Aunuʻu


Aunuu is a small volcanic island off the southeastern shore of Tutuila in American Samoa. It has a land area of and a 2010 census population of 436 persons. Politically it is a part of the Eastern District, one of the primary divisions of American Samoa. The island is located in Saole County.
Faimulivai Marsh is a freshwater marsh in Aunuu Crater and the largest such wetland in American Samoa. It was formed from the drainage of the low-lying crater. It is part of a protected National Natural Landmark on Aunuu which was designated in 1972. The Pacific black duck was seen in the marsh in 1976, but it may now be extinct in the region; another significant local bird is the purple swamphen. This marsh is the only place in American Samoa that has Chinese water chestnut.
The main sources of economic activity for the Aunuu people since the 1960s have been taro and production of faausi.

Geography

Aunuu, which is a small island at the southeast tip of Tutuila, has three villages: Saluavatia]the second Vatia former resident of Paramount Chief Gaoteote], Leaouliuli, and Alofasau. However, politically the tulafale divides it into two sections, Saleaaumua and Saole. To Saole belongs all of Saluavatia and half of Leaouliuli whose other half together with Alofsau make up
Aunuu is a car-free island. Motorboats shuttle constantly over to the small boat harbor at Auasi. The island has a lake, Red Lake, which is nestled in the sprawling crater. The island is densely forested and cliffs along the south coast along with the thick bushes make hiking the island difficult. The island has a stretch of red quicksand at Pala Lake, fairly close to the village. There are also taro swamps behind the village. Maamaa Cove is a cove on the east side of Aunuu.

Geology

The island is less than 1 sq. mi. in area and around half the island is a cultivated plain on which the village of Aunuu is located. The island is home to several beaches composed of coral rubble and sand and sea cliffs. The eastern half of Aunuu is rimmed by a geologically recent volcanic cone. The highest point on the crater rim is 310 feet above sea level. Within the crater is the Faimulivai Marsh which includes a freshwater pond. The crater is one of few places in American Samoa where one can observe the more recent episodes of volcanism. The eruptions at Aunuu occurred at approximately the same time as the volcanism at Leala Shoreline in Taputimu, while eruptions that formed Rainmaker Mountain, Matafao Peak, and the ridges of Vaiava Strait are much older. Aunuu Island has the only quicksand area in American Samoa, and also the territory's only lake. Just north of the village is Pala Lake, while Maamaa Cove is on the far eastern edge of the crater.

Demographics

Wildlife

Aunuu has a population of around fifty gray ducks, locally known as toloa. Pairs of these birds have also been sited in Futiga, Nuuuli, Alao, and Leone, however, these may be from the population on Aunuu.