Western Samoa

Western Samoa according to Pacific time zones, is where the sunrises in the east, while American Samoa, a protectorate and allied with the United States of America, is where the sun sets in the west. Western Samoa is known for their peaceful and attracting culture, their Fa'a Samoan system, and their export of pro-athletic talents. Samoans contribute to communities in Hawaii, Australia, America, and Aotearoa New Zealand, to across the world in Europe to Japan.

The island nation of Western Samoa has always been a power house of cultural history inside the Asia Pacific, with studies estimating at least 3-6,000 years in first settlement. Historians agree that Samoa is well old enough to have lived through the same times as Ancient Rome, the Mayan Empire, and the world Spice Trades, areas of history that begin thousands of years before the founding of Spain, England, and the Dutch regions. Australia is the youngest nation in the Asia Pacific and west Pacific Polynesian region, not founded until 1901.

100 Years Conflict 1860s-1960s

The 1860s were a decade of Democratic and Democratic Socialist movements, Governmental systems in both the developing United States and Europe, lay heavy Parliamentary Reforms, supporting civic and equal rights, and Imperialistic ideals were under political pressures. War within Western Samoa in the 1860s were related to entitlement, with houses campaigning for the four revered King Pa'pa Titles to acquire the "Tafa'ifa", a deified High-king position. Both Germany and Britain supported their own Samoan allies in different districts. Around 1869, districts in Western Samoa were being swayed to join Eastern Samoa and the USA, however, strong commercial links with Imperial Germany remained fixed in most Western Samoan councils. The United States under Grant sent Agent to the President, Colonel Steinberger, to impede on mostly British interests, payback for interference in the American Civil Wars where Britain supplied arms to the Southern Confederates. In the southwest, APIA city of Western Samoa, a popular commercial trade port for at least 30 years running, there were past Treaty works still in good action, signed with Imperial Britain, and APIA Samoans kept religious ties to the well known British Christian London Missionary Society. United States relations were made, but Steinberger eventually went back home to the US. after he was attacked and kidnapped by the British Captain Stevens under orders, to hold Britain's position.

The early 1870's brought about great change overseas during the Franco-Prussian War (United Germany vs France 1870) and again the European political landscape was made over. France who had lost it's War with Imperial Germany was invaded at their Capital of Paris. In 1872, Eastern Samoa became a Trust-Region with the United States of America who'd made pacts with the highest offices, including Civil War hero and Republican American Expansionist President Ulysses S. Grant. Allied sovereign Native American Confederations too, created similar private pacts with the United States. President Grant signed into law the first National Parks Protection Acts to preserve lands that were considered either sacred by Native allies, or were to be for the future enjoyable benefit of all Americans. During the late 1870s, Grant visited Ireland (his rooted country, made honorary citizen), Germany, and Russia on a 2-year International tour.

The British presence in Western Samoa retreated in the late 1890s, and terms were lay out in the Tripartite Convention of 1899, after Germany under the Kaiser Wilhelm II (The Great German Emperor) was in a most powerful position in European politics. With the British gone, and the United States keeping favored relations with Eastern Samoa, Western Samoa then signed a formal "Treaty of Friendship" with the German Crown, with Samoan Taimua-Faipule Government delegates sent overseas and formal agreements struck with His Majesty the Kaiser, and so Western Samoa for a time became a Trust Region in the year 1900.

In April 1904, Imperial Britain signed the "Entente Cordiale" and joined France against the expanding German Navy to hopefully regain their stances in areas overseas. There were media campaigns around APIA to seed mass mistrust between the Germans and their Samoan allies, making rumors of fowl intentions. The British called the Germans "Colonizers", demonizing their image even though the German Crown never fortified a single building, and the new laws passed by the Governor Wilhelm Hienrich Solf were purely for German only public, to keep the peace and maintain the flow of trade. Mr. Wilhelm Solf was given Samoan title, and moved his governing powers into APIA councils. Mr. Solf's daughter was born in Samoa and given a title with her name.

The year of 1914, some members within the Samoan Faipule Government, APIA Samoans, and Malietoa Tanumafili was beseeched by a Wellington party in New Zealand to rebuild a Samoan British NZ political bridge, to reunite their commerce and relations, and the friendly combined influence was used by the British to attack an Imperial German Radio station in Western Samoa.

Western Samoa in 1914 broke ties with the once noble Crown of Germany, mostly because of growing Mau Socialist Movements, and Imperialism across the Euro-world was on it's last legs. Communism and Rebel factions in militant forms organized quickly, including within Germany. The German Revolution of the Weimar Republic was beginning, the German Navy itself became increasingly influenced by the highest Admiral ranks and the Generals that commanded them, and less by the German Crown. Eventually, the power of the Kaiser Wilhelm II fell into factions within the nation's armed forces. Some of the new factions were determined to hail a Nazi led Germany.

General Erich Ludendorff and Statesman Paul von Hindenburg (future President of the Weimar Republic and co-founder of the Volksgemeinschaft Movement with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler), became strong political figures. 1914 was the start of World War 1 in the Asia Pacific and Polynesia after the German Navy counter-attacked with an open sea conflict at "The Battle of Coronel", where German Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee, defeated the British West Indies Squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, to revenge for the attack on Samoan German property (Samoan German Radio Station).

