Details About Savai'i

Savai'i is the largest Polynesian island outside of Hawaii or New Zealand, but also one of its least populated. Here, one can view volcanic craters and lava tubes, witness dramatic blowholes, and enjoy traditional Polynesian villages. Savai'i is just 10 miles to the west of Western Samoa's smaller, "main island" of Upolu and its capital town of Apia. Both islands are dormant volcanic islands, covered in tropical rainforest, which are home to many exotic birds. The last eruption lasted from 1905 to 1911, when huge volumes of lava trickled from inconspicuous Mt. Matavanu towards the coast, burying villages and filling in the lagoon. Traditional Samoan villages, many comprising open-air Fale houses, now line the coast of the island. A typical Samoan village is made up of a series of families called an aiga. A matai is voted to lead the aiga, and is also responsible for the labor, activities, well-being, and housing of his family.