natural wonder
Piula Cave Pool
A freshwater spring pool inside a lava cave directly beneath a Methodist theological college chapel on Upolu's north coast, with an underwater passage linking two chambers.
2 km · about 5 min drive
OceaniaSamoaAtua
Falefa
Atua, Samoa · Oceania
About Falefa
Falefa is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Solosolo, 2km from Piula Cave Pool.
Falefa is in Atua, Samoa, with about 1,300 people. The nearest town is Solosolo, about 6 km away.
Falefā is located on the north eastern coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It was the ancient capital during the Malo ('government') of Tupu Tafaʻifa (King) Fonoti after defeating his kin Vaʻafusuaga Toleafoa and Samalaulu for control of Samoa. King Fonoti chose to rule from his new seat in Falefa, an honour rememberedRead more
in its faalupega (Charter and Salutations) to this day.
Falefa is headed by the descendants of its two founders – Moeono Falealoga (tulafale-alii or 'matua) and Leutele Leutogatui (matua-alii), the sons of Tui Atua Lemuaʻiteleloloa and his wife, Leateafaiga.
It is situated in the Anoamaʻa 1 electoral constituency which itself is situated within the larger ancient political 'district' of Anoamaʻa, a province of Atua. Atua is headed by the Tui Atua (sovereign of Atua), a title once held by the seer Tui Ātua Leutele (called Tui Atua Leuteleleiʻite) in the 10th century, during Samoa's period of antiquity. Since the 17th century, this mantle has been occupied mainly by one of the two Tama-a-ʻaiga (maximal lineage chiefs) of Ātua's Salamasina line: Tupua Tamasese and Mataʻafa.
Together with the village of Salani, Falefa is home to one of Samoa's main political families, ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao (descendants of Fenunuivao, wife of King Muagututiʻa and mother of the first Tupua, Fuiavailili). The family is led by Moeʻono and Leutele of Falefa and Tofuaʻiofoʻia and Fuimaono of Salani, and is the custodian of the Tama-a-ʻĀiga Tupua Tamasese title. Both the Tama-a-ʻāiga Tupua Tamasese and pāpā Tui Atua royal titles are currently held by Samoa's former Prime Minister and Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Falefa?
Within an hour or so of Falefa: Piula Cave Pool (2 km), To Sua Ocean Trench (18 km), Papapapaitai Falls (21 km).
Where is Falefa?
Falefa is in Atua, Samoa, about 6 km from Solosolo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,346
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- Samoa
- Region
- Atua
- Timezone
- Pacific/Apia
- Coordinates
- -13.8870, -171.5881
Tags
Worth the detour from Falefa
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
To Sua Ocean Trench
Breathtaking 30-metre-deep natural swimming hole connected to the ocean via an underground lava tube on Samoa's Upolu island.
18 km · about 20 min drive
waterfall
Papapapaitai Falls
A 100-metre waterfall dropping into a jungle-filled volcanic crater, viewed from a signposted roadside lookout on the Cross Island Road that bisects Upolu. No walk required.
21 km · about 25 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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