Samoan Cultural Banner

Samoan People

The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group native to the Samoa Islands (Independent State of Samoa and American Samoa) in the South Pacific.
They are known for the fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way)—a traditional social system based on extended family, hierarchy, and communal living. Samoan culture features rich oral mythology, elaborate tattoo traditions, communal gatherings, and strong connections to land and ancestry.
There are over 250,000 Samoans living in the islands and over 600,000 worldwide, including significant diaspora communities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Mapuche Flag and Symbols

Samoan Flag

Malietoa Royal Crest

Traditional Tattoos (Pe'a and Malu)
・Male: Pe'a
・Female: Malu The Samoan Fale (traditional house)

Language

Name:Samoan (Gagana Samoa)
Language Family:Austronesian > Polynesian
Speakers:Over 500,000 (Samoa, American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, USA, etc.)
Grammar:Tends toward VSO (Verb–Subject–Object) word order, uses prefixes and particles for grammatical structure.
Usage:Official language in Samoa and American Samoa; widely spoken in diaspora communities.

Script

Writing System

Script:Latin alphabet
・The Samoan orthography was formalized by missionaries in the 19th century.
・Consists of 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 14 consonants.

Samoan alphabet

omniglot.com

Common Samonan Greetings and Phrases

English Samonan Pronunciation
Hello Talofa tah-LOH-fah
Good morning Manuia le taeao mah-NOO-ee-ah leh tah-EH-ah-oh
Thank you Fa'afetai fah-ah-feh-TIE
Nice to meet you Manuia le aso mah-NOO-ee-ah leh AH-soh
Good night Manuia le po mah-NOO-ee-ah leh poh
Delicious Manaia mah-NAH-yah
Fun/Enjoyable Fiafia fee-ah-FEE-ah

Note

“Manuia” means “good/lucky” and is used in various greetings and wishes.

Location (Continent/Region)

Continent: Oceania
Region: Polynesia
Samoa (Independent State), American Samoa, with large communities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Access Guide

Samoan people

The currency of the Samoan people is the Samoan Tala (WST).

The currency shown here is the official currency (Tala) of Samoa, where the Samoan people mainly live. Different currencies may be used in other countries.


Access to Samoa (Apia, Faleolo International Airport APW)

Departure City Direct/Transit Arrival Airport Flight Time (approx.) Reference Fare (one-way/round-trip, Economy)
Los Angeles Honolulu / Auckland Apia (APW) 13–20 hrs $600–$1,200 / $1,100–$1,900
New York LA / Honolulu / Auckland Apia (APW) 18–25 hrs $700–$1,400 / $1,300–$2,400
London Dubai/HK/Singapore/Auckland/Sydney Apia (APW) 24–30 hrs £650–£1,250 / £1,150–£2,100
Tokyo Auckland / Sydney Apia (APW) 14–20 hrs ¥100,000–¥180,000 / ¥180,000–¥300,000
Sydney (Direct) Apia (APW) 5–6 hrs A$400–A$800 / A$900–A$1,500
Hong Kong Auckland / Sydney Apia (APW) 15–20 hrs HK$5,500–HK$10,000 / HK$9,000–HK$16,000
Shanghai Auckland Apia (APW) 15–20 hrs RMB5,500–9,500 / RMB9,500–16,000
Singapore Auckland / Sydney Apia (APW) 14–20 hrs S$800–S$1,500 / S$1,300–S$2,200

Note
Sample fares are as of July 2024 and may vary by season, airline, or special deals.
Travel to American Samoa (Pago Pago) usually requires transit via Honolulu.

Language Origin

Language Origin & Historical Background

・Samoan is a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan, Hawaiian, and Māori.
・The Samoa Islands have been inhabited for over 3,000 years, with language and culture developing in relative isolation.
・English influence increased in the 19th century, but Samoan remains a vibrant, living language today.

Traditional Games

For Children

Lau Mu'a

Games with coconut leaves or stones, involving skill and competition.

Rhythm and Singing Games

Handclapping and traditional songs (such as “songa”).

For Adults

Siva Tau

Warrior dance, also performed by the national rugby team.

Traditional Wrestling and Sumo (Fusuaga)

Ava (Kava) Ceremony

Ritual drink and social bonding.

Siva Dance

Elegant group dance performed by both men and women.

Introduction video

Summary

・The Mapuche are a proud Indigenous people of South America, deeply connected to their land and traditions.
・Main symbols include the “Wüñellfe” and “Kultrún.”
・The language Mapudungun is agglutinative and a language isolate.
・The traditional game Palín is a symbol of cultural pride.