Despite being heavily influenced by American culture, visitors to American Samoa can still experience much of the native culture and the beautiful South Pacific landscape.
Travelers to American Samoa will also delight in the territory's beautiful white sand beaches. One of the most spectacular stretches of sand is found on the south coast of Ofu. The shore is over miles long, and its waters are part of the national park where snorkelers and divers may see some of the 150 species of coral and 300 species of fish. Several operators offer a variety of tours around the islands. Some options include shoreline hiking with visits to blowholes and tide pools, reef walking, wildlife treks, and kayaking. Visitors to the islands may also enjoy a tour of native villages. Guests to these villages are treated to live Polynesian bands, craft demonstrations, and native food.
More independent-minded travelers may prefer to explore on their own. A good starting place is the Jean P. Haydon Museum of American Samoa. Housed in a former U.S. Navy Commissary building, the museum has cultural artifacts such as war clubs and kava bowls on display as well as several traditional thatched, open-sided buildings called fales. There are also natural history exhibits which showcase some of the native plants and animals. After the museum, visit the Fagatogo Market with its selections of locally-grown coconuts, breadfruit, and bananas. To get out into the territory's wilderness, take a hike to Mount Alava. Although the trail is sometimes overgrown, the views of Rainmaker Mountain and Pago Pago Harbor are magnificent.
As a training area for U.S. Marines during World War II, American Samoa still has a number of relics from that era. Some of the most prominent pieces are found at Blunt's Point near the mouth of Pago Pago Harbor where two huge six-inch guns have kept watch over the water since 1941. A more recent addition to the islands is the aerial tramway that takes visitors across the Pago Pago Harbor. Originally built in 1965, the cableway has been rebuilt several times. Excellent views of the island are available from its cable cars. To see the industrial side of the islands, it is often possible to arrange a tour of the Samoa Packing Plant, one of the two local tuna canneries which provide most of the territory's exports.
Getting around on the island of Tutuila is fairly easy. Renting a car is a good way to see the island as are the local buses. The Fagatogo-to-Tula bus makes the fourteen-mile trip from the Fafatogo Market to the beaches of Tula. A similar bus takes passengers to the Leone Village, a small town with a beautiful waterfall as well as a number of South Sea churches and historical remains. Two small airlines operate flights between the islands as well as to other South Pacific destinations.
