National Park of American Samoa

Ta'u Island

Parks › American Samoa › American Samoa › Points of Interest
CONTENTS

Ta?u is the largest island in the Manu?a Group and the easternmost volcanic island of the Samoan Islands. Ta?u is part of American Samoa. In the early 19th century, the island was sometimes called Opoun.

The island is the eroded remnant of a "hotspot" shield volcano with a caldera complex or collapse feature (Liu Bench) on the south face. The summit of the island, called Lata Mountain, is at an elevation of 931 metres (3,050 ft), making it the highest point in American Samoa. The last known volcanic eruption in the Manu?a Islands was in 1866, on the submarine ridge that extends westnorthwest towards nearby Ofu-Olosega.

The largest airport in the Manu?a Islands is on the northeast corner of Ta?u at Fiti?uta. There is also a private airport. A boat harbor is located at Faleasao at the northwestern corner of the island. A roadway along the north coast connects all of the several inhabited villages between Ta?u on the west and Fiti?uta.

All of the southeastern half of Ta?u?including all of the rainforest on top of Lata Mountain and within the caldera?and southern shoreline and associated coral reefs are part of the National Park of American Samoa. The park includes the ancient, sacred site of Saua, considered to be the birthplace of the Polynesian people.

Administratively, the island is divided into three counties: Faleasao County, Fitiuta County, and Ta'u County. Along with Ofu and Olosega islands, Tau Island comprises the Manua District of American Samoa. The land area of Tau Island is 44.31 square kilometres (17.11 sq mi) and it had a population of 873 persons as of the 2000 census.

National Park of American Samoa
Pago Pago, AS 96799 USA

tel: 011-684-633-7082
fax: 011-684-633-7085

Directions

By plane
There is one international airport, Pago Pago International (IATA: PPG) located at Tafuna.

Hawaiian Airlines operate 2 return flights per week from Honolulu with Boeing 767 aircraft.

There are 3 airlines operating regular daily flights between Pago Pago and Apia, Samoa.

Inter Island Airways with 19-seater Dornier 228 aircraft
Polynesian Airlines with a 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft
South Pacific Express with a 36-seater Shorts 360 aircraft.

Inter Island Airways is the only airline providing daily domestic air service between Pago Pago and the Manu'a Islands of Ofu/Olosega and Tau, utilizing a 10-seater Britten-Norman BN2B-26 Islander and 19-seater Dornier 228-212 aircraft. Flight time between Pago Pago and the Manu'a Islands is approximately 30-40 minutes. Due to the short 2,000 ft runway, flights to Ofu/Olosega islands can be sporadic depending on wind and weather conditions as northernly winds pickup during from October to March each year. It is not uncommon for a flight to Ofu to be diverted to Tau or back to Pago Pago due to wind conditions at Ofu airport. The airport at Tau (located in the village of Fitiuta) is able to handle any flight conditions with its 3,500 ft lighted runway. There are generally 3 flights a week to Ofu plus daily flights to Tau. Inter Island Airways will generally add additional flights, sometimes reaching 4-5 per day during the summer and winter holiday season demands. Inter Island Vacations (www.interislandvacations.com) provides reservations and bookings on Inter Island Airways flights.

Several car rental facilities are available at or near the Tutuila airport. On Tutuila taxis are available at the airport, and near the market in Fagatogo. The island of Tutuila has good public transportation (frequent, but unscheduled) via ?aiga? or ?family? buses. For 50 cents to a dollar you can be taken around Pago Pago Harbor, and to the more remote parts of the island. Buses originate and terminate at the market in Fagatogo, the village next to Pago Pago. The roads are generally too narrow and the traffic too busy for bicycles.

Little buses run along the roads that follow along the waters edge of the island. Many Samoans carry a quarter or two in their ears for bus fare as the wraparound skirts don't have pockets. You just wave the bus down, climb over the speakers in the walkway and toss the quarter onto the dashboard where it slides around with all the other quarters. When you want off, tap the window a few times and the bus will stop. Be prepared to squeeze in.