National Park of American Samoa Things to Do

Cape Taputapu offers the best illustration in American Samoa of wave action on older massive volcanic activity which created Tutuila Island.

Saua is one of the most sacred sites in the National Park of American Samoa, it holds some of the earliest secrets to Samoan prehistory. The wells, mounds, and platforms of Saua showcase early architecture in Samoa. The locations of these archaeological features in Saua village also showcase settlement patterns in Samoa.

The Ofu island unit has a shallow protected reef with a great diversity of coral cover and fish. This is a feast for the eyes in the morning light. Keep an eye out for octopus and sea turtles. Be aware of the location of rip current (avas) wherever you swim.

From the Top of Mt. Alava, you can see the Island of Tutuila.

Fruit bats are the only native mammals found in American Samoa. The two species of fruit bat and one insect-eating bat species are harmless to people. They have a wingspan close to three feet. As fruit eaters, fruit bats are excellent and vital pollinators. Plants rely on the fruit bat to spread its seeds through droppings. A colony of fruit bats ensures that the tropical rainforest remains healthy and full of new trees. 

Located at the top of these points are gun batteries that protected Pago Pago Harbor after bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. They symbolize American Samoa’s importance as a route from the United States to Australia and New Zealand.

Lower Sa'uma is one of the most famous hiking trails in the National Park of American Samoa, it contains remnants of an early settlement. In Lower Sa'uma, you will take a closer look at house foundations, stone tool manufacturing sites with stone tools scattered everywhere, and mounds and platforms that could be used for chiefly functions. 

Each island of American Samoa supports a coral reef ecosystem in its coastal waters. These coral reefs support a variety of marine life typical of tropical Indo-Pacific waters. To date, over 950 species of fish and over 250 species of coral have been documented.

About one mile southeast of Tutuila’s eastern tip is the volcanic island of ‘Aunu’u, the smallest inhabited island. It can be reached by boat and explored by foot. 'Aunu'u Island is an excellent exposure of a relatively young flow of basalt inter-bedded with layers of tuff. The site also illustrates erosion by wave action and is covered with dense tropical vegetation.

Over 35 species of native birds fly in American Samoa’s skies. Each has its own story and place in our culture.