Falefā is located on the north eastern coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It was the ancient capital during the ('government') of (King) Fonoti after defeating his kin Vaafusuaga Toleafoa and Samalaulu for control of Samoa. King Fonoti chose to rule from his new seat in Falefa, an honour remembered 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 Lemuaiteleloloa and his wife, Leateafaiga.
It is situated in the Anoamaa 1 electoral constituency which itself is situated within the larger ancient political 'district' of Anoamaa, 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 Leuteleleiite) 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-aiga (maximal lineage chiefs) of Ātua's Salamasina line: Tupua Tamasese and Mataafa.
Together with the village of Salani, Falefa is home to one of Samoa's main political families, (descendants of Fenunuivao, wife of King Muagututia and mother of the first Tupua, Fuiavailili). The family is led by Moeono and Leutele of Falefa and Tofuaiofoia and Fuimaono of Salani, and is the custodian of the Tama-a-Āiga Tupua Tamasese title. Both the Tama-a-āiga 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.
History and culture
Establishment of Falefa Falefa is one of the oldest and largest settlements in Samoa, with its traditional borders stretching from Uafato to the East, Saoluafata to the west and Lotofaga on its southern border. Oral tradition and archaeological evidence from the nearby Sasoaa Lapita discovery site in the Falefa valley place the date of settlement in the area to 300B.C.
According to oral tradition, Falefa was founded by the two sons of Tui Atua Lemuaiteleloa and Leateafaiga (daughter of Lufasiaitu of Uafato, Fagaloa) - Moeono Faleologa & his brother Leutele Leutogitui. Since then, Falefa has been headed by the descendants of these two brothers through the Moeono (tulafale-alii or 'matua') and Leutele (alii) titles.
Leaving their birthplace at Uafato, Fagaloa, they established their first settlement at the top of mountains overlooking Fagaloa Bay and the Falefa valley, called Manuao. The settlement was later moved down to the coast to its present site at the northern edge of the Falefa valley.
The size of Falefa was such that a centralised location was needed to centralize governance. – the administrative centre of Falefa – was created and in which both Leutele and Moeono reside. It is from this site that their successors continue to govern Falefa down to the present day. Other sub-villages (4) followed; Saleapaga followed by Sagapolu, Gagaemalae & Sanonu. Moeono and Leutele bestowed titles on prominent individuals, creating leading (sacred chief) titles Alaiasā, Lealaisalanoa and others who in turn, established 'vassal' houses of their own (called ) to advise on governance matters, to serve in war and to assist with the upkeep of the great houses in times of peace. These leading chiefs and their vassals continue to assist Moeono and Leutele with the administration of the growing district as part of Falefa's council of chiefs.
The brothers and their respective heirs traveled extensively throughout their domain – from Lemafatele (known as Le Mafa Pass today) to Sasoaa (where Lapita pottery remains have been found), to Sauano and Saletele in the Fagaloa bay and the mountains overlooking the valley below where the village of Falefa stands today.
Continued Growth and Establishment of new villages In later times, portions of Falefa's lands were gifted by Tui Atua Polailevao to form the village of Lufilufi. According to oral tradition, the name was given when a large fish was caught by a young fisherman and under instructions from Tui Atua, was divided up among the high chiefs of Atua. Lufilufi would go on to become the capital of Atua and maintain close kinship links with Falefa.
Other villages were founded and remain under the leadership of Falefa and are known collectively as the Falefitu: Sauano and Saletele in the Fagaloa Bay, Falevao and Lalomauga.
Moeono and Leutele's sister, Sina, lived on the other side of the village near Lufilufi, in the area known as Falefa. This land had been gifted to her.
Fale and his brother Puna traveled from Manono to visit their kin, King Fonoti, seeking food for their blind and gravely ill father. Upon their return to Manono after meeting King Fonoti, they were met with devastating news: their father had already distributed all his matupalapala (land and titles) and mavaega (inheritance) to others. Heartbroken and disappointed, they stopped at Sina's house for food and water. While conversing with her, Sina encouraged them to stay with her, promising to inform their brothers, Moeono and Leutele, of their grief and hardship. Over the years, the two brothers served Sina with loyalty and kindness. Eventually, one brother moved to Savaii and settled there with his family.
Sina later married and gave birth to her first son, whom she named Tialavea. She established her village and named it Fale ma Puna, later shortened to Faleapuna, in honor of the two brothers from Manono who had served her with dedication. Puna was bestowed the title Molioo, with responsibilities that included delivering messages () or conveying Sina's wishes to her brothers or elsewhere as needed.
These villages maintain historical ties to Falefa, reflecting centuries of intricate political alliances, inter-marriages and shared heritage.
