American Samoa is an American territory in the South Pacific Ocean. Nestled in this territory is the National Park of American Samoa, which is 13,500 acres of protected land. It consists of coral reefs and tropical rainforests. Some 28,626 people visited the park in 2018.
The park covers three of American Samoa’s five main islands: Ta’u, Tutuila, and Ofu.
History
American Samoa is home to a large population of fruit bats. Fearing that these bats will not be protected, the Bat Preservers Association lobbied to include American Samoa in the Federal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. Congressman Foto Iosefa Fiti Sunia penned the bill in 1984.
On Oct. 31, 1988, the law establishing the American Samoa National Park was passed. However, the National Park Service (NPS), which manages all national parks in the U.S., had problems purchasing the lands covered by the park, which is owned by the government of American Samoa. In 1993, NPS entered into a 50-year lease with the Samoan council for the park.
An earthquake in 2009, caused immense damage to the park and the Samoan territory, which saw 34 deaths, hundreds of people injured and the destruction of over 200 homes and business structures.
Things to do
The National Park of American Samoa is one of the most remote national preserved lands of the U.S. Close to a third of the park is underwater, which means there are a lot of water activities in the area. Here are some of the things you can do in the park:
Swimming & snorkeling
With close to a third of the park underwater, swimming is a no-brainer. While swimming, visitors should take their snorkeling gear with them, since each of the islands of American Samoa has a healthy coral reef ecosystem. This means that all three islands of the park have coral reefs that visitors can explore. The corals are not only colorful, but these are also where fish and other ocean critters hang out. Over 250 species of corals and 950 species of fish are found in the park’s waters.
The Ofu Island is a gem in the morning, with the sun’s rays enriching the beautiful treasures underwater. Lucky snorkelers may catch a glimpse of octopuses and sea turtles.
Immerse yourself in Samoan culture
Over 55,000 Samoans are living in American Samoa. The park provides a homestay program so that tourists understand the Samoan way of life. It is simple and utterly satisfying. Visitors can join local activities like weaving mats and baskets, fishing using poles with nets, collecting clams along the reefs, and other common Samoan livelihood activities.
Hiking & exploring Manu’a Islands
The majority of the park—some 9,500 acres—is a tropical rainforest, which is a great backdrop for hiking. The plants in the rainforests are well mixed, and no one species of plant dominates the park. Visitors can hike in Manu’a Islands. Virginal beauty awaits visitors in Manu’a Islands. The landscape is undeveloped, so hikers can hire locals to guide them around the terrain. The rainforest and coral reefs in the area are also beautiful, so hikers can take a dip at the islands’ crystal blue waters.
For the more adventurous hikers, they might want to take on Lata Mountain, the highest point in American Samoa. But there are various other trails throughout the park. There are a few in each of the three main islands.
Spotting Bats
Bats are the only mammals that call the park home, and they are one of the many attractions of the park. There are two species of fruit bats and one insect-eating bat found in the park. Visitors get excited when they spot the flying fox, a fruit bat, because of its large wingspan that levels with an owl. Either of the species of bats is harmless and is important in the rainforest as they help pollinate plants, as well as distribute fruit-bearing seeds.
Flora and fauna
The majority of the park is rainforests. This means that the area is rich in plant life as well as in birds. But as earlier mentioned, not one specific plant dominates the area. There are some 343 species of flowering plants that thrive in the park, as well as 135 species of ferns. Close to a third of these plants are endemic.
As for the birds, Pacific pigeon, Samoan starling, and wattled honeyeater are among the more popular species in the park. Rare birds spotted in the rainforest are the fruit doves, spotless crakes and Tahiti petrels. There are also native reptiles in the locality: boas, geckos and skinks.
Bats are said to be the only mammals that call the National Park of American Samoa home, but humpback whales sometimes make an appearance in the Samoan waters.