 'malu'. The Malu is a more delicate tattoo beginning from the upper thigh, ending just below the knee. Often this is kept covered until one is performing the traditional Samoan dance or Siva.

The women of Savaii are very handy at weaving and making Tapa. A Tapa making demonstration is a real joy to watch, with all the materials taken straight from the surrounding environment. The end product is usually sold very cheaply by those who are making Tapa, yet these will fetch a dearer price in Apia and most certainly cost you hundreds of dollars in some parts of the pacific!! t is usual for the woman of any home to keep themselves busy weaving and in Savaii women are expert weavers. You will know this by the common sight of rows and rows of yellow flax drying outside many a Samoans' house. From mats to hats to bags of all sorts. Mostly they will be making these things for their own use. Replinishing old stock with a little perhaps put aside for sale.

By visiting this page, you have taken the first step in an amazing journey. What Savaii has to offer you, as a holiday destination, is the unspoilt rich and raw Samoa. We do not fancy providing packaged dressed up culture, here you will undoubtedly experience it first hand in its truest form. Villages operating in the traditional Fa'asamoa way, like it did centuries ago. You will smell the rich smoke of the Samoan earth oven on Sunday mornings, you will see Fisherman at dusk and dawn, using fishing methods handed down from their forefathers. You will experience hospitality, culture and not to forget an environment that is rich and unspoilt, in its truest form. You won’t see high rising buildings and smog, neither will you miss it!

SAVAI'I