Western District, American Samoa: History
The island of Tutuila was historically divided into nine traditional "counties" known as faalupega. The western counties were collectively referred to as Fofō and Aitulagi (also called Falelima Sisifo). In the early 20th century, American Samoa's first Governor, Commander Benjamin Franklin Tilley, restructured these divisions for administrative purposes. He designated the western region as the "Western District" and appointed one of the area's chiefs to serve as District Governor. Each county encompassed multiple villages. To enhance local governance, Governor Tilley selected prominent chiefs from these villages, appointing them as Pulenuu (mayors). These appointments were based on recommendations provided by local leaders within the respective counties and villages. Similarly, the eastern part of the island, traditionally known as Falelima Sasa'e, was renamed the "Eastern District" under Tilley’s administration.
In 1900, the first clear clash between Samoan customs and U.S. law took place. A resident of Tualauta County named Fagaima caught a skipjack — traditionally reserved only for high chiefs — and prepared it for his meal. Outraged, High Chief Letuli of Tualauta County ordered the destruction of Fagaima’s house and crops, as well as his banishment. Seeking refuge, Fagaima turned to High Chief Tuitele of Leone, who also served as the District Governor of the Western District. When Letuli ignored Tuitele’s summons, Tuitele reported the incident to Governor Benjamin Franklin Tilley. As a result, Letuli was arrested, convicted of violating U.S. law, and required to compensate Fagaima for the losses. He was also confined to Pago Pago for a year and stripped of his high-chief duties during that time.
In 1902, opposition to the copra tax arose among Tutuilans, especially within the Western District and notably in Tuālāuta County, which would later become a significant place for the Mau movement. In response to this resistance, Governor Uriel Sebree detained three local chiefs to discourage their supporters and dismissed a Samoan judge who had submitted a protest petition to the U.S. Navy. Governor Sebree described Samoans as “grown-up children who love form and ceremony.” In 1904, during formal assemblies, chiefs from both the Western and Eastern Districts appealed for a reduction in the copra tax and raised concerns about the government's expenditure of the collected funds. Demonstrating their unity, they engaged in a malaga — a government-prohibited inter-village visit — traveling from Pago Pago to Leone to express their collective stance.
In 1904, the first public school in American Sāmoa was opened in the naval station area. Unable to obtain government funds, the Western District raised US$5,000 to establish its own school. By 1909, three schools were operating in the territory.
During the 1920s, the Western District served as a key hub of the Mau movement, with the villages of Faleniu and Leone functioning as Mau centers. In 1920, Governor Warren Terhune dismissed High Chief Sātele Itulā from the governorship of the Western District for his role in helping Mauga Moi Moi organize the movement. In defiance of this removal, Sātele Itulā continued to organize anti-U.S. Navy council meetings. Sam Ripley of Leone became a leader of the Mau movement upon his return to American Samoa in July 1920. This involvement led to his exile by the U.S. …