Salamasina kidnapping plot Many years earlier, Tui Atua Togiai, the victor of the war of succession, established his residence at Foganiutea in Fagaloa. His grandson, Matautia, lived in Saleaumua in the Aleipata district, where he married Sooae. Before they could have a child, Matautia was assassinated by Leifi and Tautolo. Fearing for her life and that of her unborn child, Sooae fled Atua, leaving her family name, Levalasi, to the Atua branch of her clan. This act marked the founding of one of Samoa's most significant families: the .
Years later, messengers from Lufilufi invited Queen Salamasina and Levalasi (Sooae) to visit their town and district. As one of Salamasina's titles was Tui Atua, she could not decline the invitation, especially as Lufilufi, the capital of Atua, was a strong supporter of her rule. Levalasi welcomed the opportunity to visit, not only to reconnect with her many relatives but also to investigate the murder of her husband.
The following morning, Salamasina and Levalasi departed in a large double canoe () and arrived in Saluafata harbor by the afternoon. That evening, the conversation turned to the political situation in Atua. Sooae learned that several Tongan war canoes were docked in Fagaloa. This news piqued her interest, and she resolved to investigate further.
While Salamasina explored the village, Sooae stayed behind to gather information about the Tongans in Lona, Fagaloa. She discovered that Leifi and Tautolo were closely allied with the Tongans, raising her suspicions of impending trouble. Ulualofaiga, the brother of Tui Tonga Faaulufanua and married to a Samoan woman from the Leota family, had lived in Lona for years. When he heard that his niece, Queen Salamasina, was in Lufilufi, he sent orators to invite her to his village. Salamasina accepted and promised to visit the next day.
As they set sail, treacherous seas forced the group to anchor at Musumusu, where they stayed at Foganiutea. During the reception, Sooae informed Salamasina of the Tongans' secretive arrival and urged caution in dealing with them. That evening, two Tongan emissaries visited the Queen, prostrating themselves before her and kissing her feet. They invited her to visit their chief, Ulualo, in Lona, claiming he had urgent news from Tonga.
Salamasina agreed to respond later. Upon further inquiry, she learned that six large Tongan war canoes had been anchored in Lona for weeks, causing dissatisfaction among the villagers due to the strain on resources. Sensing deception, Levalasi devised a plan. She instructed messengers to summon warriors from Lufilufi, Faleapuna, and Falefa to lie in wait behind the bay's western cape. Others were sent to Lepa, Lotofaga, and Salani to approach Lona from the mountains and surround the Tongans at the sound of a conch shell.
The next day, Salamasina and her party traveled to Lona by boat. Upon arrival, they noticed a growing number of Tongans encircling the guesthouse. Inside, Ulualo greeted the Queen and explained that her mother, Vaetoe, was gravely ill and wished to see her. He offered to take her to Tonga aboard the Tongan canoes. Salamasina chastised him for his delay in delivering the news and demanded to see the messenger, but Ulualo claimed the man was hiding in fear.
Meanwhile, Sooae observed the increasing number of Tongans and recognized her enemies, Leifi and Tautolo, among them. Sensing danger, she ordered her attendant to blow the conch shell, signaling the hidden Samoan fleets. The sudden arrival of Samoan war canoes and warriors from the mountains surrounded the Tongan forces, thwarting their plot to abduct the Queen.
Realizing their defeat, Ulualo and his Tongans prostrated themselves before Salamasina. She demanded the immediate departure of all Tongan warriors, warning Ulualo to remain as her hostage. As the Tongans retreated, Leifi and Tautolo fled, their treachery exposed. Leutele, the leader of the Falefa fleet, offered to execute Ulualo, but Salamasina spared his life, cautioning him against future betrayals.
Grateful for her clemency, Ulualo confessed the plot orchestrated by Leifi and Tautolo to abduct Salamasina and install their own candidate as Tui Atua. To atone, Ulualo presented the Queen with a hundred fine mats, including the renowned Lagavaa. He pledged his loyalty to her and vowed to serve her faithfully, ensuring peace and security in Atua.
War and the establishment of Falefa as the seat of King Fonoti One of the early powerful figures of Samoa was Faumuina le Tupufia of Savaii. A direct descendant of Queen Salamasina's daughter, Fofoaivaoese, he was called "le tupufia" due to having in effect, all the powers of King, although never fully attaining it in title, as Atua had refused to bestow the Tui Atua title when his cousin, Tupuivao, was passed over as Queen Taufau's successor, an act which angered the Atua polities. Despite this, his royal pedigree was undeniable, a fact that would set the stage for one of the great sagas in Samoan history.
Faumuina had three children, two sons and one daughter. The sons were named Fonoti and Vaafusuaga and the daughter was named Samalaulu. They are commonly known in the traditions of Samoa as "The Three of Faumuina." Each child was by a different mother so that after the death of their father they individually contended for the Kingship.
Having waged war successfully for the crown against his kin, Fonoti was proclaimed King in c.1640. He conferred many honours upon those chiefs and Districts that had fought for him and such honours and privileges are remembered and passed down by Samoa's Tulafale (Orator chiefs) in customary salutations down to the present day.