The Baháʼí House of Worship of Samoa is a Baháʼí House of Worship located in Tiapapata, inland from Apia, Samoa. The seventh Baháʼí House of Worship overall, it is the only Baháʼí temple in the Pacific islands, and thus is known by Baháʼís as the "mother temple of the Pacific Islands." Construction of the temple began in 1981 and finished in 1984.
History
Plans for the construction of a Baháʼí House of Worship in Samoa were announced in 1974, and a location was selected in 1975. Hossein Amanat was chosen as architect in April 1978 and his design was approved in September of that year. Malietoa Tanumafili II laid a cornerstone on January 27, 1979, with Rúhíyyih Khánum attending as a representative of the Universal House of Justice. Construction began in late 1980 or 1981 and finished in 1984. The construction cost $6.5 million total. The temple was officially opened in a September 1, 1984 ceremony also attended by Malietoa Tanumafili II and Rúhíyyih Khánum.
Building and grounds The temple was designed by Hossein Amanat. Its architecture was inspired by fale. The temple is 102 feet tall and can seat 700 (500 on the main floor and 200 on the mezzanine), and is surrounded by around 17 acres of gardens.
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