Faga'alu

In April 1941, members of the 7th Battalion showed up in villages throughout Tutuila Island. Later that month, the battalion cleared large jungle areas and began on the construction of the Camp Samuel Nicholas in Faga'alu.[4]

Faga'alu Bay is located between Niuloa Point in the south and Tulutulu Point in the north. The bay is considered a part of “outer Pago Pago Harbor.” The main drainage in the Faga’alu watershed is the Faga’alu Stream and its 8 tributaries. The stream is known as Matafao Stream in the drainage's upper reaches near Mount Matafao. Smaller drainages are situated on the southeast and northeast sides of the village. Matafao Stream begins at around the 1,400 ft. contour and continues downslopes to a stream fall. It becomes Faga’alu Stream at around 500 ft. above sea level. It discharges into the Pacific Ocean in Faga'alu Bay. Gobie fish, Mountain bass, and Freshwater eel have been observed in Faga'alu Stream.[5]

Most of Faga’alu is located at elevations well above potential tsunami elevations, and also set back a considerable distance from the ocean.[6]

There were 53 commercial business enterprises found in the village as of 2000. Several of these are located along the shoreline road and Dr Jim Turner Rd. Businesses include two bakeries, grocery stores, retail shops, and a laundromat. A quarry operation is located between the 100–125 foot contour at the west end of Faga’alu. It is operated and owned by Samoa Maritime. As of 2000, the Samoa Maritime Quarry generated around 500 cubic yards of reject material per week.[7]

The LBJ Hospital complex consumes seven acres. The location of the hospital is a former marsh which was filled in the early 1960s in order to accommodate the hospital.[8]

Faga’alu is home to Virgin Falls, which is a tourist destination on the island. A 0.6-mile hike past the LBJ Tropical Medical Center leads to a small rock quarry. From there, a trail climbs past a series of waterfalls, known as Virgin Falls. Several of the waterfalls have pools used for swimming.[11][12]

Faga’alu is home to Le Fale Pule Lodge, which sits high up on a hillside above Matafao Elementary School in Faga’alu. The hotel offers panoramic views of Pago Pago Harbor, and is located 300 feet above sea level. Four of the rooms are in the main house, while there's also a separate cottage with outdoor Jacuzzis.[13]

In 1972, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation approved a project to develop a park in Faga'alu Bay. Faga’alu Park is located at the outer part of Pago Pago Harbor and is a grassy park with picnic tables and a white-sand beach.[14][15][16] A boat ramp has been constructed at Faga'alu Park on government-owned land administrated by the Department of Parks and Recreation. The construction was initiated after the former public boat ramps at Fagasa and Pago Pago were damaged from the 2009 tsunami. The park is used for recreational activities such as picnicking, swimming, fishing, and camping.[17]

On Tutuila Island, the majority of sea turtle sightings take place in Faga'alu Park, Lion's Park in Tafuna, and Gataivai (in Pago Pago Harbor).[18]

As of the early 1980s, 21 percent of Faga’alu residents were born abroad. By 1990, 42 percent of residents were born outside of American Samoa. As of the 1990 U.S. Census, the village was home to 153 houses. Historically, residential development has taken place along the south and north sides of Faga’alu Stream. Another residential area is found upland of Faga'alu Park along the shoreline road and adjoining steeper slopes.[20]

• Elama Fa’atonu – Olympic sprinter for the American Samoa
• Anthony Liu – Olympic judoka
• Leonard Peters – former football safety and current rugby union player
• Junior Sifa – American rugby union player
• Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga – Samoan Olympic taekwondo practitioner
• Nathaniel Tuamoheloa – Olympic wrestler for ASA
• Ching Maou Wei – Olympic swimmer
• Jerome Kaino – New Zealand rugby union player (born in Faga'alu; raised in Auckland, New Zealand)
• A. U. Fuimaono – politician