Pavaʻiaʻi, American Samoa

Pavaʻiaʻi is a village in the Western District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It borders Mapasagafou and Faleniu to the north, ʻIliʻili to the east, Futiga to the south, and Malaeloa to the west. It is located in Tuālāuta County.

Pavaʻiaʻi is home to several fales that are used by villagers for dance practice, meetings, faʻalavelaves, and other events. It is also home to Pavaʻiaʻi Elementary School, the largest elementary school in American Samoa.





== History ==

In early 1942, the main body of the U.S. Marines arrived in American Samoa. The construction of quarters at Utulei was incomplete, as was Camp Samuel Nicholas in Fagaʻalu. Some of the Marines of the 2nd Division were therefore moved into the village of Pavaʻiaʻi. A soldier later wrote about his experience in the village: "We found the Samoan people to be exceptionally clean people... The residents...