#fautasi

The fautasi (meaning “built as one”) is a traditional Samoan longboat canoe, sometimes up to 100 feet long! The fautasi is significant as a living maritime cultural tradition in American Samoa. Long ago, fautasi were used primarily in warfare to transfer cargo and supplies, and as a mode of inter island transportation. Today, fautasi racing is the highlight of the annual American Samoa Flag Day festivities in April, with support from the entire village that trains several months prior.

"The ocean, the land, the forest – everything goes hand-in-hand. That's what we like to pass on to our kids in the younger generations. To maintain our identity, that's the most important thing to us."

Fu'ega Sa'ite Moliga captains a longboat for the annual fautasi races in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Learn about the fautasi, and why Moliga dedicates himself to this crew, in our Story from the Blue:

This month, we celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month!

In National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, fa'a Samoa -- or the Samoan way of life -- is the cultural context for all sanctuary activities and functions. Fa'a-Samoa places great importance on the dignity and achievements of the group rather than individuals. Here, a group from the island of Ta'u practices for the annual Flag Day fautasi (longboat) regatta.