American Samoa "The Cradle of Polynesia" consists of 6 volcanic islands. The main island Tutila is where LBJ Hospital is located. The 3 outer islands are the Manu'a chain consisting of Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u. Swains Island is located 200 miles Northwest of the island chain. The smallest of the island chain is Rose Atoll. Rose Atoll is a U.S. Federal Wildlife Reserve, 20 miles east of Manu'a. The majority of the population resides on Tutuila island.

The Samoan Islands are located in the center of the South Pacific Ocean, North of New Zealand, near Fiji and Tonga. The total land area of 76.1 square miles, slightly larger than Washington D.C.

American Samoa has a tropical marine climate moderated during the winter months of May through October by southeast trade winds. Temperatures ware warm to hot year round (low 70's to high 90's); average temperature is 82 degrees F with high humidity. Rain showers are frequent.

The summer rainy season lasts from November to April and accounts for approximately 70 percent of the 200 inches of annual rainfall. Hurricane season is from December through March, especially when the El Nino effect is evident. Hurricanes are infrequent.

American Samoa is the only United States territory south of the equator. It is also 80 miles east of the International Date Line. American Samoa is where the US day ends and are the last ones to say good night.

The Samoan alphabet consists of 14 letters, 3 additional letters (h,k,r) have been adopted to accommodate foreign words. All consonants are separated by a vowel and all vowels are pronounced. Spelling is phonetic, with words written in the way the sound. An apostrophe indicates a glottal stop. Samoan is believed to be the oldest Polynesian language still in use.

In the extended family or kinship (aiga), a matai (chief) holds authority. Members of the group select the matai. The traditional qualifications include oratory skills and wisdom. This hierarchical order forms the basis of the Samoan political system, family life, economic livelihood, and social life.