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson of the new Democratic Party of the United States declared War on Germany after the German Navy attacked large Atlantic-cruising passenger and merchant vessels. The move to join the first World War was not agreed on by all officials in the United States, many of whom wanted to remain neutral, and to keep focus within US. infrastructure, away from the grudge Wars in Europe.

After only four years of British reconnecting ties in APIA Samoa, in 1918, the allied New Zealanders in charge of the British operations, ruined their standing after the S.S. Talune (a New Zealand ship carrying Influenza) was responsible for infecting the APIA docks. All the APIA Samoans who were allied to Britain were infected with a fatal Influenza, and all support for Britain was instantly lost. Eastern Samoa sent medical help to Western Samoa. New Zealand military camps in North Island under Allied Colonials too were infected at Narrow Neck Camp by their own imports, mostly from New South Wales Australia. Between 1918-1919, Germany fully policed the Atlantic Ocean with U-boat submarines, destroying an outdated British and French Sailing-Navy, attacking all British and French routes to Asia and the Americas, and war-tides turned again.

The United States reformed under the Republican Party in 1921, and the US-Senate declined joining the British and French made "League of Nations". The League of Nations failed and were eventually disbanded. On July 2nd, 1921, the new President of the United States Warren G. Harding, signed the US-German Peace Treaty, and the US. remained under an agreement of neutrality for the next 19 years in US-Republican Party hands.

The Socialist Movements of the Mau Samoa in the 1920's, friends of the Union Trades and the NZ and Australian Labor Parties, began rising to power, and the Mau Samoans began campaigning against Samoan's allied to Germany, Britain, and any foreign Imperialism. In 1929, the New Zealander Loyalist Parties (allies of Imperial British) made a poor attempt to regain some sort of grounds, and caused an Affray with the Mau, where the NZ unit was then beaten and forced to retreat to a police station. Mau Samoa became fully integrated in the Western Samoan Government and gradually spread to Northern New Zealand in Auckland and to Eastern Saipan (Samoa Mo Samoa).

The Mau Samoan Socialists with the famous Samoan-swedishman Ta'isi Olaf Fredrick Nelson, NZ Labour Party Socialists (includes Maori and Kiwi), and Australian Socialists, took over the New Zealand Government in the year 1935, occupying the New Zealand Prime Minister's office with Mr. Joseph Savage as Party leader representative. Mr. Savage was the first Australian born to be Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Labour Party Socialists and Unionists in office then supported legislation that swept out non-pacific island interests, disconnecting New Zealand from overseas World War campaigns. The NZ Housing Crisis caused by War Depression was one of many top priorities, and restrictions on evictions began immediately to keep the public from becoming homeless.

In 1933, Germany became fully controlled by the Communist Nazi Party. In the second World War in 1940, Nazi Germany bombed and invaded Great Britain, France, and Zeeland of the Dutch. Britain fell as England-London was unable to recover. Under the new Democratic Party, run by Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President, the United States joined World War II in 1941 after Imperial Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at Hawaii. The 19-year neutral US-German stance ended. The Japanese Empire invaded Australia in 1942, and the United States and Eastern Samoa collaborated in helping both Australia and French Allied Eastern Polynesia. The World War ended in 1945 and the United States, allies of Eastern Samoa remained the only real western influence in the Pacific and Polynesia after the World Wars. Western Samoa was clear of foreign trade that mixed with military back-up and remained in Populist-Socialist hands and declared a type of Independence Day (based purely on the rise of Mau Samoan Socialism). Western Samoa Government was later reformed in the 1950s by it's own leaders, where it's major parties congregated and created a new Fono Executive Council over the former Faipule Government.

Eastern Samoa officially adopted the American Samoa flag in 1960, remaining still today in modern times, a close Pacific ally to the USA and a Trust Region. Under a United States ANZUS umbrella facing Eastern Samoa, New Zealand signed a "Treaty of Friendship" with Western Samoa, strengthening relations after 1962.

Samoan Austronesian Origins

The origins of the Samoans have been the subject matter of leading academic inquiry, due to there outer-pacific location and there relationship with the rest of Polynesia and the Malay archipelago or Malayunesia (Indonesia). Samoans are apart of the Malay-race of Austronesian, who's overall expansion stretches from at least Madagascar, to Tibet and inner Mongolia, to Southeast Asia, East Asia, fanning out further into the 16 million mile Pacific region, referred to as the Polynesian triangle. In 2008, an extensive analysis of Polynesian DNA from 1,000 individuals and 41 different Pacific populations took place. An international team of scientists announced their findings that Polynesians and Micronesian's in the central and eastern islands were strongly related to East Asians. The findings were published in the Online Journal Public Library of Science Genetics (www.plosgenetics.org) led by Jonathan S. Friedlaender, professor emeritus of biological anthropology at Temple University, assisted by his wife, Françoise R. Friedlaender. The 2008 data supports previous genetic findings from 2001 for a "fast train model" of colonization, argued against mostly by fame seeking geneticist M. Kayser (Manfred Kayser) who by himself continually pushes a "slow-boat model" of colonization.

