American Samoa National Park

Location: American Samoa
Established: 1993
Size: 10,520 acres (7,970 land, 2,550 marine)

For some 3,000 years, the people of Polynesia's oldest culture have been keenly attuned to their island environment, holding it to be precious and managing it communally. The name they gave their land reflects their attitude: Samoa means "sacred earth."

Located roughly 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii, American Samoa, a United States territory, comprises five volcanic islands and two coral atolls. In 1988 Congress authorized the land for a national park. In 1993 Samoan chiefs agreed to sign a 50-year lease that enables the National Park Service to manage an area of rain forest, beach, and coral reef on three islands. Samoans help manage the park, and their villages offer a few guest facilities (ask the park about its unique homestay program).

The park protects hundreds of plant species in five distinct rain forest communities: lowland, montane, coast, ridge, and cloud. It is the only such rain forest on American soil. Among the fauna visitors can see are tropical birds and the endangered flying fox—a fruit bat with the wingspan of a barn owl.

On Tutuila, American Samoa's largest island, lofty volcanic ridges overlook the deep blue waters of Pago Pago Harbor. Except for a few villages, and the scenic drive that skirts the harbor and the dramatic southern coastline, there is little level land. Atop this crumbled terrain and plunging steeply toward the sea on the island's northern side lies the park area—about 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of land and some 1,200 acres (486 hectares) of ocean.

Parkland on Ta'u, the easternmost island, encompasses about 5,400 acres (2,185 hectares)—including Lata Mountain, American Samoa's highest peak—and 1,000 acres (405 hectares) offshore. Unforgettable is the panoramic view from the cloud forest toward the rugged cliffs of the southern coast. Small, remote Ofu Island includes what many call American Samoa's loveliest beach. Its main attraction is the 350-acre (142-hectare) coral reef.