American Samoa Vital Records

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Six Polynesian Islands
American (Amerika) Samoa is a group of six Polynesian islands in the South Pacific. Fourteen degrees below the equator, it is the United States' southern-most territory. It is known as the heart of Polynesia. If you drew a triangle from Hawaii, New Zealand and Tahiti you would find Samoa in the middle. Western Samoa is a neighboring independent country that shares the same culture. American Samoa became an unorganized U.S. territory in 1900.

The Samoans arguably represent the largest population of Polynesian people and they take pride in a strong culture that has survived outside incursions amazingly well. For more information about Samoa see Samoa (Western and American).

Records
In the traditional setting, the custodians of knowledge were normally of tulafale or orator status. The Samoan term for someone who was selected to be a recipient of knowledge was often referred to as o e nainai, he or they who are specially selected for the transfer of knowledge.

The knowledge of tulafale is sacred as is the transfer of this knowledge to the nainai. Generally speaking, tulafalewere all schooled in genealogical history and in the meanings of mythology, rituals, chants, songs, dances and so on. Senior tulafale are known as tuua. When tuua transfer their knowledge to a nainai the transfer is considered to have depth. For more information see Samoan Vital Records.

American Samoa Government Governor's Office Registrar of Vital Records Office Pago Pago, AS 96799 (684) 633-1406

High Court of American Samoa''' Tutuila, AS 9679

Make money order payable to ASG Treasurer. Personal checks are not accepted. Verification of identity (i.e. driver's license or passport) is required before record will be sent. Orders can be made through Vitalchek.

For birth and death records dating from 1900, marriages and divorces contact Vital Records for American Samoa.

Websites

 * Vital Records for American Samoa