"Dating the actual Polynesian presence has been a drawn-out western Anthropological problem, since evidence stretches out a larger picture that includes Southeast and East Asia. Linguistic evidence also shows that the Austronesian-polynesian presence holds a significant position in the founding of Asia itself. Although the pacific islanders are often seen as freshly liberal, people who run dream vacation sites, they are in fact extremely old. How old is the question, and how old can we tell others is often the question. They've been called the -Mongols of the Pacific- and it's hard to explain the significance without overwhelming western minds. If Austronesian Malayo-Polynesians are the oldest linguistic family in the entire world, and Austronesian's are the founders of Southeast Asia, that means the first Asians were...well, linked. Genetics studies even use a marker called -The Polynesian Motif B4a1a1a inside Haplogroup B. It's easier to avoid the question than answer it, an explaination of the beginning of Asia, a huge and frightening academic task to undertake."

The islands of Samoa in particular have a vast history in the Pacific, known to be the initial founders of the Polynesian region. In 2015, Kalepa Baybayan, captain of the Hokule’a, working with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), part of a three-year project, announced his findings which involved actual encounters with the island cultures.

“Quite frankly, we Polynesians are all Samoans because that’s where we all started from thousands of years ago. The genesis, the seed from there [Samoa] spread throughout all of Polynesia.”

Invention in the Southeast Asia Pacific

The area of Southeast Asia has traded in the west since the ruling of the Egyptian Empire, before the founding of Persian-Rome and Europe itself. Between the dates of 3-6,000 years, Spices and cultural inventions flowed through the East Indies into Arabia and Northeast Africa, connecting at the Mediterranean Sea, founding new empires and religious revolutions.

In the 19th century, three of "The Four greatest inventions of the Ancient World" were are found to be part of Western Samoa daily culture. The Four Great Inventions are recorded as the Compass, the making of Paper, the first process of Printing, and the invention of Gun Powder. The inventions are historically celebrated in western Europe and Arabia, as their introduction gave navigation, literacy to the illiterate, information sharing, and protection from wealthier nations. The origin of these inventions was thought to be from Saipan and ancient South China, but are found throughout Pacific island cultures. Gun powder is the only ancient invention of the four not found in outer-Oceania.

In the Asia Pacific, several compassing methods are presented, many using navigational astronomy. Maritime Malay-Polynesia and Central Polynesia have been found to use Star Compass layouts for teaching purposes only, documented to the western academic world by Micronesian Navigator Mau Piailug in 1976. A following expedition voyage of the Hokule'a from Hawaii, used solely traditional stellar navigation to support Pacific colonization models, correcting a "Heyerdahl claim to fame". Another teaching compass called "The Wind Compass" was found in the Vaka Taumoko Project, used by Solomon islands, colonized by Malay-Polynesians, Polynesians, and Papua. The National Earth Science Association posted in early 2000, their findings on the East Asian coastal magnetic compass, found to be more ineffective away from equator latitudes, if moving far south where magnetic poles flip and counter closer to the Arctic center.

In Western Samoa, the original form of paper is still produced in its bark cloth and durable canvas form. The finished Samoan decorated product is called "Siapo", labeled Tapa cloth in english. All main stocks of Paper trees, the Paper Mulberry, Banyan Tree, and Breadfruit Tree were found to be indigenous only to South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Asia Pacific in 20th century botanical studies. On traditional Catamaran, or out-riggers, the bark cloth was matted and woven, stitched into the sailing mast of the vessel. Siapo are also produced with a dye, making it a marbled tan, dark coconut brown, and then a very light tan sheet, almost the shade of paper today. In Samoa, at least 2 techniques are used to apply design patterns. One is the pressure method [Siapo 'Elei], using a design board [Upeti] to imprint or reprint designs from one unfinished Tapa work to the next. The invention of "Samoan glue", called soga, was also found in the Siapo and paper cloth making process, along with the reprint and stamping. 

Traditional Samoan Medicine to Modern-eras

The medical studies of "Ancient Samoan Practitioners" is an on going western area of interest. Samoan Practitioners have been found to use the Mamala Tree to treat Hepatitis, and in the village of Falealupo in Savaii, there was a growing interest in Samoan Medicine by Ecologist Paul Alan Cox and a team at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

Recent agreements were struck for the intellectual property rights of the Samoan Practitioners, and the public, on the production of the drug "Prostratin" [Treatment for AIDS], between the Samoan Government and the AIDS Research Alliance. The deal summarily concluded on 20% of ARA's profits to go to the people of Samoa.

Health practices and Ancient Samoa

In 1884, the Samoan islands were seen as an exotic source of Asia Pacific experiences who had local natural bath springs, aesthetic luxuries, public beach activities including seasonal village events, waterfall areas considered equivalent to a local park, with dances around central market areas. Comparisons were made in times when western worlds had an average life expectancy of 30-34 years old, due to poor dieting, water contamination, still in the process of importing East Asian life practices. The experience of Faa Samoa was journalized by a Lieutenant Wilkes, who reported an orange like plant used during bathing, and the cultivating of "Fisoa" or Colubrina Asiatica, found throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Asia Pacific, observed to be purposely planted near all fresh water public bathing areas.  

An account from John Williams noted "No less than twice a day", referring to public bathing and water activities, and noted that outside visitors of Non-Samoans had a personal trial with hygienic routines. The public baths in western Europe were reintroduced in the 1800s through East Asia, previously in the west from Turk-Persia but was banned under new Catholic religious policies. 

Cocoa nut oil was observed to be smoothed on the skin to keep from dehydrating in the sun, along with oil extracts, produced for their scents, as insect repellents, and to suppress natural body odors. Early child health issues were widely nonexistent, nor was malnutrition, all deterred by an abundance of starched and potassium nutrient filled foods, an unlimited ocean variety of sea meats, easy picks of sweet tropical fruits, and a motherly traditional practice of protracted breast feeding. 

