National Park of American Samoa Visitor Center — Attraction in Maʻopūtasi County

The National Park of American Samoa is a national park in the United States territory of American Samoa, distributed across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta‘ū. The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, and the Samoan culture. Popular activities include hiking and snorkeling. Of the park's 8,257 acres (3,341 ha), 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) is coral reefs and ocean. The park is the only American National Park Service system unit south of the equator History Delegate Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia introduced a bill in 1984, at the request from Bat Preservers Association and Dr. Paul Cox, to include American Samoa to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. The purpose of the bill was to protect the habitat for the Flying fox as well as to protect the old rainforest. The bill marked the beginning of American Samoa's entry into the U.S. National Park System. The National Park Service began the work of establishing the national park in July 1987.[7]

The National Park of American Samoa was established on October 31, 1988 by Public Law 100-571[8] but the NPS could not buy the land because of traditional communal land system. This was resolved on September 9, 1993, when the National Park Service entered into a 50-year lease for the park land from the Samoan village councils. In 2002, Congress approved a thirty percent expansion on Olosega and Ofu islands.[9]

In September 2009 an earthquake and tsunami produced several large waves, resulting in 34 confirmed deaths, more than a hundred injuries and the destruction of about 200 homes and businesses. The park encountered major damage. The visitor center and main office were destroyed but there was only one reported injury among the NPS staff and volunteers.[10] Tutuila

Remains of a World War II encampment and the historic tramway on the World War II Heritage Trail The Tutuila unit of the park is on the north end of the island near Pago Pago. It is separated by Mount Alava (1,610 feet (490 m)) and the Maugaloa Ridge[11] and includes the Amalau Valley, Craggy Point, Tāfeu Cove, and the islands of Pola and Manofā.

It is the only part of the park accessible by car and attracts the vast majority of visitors to the area. The park lands include a trail to the top of Mount Alava and historic World War II gun emplacement sites at Breakers Point and Blunt's Point.[12] The trail runs along the ridge in dense forest, north of which the land slopes steeply away to...

We are following our dream to visit ALL of the National Parks. American Samoa is the farthest we have traveled so far. We will hike the trails tomorrow. We were told to hike in the morning before the heat so we will take the local reccomendation to heart. The visitor Center has great displays of the Samoan Island History......

The staff were friendly. They had models and videos to explain the importance of our environment. They also come out to the classrooms to inform them about keeping our environment clean to protect our island, animals, plants and us. I believe they also can take you on field trips to their...