ABOUT AMERICAN SAMOA:

American (Amerika) Samoa is a group of seven Polynesian islands in the South Pacific and the United States' southern-most territory. It is 3,700 km south-west of Hawaii and based in the heart of Polynesia.

American Samoa acquired international fame when English dramatist, Somerset Maugham wrote 'Rain' in the 1940s, one of his best known short stories. He used American Samoa's tropical location as the setting for the story and later the movie starring Joan Crawford. Also during the 1960s and 1970s, many of the US Apollo missions to the moon splashed down near islands. Astronauts from these missions travelled through the islands on their way home.

American Samoa was first sighted in 1722 by Dutchman Roggeveen. It is part of the Samoa archipelago, separated politically from the western Samoan islands in 1899 when they became the centre of a dispute between England, Germany and the United States. In 1899, German and the US partitioned the islands between themselves, hence the Americanisation of the eastern Samoan islands.

Tutuila is the largest island and a high volcanic island. Evidence of this volcanic make up can be seen in the capital Pago Pago where the harbour is based in the crater of an extinct volcano. Because of its sheltered position by peripheral mountains, it is also a natural hurricane refuge for ships. Other islands in the American Samoa group include Aunu'u and the Manu'a Group (Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u). Rose and Swains Islands are small coral atolls - Rose Swain is uninhabited.

Today the islands are not independent but an unincorporated territory of the US. This means the US constitution and other laws do not apply in the islands. It also allows the Samoan matai (chief) system to remain and prevents uncontrolled migration and business competition from the US. American Samoa has deliberately chosen not to be independent because of the financial benefits derived from their relationship with the US.

The first indigenous Samoan governor was appointed in 1956. The first fully elected govenor was sworn in in 1977. Almost half of the American Samoan government's income comes from subsidies and grants from the US. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the island's private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. In 1995 the population was estimated to be around 57,000.

Despite its Americanisation, the people maintain strong links to their fa'a Samoa or Samoan beliefs, language and cultural system. A law prohibits lands to be sold to foreigners - hence 90% of the land is owned by the Samoans. They are also careful not to go the way of Hawai'I where Americanisation has had a devastating effect on the Hawaiians' land ownership rights, traditions, culture and language.

Tourism is a developing industry in American Samoa. Island cruises, village stays, skin-diving, snorkelling and surfing facilities are available. Hikers can check out Tutuila's newly formed National Park of American Samoa. Bargain shopping, particularly clothing, can be bought from the Fagatogo market and there are a whole range of waterfalls, churches, beaches, and archaeological sites to see.

The country's rainy season runs from November to April with the dry season running from May to October. A good time to visit American Samoa is around Easter on April 17. This is flag raising day and commemorates the first day the American flag was hoisted in the islands.