Politics, Titles, and The Houses of Samoa

Entitlement in Western Samoan has existed close to 2,000 years, with a long reaching Oral History that can recall kingly district ranks and lineage parts. Faa Samoa is considered "a complexity of title and merit", Modern Western Samoa is an electoral system of individual houses, who congregate in district counsels, then confer on national position and legislation. Western Samoa also originally had a ranking history with Eastern Samoa, systematically in salute to Tui Manu'a, who's lineages reached from Tafuna and Pago Pago to the Manu'a Islands.

Well known titles and ranks are "The Tulafale", a Lord and Judge equivalent, and the station of "The Ali'i", an equal nobleman. The rank of Ali'i is the most widely known in reputation, carried  in the surrounding Pacific nations throughout the Polynesian Triangle, usually connecting solely to the head houses or Monarch.  The Samoan Ali'i title is still an active position in modern Pacific Island Governments, from the Maori to Hawaii (Ari'ki, Aei'ki, Ari'i ex.) There are in fact many influential titles, kingly titles, and duties, each one treasured by their own district, city, town, and village.

In Samoan History, a duration of War engulfed several islands, from Eastern Samoa, Western Samoa, to Tongan regions, which resulted in an international rank, bestowing a rare and one of the highest ranks, called "The Tafa'ifa". The title is an Empress, Emperor, Highest King or Highest Queen rank involving the acquisition of 4 titles to attain the single most rare, one of the 4 which includes the "Sa' Malietoa" title. The Tafa'ifa Crown like all titles is redistributed and conferred again on after the death of the anointed. Historically, Eastern Samoan is included in this process of election and crowning, who may or may not recognize the candidate. The title of Salamasina and The Tafa'ifa have been connected with the collective highest houses of Tui Dynasties. The Tui Tonga itself was once part of Samoa, and is Samoan in origin. All Samoans who reside within island in most cases do earn entitlement of some importance.

The island of Samoa itself is entitled, translated to mean "Sacred High Lands" for it's mountainous elevated profile. The Samoan term "Sa", means "sacred" and the old use of the word "Moa" is a staple word on things "Top, Great, or High", in the past to account "The Highest and Tallest Bird" (Moa Bird). In the common tongue, used by the un-entitled people, the use of the word "Moa", became the general description for all birds.

Samoan expansion is so wide spread throughout the Pacific that there is a saying "The Faleselau" meaning "The House of Hundreds".

Studies show that the Polynesian-Samoan expansion extends to the regions of Kiribati, West Uvea (Wallis and Fotuna), Sikaiana, Kapingamarangi (Micronesia), Anuta (Solomon islands eng. name), Takuu (Papua New Guinea), and on into Melanesia, including the 16 million square mile Polynesian Triangle.

The island name of Hawaii is linked to the island of Savaii of Samoa. The "S" sound is only left in Samoa, while the rest of Polynesia pronounces the "S" as an "H". Tongans also refer to Samoa, as "Hamoa". The letter sounds of "T" and "V" and "W" are also exchanged, as are others. In Samoan language, words with the letter "N" are sounded as "NG". Most of Polynesia uses the "NG" spelling like the Maori word "Ngati". The proper way in Hawaiian language to pronounce Hawaii is "Havaii". The name Hawaii spoken in the formal language becomes "Savaii" (an island name in Samoa). The Maori word for their homeland "Hawaiki", is the same way. It's debated if Hawaiki is two words together, and a title, meaning Havaii Lords or Lords of Hawai. If so then Maori would be from Lords of Oceania, mostly coming through eastern Polynesia. The Samoan Ali'i presence has been found on a long list of Pacific island regions.

Ali'i Aimoku - Kaui, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii

Ali'i Po - Kaui, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii

Ali'i Naha- Kaui, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii

Ali'i Wohi - Kaui, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii

Ari'ki - Mainly known as the Kings of Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand [on islands Te Waka o Aoraki [South Main Island], Te Ika a Māui [North Main Island], Wharekauri, Rangitoto Ki Te Tonga, Ahuahu, Motutapu, Rangitoto], and on the island of Rapa Nui [Statues of the "Moai Ariki" (One of the Seven wonders of the World)] otherwise known as "Monuments of Rapa Nui" [Easter Island in eng.]

Also found: Eastern Polynesia on "Mana re'va or Mangare'va Islands" [Papuri, Teauaone, Tepapuri, Puaumu, Vaiatekeue, Teauotu, Apou, Tuaeu, Totegegie, Tarauru Roa, Gaioio, Tenoko, Rumarei, Aukena, Tokorua, Taravai, Tepu Nui, Angakauitai, Motu-O-Ari, Makapu, Akamaru, Mekiro, Teohootepohatu, Atumata, Tauna, Tekava, Kouaku, Motu Teiku, Makaroa, Manui, Kamaka, Tenararo, Vahanga, Tenarunga, Matureivavao (english name Gambier islands)]

Ari'i or Ari'ki - Eastern Polynesia [Mehetia, Tahiti, Tetiaroa, Moorea, Maiao, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, Tupai Maupiti, Mopelia, Motu One, Manuae] There are two islands named "Manuae" in the southeast Polynesian regions, one in the Society islands groups [eng. name], and one in the Cook Islands group [eng.name].

