Eastern District, American Samoa: History
Historically, the cohesion of Sua ma Vaifanua, which later would become the Eastern District, was upheld by their unified high chief, Lei’ato, who lived in Fagaʻitua within Suʻa County. His residence, named Luafaga, was situated on the shared malae called Laloifileone.
In 1892, a civil war broke out in the Eastern District. Mauga Leilua (Talamaivao), who had lived on Upolu Island and supported Malietoa Laupepa, was previously exiled to the Marshall Islands by German authorities. After returning to Upolu in 1889, he soon came back to his native Tutuila, where the vacant Mauga title was conferred upon him by the matai of Pago Pago at Gagamoe. His dominant and authoritarian leadership style, however, created opposition, and villagers in Aua and Fagatogo sought to replace him with Manuma. This dispute escalated into the 1892 civil war known as the Taua o Sa ‘Ousoalii. To resolve the conflict, the United States and Germany dispatched warships to Pago Pago. A peace conference was arranged aboard one of the vessels, but neither Mauga would enter first. The standoff ended only when it was agreed that each would board from opposite sides of the ship. The conflict concluded when Mauga Leilua relinquished the title to Mauga Moi Moi and permanently returned to Upolu.
Already at the time of joining the union in 1900, Tutuila Island had well defined, traditional political divisions. The eastern part of Tutuila had five traditional “counties” grouped under the name “Sua ma Vaifanua.” American Samoa's first Governor, Commander B. F. Tilley, named this region the “Eastern District” and one of the area's chiefs was appointed as District Governor. Under the District Governor were five traditional counties within the district. Each of the counties contained several villages, and Governor B. F. Tilley selected a leading chief from each village and appointed him to be “Pulenuu” (mayor). All these appointments were based on recommendations Tilley had received in the specific counties and villages. The western part of the island had been known as Fofō and Aitulagi, but was renamed the “Western District” by Tilley.
In 1900, Mauga Moi Moi signed the Treaty of Cession of Tutuila, subsequently being appointed as the High Chief of Pago Pago. This position also designated him as the District Governor of the Eastern District. As the foremost chief in Pago Pago, Governor Benjamin Franklin Tilley extensively relied on Mauga Moi Moi’s leadership to secure Samoan support for the newly established U.S. administration. Mauga Moi Moi served as the District Governor of the Eastern District throughout the first thirty-five years of U.S. governance, from 1900 to 1935.
In 1920, Mauga Moi Moi initiated the Mau movement. Consequently, Governor Warren Terhune dismissed him from his position as District Governor of the Eastern District. In defiance of this removal, he continued to organize anti-U.S. Navy council meetings (fono) in Nuʻuuli, which subsequently became the new headquarters for the Mau movement. Following Governor Terhune’s suicide, several of his controversial laws were repealed, including the reinstatement of Mauga as District Governor.
When elder statesman Mauga Moi Moi died in 1935 at the age of 82, he left vacant not only his chiefly title but also the leadership of Maʻopūtasi County and the governorship of the Eastern District. …