This Tropical Island is located within the geographical region of Oceania, and is one of only two possessions of the United States in the Southern Hemisphere. Its total land area is 76.8 square miles (199 km²) consisting of five rugged, volcanic islands and two coral atolls.
BACKGROUND
First settlers are dated as early as 1000 B.C. Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century.
International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.
The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
CLIMATE
A tropical condition throughout the year is normal with two distinct seasons. During the rainy season (December to April), temps rise to 90 degrees and heavy rainfall on a daily basis is the norm.
Hot temperatures are usually moderated by the Pacific Ocean trade winds. (May to November) is cooler and drier with highs in the 80s. Evenings are cool and often breezy.
INTERESTING PRACTISE
Because of the absence of a written script, Samoa had a very strong oral tradition with songs, poems and family histories being passed by word of mouth from generation to generation.
Every member of a family would start to learn the family genealogy from a very early age since this generally related to the claims to land titles as well.
Because everyone learned the same histories it was very difficult for one person to alter, or for errors to occur without them being detected.
Samoan Tattoos has been artistically designed to assist in this purpose. Graphic artists are no strange group of talents among the Samoans
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