Itū'au, together with Aitūlagi, make up the village of Malaeloa (long ceremonial-green).
Itū'au | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Etymology: Samoan: "War Side" | |
Itū'au | |
| Coordinates: 14°21′05″S 170°46′55″W | |
| Country | |
| Territory | |
| Island | Tutuila Island |
| Named for | Samoan Mythology |
| Area | |
| • Land | .23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 550 |
| Time zone | UTC−11 (Samoa Time Zone) |
| ZIP Code | 96799 |
| Area code(s) | +1 684 |
Aitūlagi is the name of the famed family of high orator chiefs (tama matua)[1] from the Leāsina county.
Itū'au along with the villages of Fūtiga, Taputimu and Vailoatai form the itūmalo (county/district) o Tuālātai.
Although Itū'au and Aitūlagi align themselves with different counties, today they operate together in many respects as one village under the name of Malaeloa.
Amituana'i of Itū'au was a signatory to the Tutuila Deed of Cession of 1900.[2]
Itū’au can literally be translated as "war side".[3] The itū'au and the alātaua (war path) were roles assumed by allied villages or districts during times of conflict. This was a common practice throughout pre-contact Samoa,[4][5] with its roots in the first Mālietoa government.[6] The function of the itū’au role can be described as a "controller of troops",[6] whereas the alātaua role can be described as a "director of wars".[6] These functions were carried out by the tulafale (talking chiefs) of the villages or districts designated with these respective roles.[3]
The Malaeloa Itū'au Olo Site (or defensive fortification), which was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015,[7] is supported by Samoan cultural histories and oral traditions relating to interregional conflicts and defenses against cannibalism during pre-contact periods. It was built to protect villagers from Tuife'ai, the legendary cannibal king of Tutuila, and his aumaga (army).[8]
| Population growth[9] | |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 550 |
| 2000 | 627 |
| 1990 | 523 |
| 1980 | 467 |
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Pago Pago (capital), Fagatogo (seat of government) | |||||
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