Ali'ki - Tokelau [Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo] Tuatomus [Anaa, Arutua, Fakarava, Fangatau, Hao, Hikueru, Makemo, Manihi, Napuka, Nukutavake, Puka Puka, Rangiroa, Reao, Takaroa, Tatakoto, Tureia.]

Ei'ki or Aei'ki -ʻEua, Fakahiku,  Fatumanongi, Fetoa, Foa, Fonuaika, Fonualei, Fotuha'a, Foua, Ha'afeva Ha'ano, Hakauata, Hakaufasi, Kao, Kito Kotu, Lekeleka, Lifuka, Limu, Lofanga, Luahoko, Luanamo Luangahu, Lulunga, Matuku, Mo'unga'one, Niniva, Niuafo'ou, Niuas, Niuatoputapu, Nomuka, Nukulei Nukunamo, Nukupule, 'O'ua, Ofolanga, Ovaka, Ovalau, Pangaimotu, Pepea, Putuputua, Sisia, Tafahi Tahifehifa, Tatafa, Taula, Taunga, Teaupa, Tofanga, Tofua, Tokulu, Tongatapu, Totokafonua, Totokamaka, Tungua, ʻUiha, Uoleva, Uonukuhahake, Uonukuhihifo, Vaimalo, Vavaʻu [Some islands are listed for being inside Tonga regions, but may be uninhabited]

The Malietoa Title a Polynesian History

According to popular historical version, "The Sa' Malietoa" title began when Talakaifaiki, 15th line of a Samoan-Tongan monarch, formally took part in Western Samoan entitlement. On route to a high-counsel meeting in Savai'i, the Tui Tongan King (A Tongan king with Samoan Heritage) and his escort was met with a countering Samoan faction in the hosting Samoan district. History has called this the "Campaign of Tanu and Fatu" who began with a chant in Siva Tau.

The Siva Tau was a challenge, saying "Look on, Look after yourself, there will be many scars", and so the conflict ensued in hand-to-hand combat. Tuna and Fatu's campaign prevailed and Talakaifaki and guarded escort were then swept back to their ships. The Samoans chased them to the end of the beach, into the Bay area. On the edges of Samoan shores, the Tongan King shouted "Mālie toa, Mālie tau", meaning "The Great Warriors, Greatly fought".

The reports of the battle created a legend, a battle that had fallen royal elite escort, without campaigned support. Another Samoan, presumably an older brother named "Savea", then challenged immediately after the title became valid, and won over Tanu and Fatu. The new title of "Malietoa" was integrated into the formal proceedings of Western Faa Samoan politics, however it is not incorporated into Eastern Samoa, having no involvement with the battle.

Pacific Historian "It's hard to explain to someone not familiar with Samoa, but in Samoa back then, it was legal to campaign for titles, yes through challenge, but under a set-line of rules under the eyes of other high-titles. They allowed contending in the ancient Samoan-way, and how a noble-man went about this campaign was incredibly important or he could lose his standing as a contender. Tonga's influential families were at that time, part Samoan. The Tui Tonga (Samoan Tongan Royals) even raised their kids in Western Samoa.

On that day where the Tongan King had his best War-escorts with him, normally only an equal title would take up the challenge. However, a less unknown that day, challenged and won. It's a story of the typical Samoan-guy being equal to foreign kings. There are misinterpretations of the story today, thinking its a story of win & defeat, no, its a history of what a typical Samoan man is capable of."

The Western first encounters with Samoa

In 1722, Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen, arrived working for the Dutch East India company, who sited for the first time in Northwestern European history, the islands of Samoa. The Dutch trade recons were looking for Spanish ports, new trade partners, and spice trade routes to Legendary Cathay (China was once called Cathay by the Europeans). The Dutch encounters document a successful exchange with Samoans, with many other writers and painters settling down to indulge in Samoan and Eastern Polynesian lifestyles (Tahiti). 

In 1787, the French Expedition of the Le Perouse docked in an Eastern Samoa Bay, and there happened the first "Samoan Affray or Massacre Bay" with French trade recons, who were competing with the Spanish, Dutch, and the British.

The conflict between the Samoans and the French seemed to have happened over a French sailor attempting to coerce a Samoan woman on board one of the ships.

At the climax of the fight, the French crews of the Expedition moved ashore, armed with 70 men from the ships Astrolabe and Boussole. The French crew numbers were cut to a quarter, around 25-30 men left, some able to return to the ships. The Expedition was left adrift but made their way to Botany Bay in Australia. There was no provable numbers killed on the Samoan side, since the Expedition left immediately as best they could. At least 12-20 French sailors died, with at least 20 in question. De Langle, commander of the Astrolabe was confirmed dead.

Samoa was from then on off-limits for a little over "one hundred years", considered "The Samoa No-sail Zone". The French adventures in the Pacific were published on, which became extremely popular with both the academics and the public, all were interested in overseas French travels that discovered uncharted and unknown territories of the world.

Samoans were written about of being wild fearsome "Savages" after the affray, able to sail long distances, which then fueled an idea of Samoan Invasion. The novel ideas of Samoan people stayed with western media to the beginning of the first World War. France at that time was considered a western powerhouse of culture and trade, and anyone able to stay-off a slew of French sailors with their most elite line of ships, meant a warning. Missionaries were eventually allowed in Samoa because of their peaceful intentions, and relationships grew quickly with Christian churches. By the mid 1800's, Samoa was an important trade port in the Pacific, invaluable for docking before reaching Southeast and East Asian markets.

1800s War History with Samoa, Germany, Britain 

On February 17 1887, Laupepa Malietoa's offices were rumored to have begun talks with the Kingdom of Hawaii [The original Hawaiian Monarch]. Together they were to form a new Pacific trading partnership. Laupepe attracted Tuiātua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea's house, where then action by his forces, with German allied support, took on Laupepe Malietoa's base by the end of 1887. Laupepe Malietoa [Sa' Malietoa] was then driven back by a Tupua Armed force. Conflicts began around Apia on the island of Upolu involving more oversees trade support, causing the Samoan World War Crisis in 1887. By the end of the conflicts, Laupepe Malietoa was then exiled to the Marshal islands in 1887. In 1888,  the Ta‘imua and Faipule legislature supported Tupua Tamasese Titimaea as the new "Malietoa of Samoa", to replace Laupepe, who then obtained the Malietoa title in August 1888, and who was politically theorized to campaign for the crown of Tafa‘ifā. Remaining aiga supporters of Laupepe [the late Sa' Malietoa, who was in exile] still claimed their rights to the title. New conflict then arose from insults by those who sought the Malietoa title, and by holding formal entitlement ceremony while negotiations were still underway. Another contender for Sa' Malietoa, was Matā‘afa Iosefo, who also held the titles of Ngato‘aitele and Tamasoāli‘i. Parties then gathered to campaign their supporting interests, moving forward toward a new Samoan War. Fa‘alataitaua (Talavou’s son) and parties then became another Malietoa title contender.

In 1889, Mata'afa Iosefo gained support by both Fa‘alataitaua, and a Sā Talavou house. Mata'afa Iosefo then sought a larger unified allied party and military force against the rival Tamasese Titimaea, in August 1888. Matā‘afa Iosefo and allied force then battled Tamasese for the Malietoa title, who had support at Manono and Apolima islands. On September 5th 1888, a German allied gunship the SMS Adler, assisted Tamasese's forces at Manono and Apolima. Matā‘afa Iosefo and allied force won, who was then legally declared in all rights "Malietoa of Samoa" at Fale‘ula. In mid-September 1888, Matā‘afa’s forces then drove Tamasese’s Ātua forces out completely from Vaiala to Matafagatele (Vaimauga, Tuamasaga), and won the battle at 10 o’clock at night. On September 20th 1888, "The seige of Luelumoega village" took place with Mata'afa Iosefo Malietoa allies from Satupa'itea, taking the town of A'ana. That same year, Atua was invaded by the allied forces of Mata'afa Iosefo Malietoa who acqurired fleets at Manono, around Fa'asaleleaga district. Malietoa Mata'afa Iosefo's land force was estimated at 6,000 who seemed to be taking over all rival invested interests, including overseas investments.

On June 14th 1889, a conferance with Britain and the United States from Germny signed the General Act of Berlin which supported the former Malietoa Laupepa and allies who were still at that time, in exile. Laupepa was then asked to move forward in his campaign against Mata'afa Malietoa. On Novemeber 8th 1889, Laupepa returned to Western Samoa council. Laupepe peacefully acknowledged Matā‘afa as Malietoa, along with recognizing his accomplishments under Faa Samoa tradition, but who still had allied political pressures to form his own political base. 

On December 4th 1889, a "historical Fono" [traditional council of Samoan leaders] was held in Lepea, with Faleata and Laupepa’s supporters, which included several Tutuila delegates from Eastern Samoa. The counsel at Lapea, then agreed to lock in Laupepe's political base for "Malietoa of Samoa", which benefited more majority interests. The "Sā Malietoa campaigns of 1889" then resumed, this time under a broader range of Samoan houses who were now using more international resources. The new campaigns were then backed up with military forces. On May 31st 1891, Laupepa with both Eastern Samoan and Foreign Allied support, moved into Mulinu‘u, where Laupepa’s new political base setup office for a new Government headquarter. On October 28, 1892 “a hundred ships” arrived at Mulinu‘u. In April 1893, Laupepe had succeeded forming a party to rival Matā‘afa's allied forces, who then set-up office in Manono. Mata' afa Malietoa at Manono, then to counter, gained further Samoan political titles.

The Samoan War of 1893 is disputed to have been won by force by Malietoa Laupepa in July, and less by lawful Samoan tradition. Matā‘afa and other alliances were then exiled to Jaluit Marshall Islands, where Malieatoa Laupepe once resided. Before Mata'afa was exiled, Fa‘alataitaua gifted Sā Talavou the Malietoa title, to hold until his return, allowing legally two houses to hold the Malietoa title. On August 22, 1898 Malietoa Laupepa after all his campaigns [other titles Tamasoāli‘i and Ngato‘aitele], died of old age, and was succeeded by his son Tanumafili I. In 1898, that same year, Mata' afa then returned to Western Samoan counsel from exile. 

In 1899 a year later, Mata'afa Iosefo then invaded Apia capital with a stronghold at Vailele. At 12:30 am, Mata afa's forces then over took the British and American consulates guarded by Navy marines under Lieutenant Guy Reginald Archer Gaunt of the HMS Porpoise, and Captain M. Perkins of the United States Marines.

In the end, Mata'afa and alliances succeeded in their campaign statements and negotiated to be left alone, so long as they did not continue to invade Apia city, and or investments of other foreign allies. In late 1899, the Tripartite Convention convened and the alliances took agreeable sides with all Samoan houses staying with their favored western partners.

Mau Socialists of Samoa and New Zealand 1930s

In 1929, the first "New Zealand Military Retreat" is recorded in Western Samoa, when a private military force was beaten up by Socialist Mau Samoan parties. The NZ British militants attempted at arresting a young man, interfering with a parade celebrating the return of successful Mau oversees leaders. The New Zealander militants were arrested by the Mau Samoan police officers, one NZ officer was knocked out, while the other two were held down and restrained for the disruption. The parade was stopped when the rest of the NZ force came to assist the fallen officers. The New Zealand military force was then surrounded by the Mau police officers and the parade, and beaten up, stoned, who then retreated in full sprint for a full city blocks run. Several in retreat were caught and killed, and NZ military fired in frantic movements, rushing to be protected by another local Samoan police station. Inside the Samoan building, the NZ military held under attack, and in the panic, a militant converged to the second floor, when there was a Lewis machine gun in station. Several rounds were fired, and the NZ militant, who remained in shock, fired wrongly, hitting their own Samoan friendlies, several who attempted to stop the maul, one being Samoan leader Tamasese. His last wish was "Peace, Samoa", and his words remain apart of his political legend.

Samoan Historian "We call it -The first New Zealand Retreat in the WWs-, Not only did the NZ troop start the fight, but they then lost the street fight, ran in retreat, and when they got to the station to defend themselves, what did they do? They fired on the wrong people, they fired on the Samoans who were there allies trying to stop the maul. Incompetence to the end. Tamasese, even though shot by the people we was trying to help, asked with his last breath to be at peace Samoa, for Samoa not to seek revenge." 

Western Samoan Mau Socialists rose into power in the 1920-1930s and began supporting the Labour Party Socialists of New Zealand. The Samoan Socialists, Australian Labor Party Socialists and New Zealand Labour party Socialists took over the allied New Zealand Government in 1935, at the beginning of the New Zealand economic depression, mismanaged by the Reform Party. The Socialist Riots had taken over cities in Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington (The Capital), working with the Trade Unions, men inflamed by a war that continued to help rescue a foreign Imperial Britain. Even the National Party or former Liberal Party in the end supported the move. A statue remains of Fraser, a Socialist Labour Party Political leader, in the Government Buildings Historic Reserve in Wellington Capital of New Zealand.

After the "Invasion of Britain 1940" (Black Battle of Britain Day), England relied fully on its allies to rescue them from German destruction, including the Maori Battalion sent on mission in 1940. New Zealand in 1943, looked only in the direction of East Asia, as Nazi Germany's allies of the Japanese Empire had air invaded Australia at Darwin, an English-British settlement smuggling arms. The United States and it's ally American Samoa (Eastern Samoa), sustained military efforts in the south Pacific, blocking campaigns that would sweep over into Eastern French allied Polynesia.

Western Samoa politics 1945-1960

After the World Wars, Western Samoa and Eastern Samoa defused entitlement campaigns, moving claims into a more Democratic process, eliminating the rights to war. Between the 1940s-1960s a series of systematic steps by unified Western Samoan parties allowed a successful creation of a stronger central Government office.

A form of "Constitutional Monarch" was unofficially in effect during "The Re-positioning of Samoan Orders", but in a dual, or even triple alliance of Kingly ranks. The change came after the death of Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole who had a dual political station of "Head of State" with Malietoa Tanumafili II. Both were also administrating advisers in foreign relations. Western Samoa established in 1956 a new Fono Executive Council, and abolished the older Fono of Faipule.

In 1960, The Samoan Constitution Convention arose. Seven months after forming an independent and centralized government body, New Zealand signed in 1962 "The Treaty of Friendship" to Western Samoa. Western Samoa had also announced an official "Unification of Samoan Districts", The new Unification of Districts supported later a broader range of Humanitarian Efforts and Equal Rights litigation. The first Samoan woman, Leaupepe Faima'ala in 1970-73, became a speaker of Western Samoan Parliament.

Human Rights Protection of Western Samoa 1982

The Human Rights Protection Party [Samoan Political Party - HRPP] came to power in 1982 and has been a dominant power in Samoan politics, cofounded in 1979 May, by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana. The Human Rights Protection Party has given way to two Prime Ministers. Other parties include The Samoa Democratic United Party, The Samoa Party, The Christian Party, and The Samoa Progressive Political Party.

Samoans in Auckland Aotearoa New Zealand

The Auckland region which was at one point the "Capital of New Zealand" in 1841, until an escalation of Maori Wars forced British retreat to Wellington, is now the hub of Samoans in New Zealand. Since the late 1960's to the 1970's, influence of Samoan culture has spread throughout New Zealand, pushing proactively in church, community, arts, and significantly in professional sports in the National Rugby team. The famous "All Blacks" have before been called "Manu Samoa II" after the players from Western Samoa who contribute. 

Culture and Religion in Western Samoa

In modern comparisons, Samoan Theology is so old that its compared to other ancient Theraveda, and to Biblical Genesis writings. The difference in Samoan creations is that Samoans "live or are from" Heaven. Interesting enough, northern New Zealand was once named the "underworld", and later named "The hellhole of the Pacific", referring to Kororareka Auckland. The largest western religion to reside within both East and Western Samoa is Christianity, at an estimate of 80-90%. The following religions are Methodist at 4%, Catholic 10%, Buddhism 8% [Buddhism possible larger with Samoan-Chinese population], and then a possible percentage of Baha'i Faith. The "Samoan Culture", however is practiced by 98.9% of the population [residents]. The actual largest religious practice in Samoa, is Samoan Culture.

Geography on Western Samoa

Western Samoa is directly North of the islands of Tonga. The largest islands of Western Samoa are Upolu and Savaii. The Capital of Upolu [The Big Island] is in "Apia". Apia harbour is famous in Western history for the fleets lost in a freak Tsunami during Samoan internal conflicts right before the World War.

The Samoan Art of Pe'a and Contemporary Inked Arts

One of the most recognized Arts of Samoan Culture is the finely Ink Art of the Pe'a. The traditional Art is done by a "Tufuga Ta Tatau" in ceremony. The transition from one "without a Tatau", to a man "with a Tatau", is one the most important events of a Samoan life, since the Tatau's purpose is to empower and authenticate titles, showing a traditional path and dedication to districts. To earn further titles in Samoa, the ceremonial undertaking of the Samoan Pe'a was once required before any notion of higher ranks. This requirement today does not apply to all circumstances, and is open for the individual representative to take into account. The best Tufunga Ta Tatau is usually sought after from one who seeks to support community spirits.

Samoan Tattoos in the Asia Pacific and overseas History

In early Western contact with the British navy, the Samoan Tatau, Eastern Tahiti, and Maori ink customs, gave way to military sailors coming back home in England and Scotland with various Tatau verions, calling them "Tattoos". The English navy attempted to ban the tattooing practices, aimed at the growing number of British Euro-nesians. Influential Euro-nesians who obtained a Samoan Tatau include Mickey Knight (American), Arthur Pink (Englishman), and the German Governor Erich Schultz for German trade in Western Samoa. Erich Schultz was acting Governor for "German public interests" in Western Samoa, and engaged a full traditional Samoan Pe'a Tatau with title. 

Revival of the Samoan-Tongan Tatau

The Tongan traditional Tatatau was revived after 165 years, in 2003, by Samoan Su'a Sulu'ape Petelo. According to Tongan History, Fatafehi Fakauakimanuka and King George Tupou I of Tonga, continued the tradition to undergo the ceremony under a Samoan "Tufuga Ta Tatau". The Tongan Tatatau is a profound link to eras when Tonga was connected under Samoan Governance.  There are traditional marked differences between the "Samoan Tatau" and the "Tongan Tatatau". The Tongan version stops before the knee, and at the very top around the rib, which is thick and double striped. The Samoan Pe'a Full body Tatau completes below the knee. At the very top around the rib cage in the Tongan Tatua is thinly double bared, and angled at the widening point.

The Samoan Language and Dialects

Samoan Language can be one of the most difficult to grasp for beginners studying from western languages, because of the history confusion, and the inability to separate Samoan formal and informal addressing and mannerisms. The change from informal into formal dialects to tribute important events, is what's theorized to be the cause for so many close linguistic relations and subtle variants in the many Pacific national languages.

Western Samoa in International Sports 

Pro-Athletes from Western Samoa play in International Sports from Western Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, England, France, USA America, Ireland, Japan, to China, and from sports ranging from Netball, to Rugby, to Surfing, to American Football. The phenomenon that is "Samoa in sports" has been written about for the past 17 years, but more so after Samoa began taking Rugby seriously, or professional sports in general. Western Samoa in the late 1990's took Australian Rules Football and applied it to what is now called "Samoan Rules Football".

In the early 2000's there arose growing controversy with Samoa and Tonga rugby clubs, being too over-powering, which pushed new weight fields across Pacific franchises. The weight change was proposed to help smaller foreign players continue developing toward a Rugby career in the Pacific. The Samoans have been named in sport "The Giant Killers", who have taken down mainland nations with high multi-dollar sporting budgets, tested athletic family lines and coaching approaches, and with national populations sometimes over 50-300 million. Most players from Samoa in the early 80's and 90's were playing for overseas teams like the All Blacks in New Zealand who took the Rugby sport to heart. Eastern Samoa has just in 2012 since October, taken more interest in International Rugby and are looking to cut-up rankings. There was "sport theory" in 2012 that the Eastern Samoans with America will do what Western Samoa has with New Zealand, which is play with both nations pushing national rankings together. In 2015, USA Sevens won their first series, London Series 2015, with a team of pacific islander and American talent. The USA team not only won the series, but devasted the opposing England and Australia teams with high scores in the 40s.

References

[-] Rāwiri Taonui. 'Canoe navigation - Ocean voyaging', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 4-Mar-09

[-] David J. Herdrich "Towards an understanding of Samoan Star Mounds" The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 1991 [PDF]

[-] By Augustin Krämer, translated by Theodore Verhaaren "The Samoa Islands: Constitution, Pedigrees, and Tradition Vol 1." Australian Print Group, 1994

[-] Rebirth of Tatatau "Tatatau Revived" Retrieved 20th August, 2012

[-] Cluny MacPherson, La'avasa MacPherson "Samoan Medical Belief and Practice" Auckland University Press, 1990

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