Aʻana

Map of Samoa showing A'ana district.

A'ana is a district of Samoa. It is on the western side of Upolu, with a small exclave (Satuimalufilufi village) surrounded by Aiga-i-le-Tai. It has an area of 193 km² and a population (2001 Census) of 20,167. The capital is Leulumoega.

Overview

The paramount title of A’ana is the TuiA’ana. This was the last Tui created by the authority of Leifi who rewarded the villages of faleseela and falelatai for their bravery in defeating Tuamasaga around AD 500. The title had been lost and restarted many times and now conferred by the Faleono (House of six) orator-chiefs based at Leulumoega. It therefore makes Leulumoega the capital of the district. As part of the election process, Leulumoega must consult with the villages of Fasito’otai and Fasito’outa. The FaleA’ana is the traditional parliament of A’ana, consisting of chiefly representatives from across the district. They meet at either Nofoalii or Leulumoega.

Historically, A'ana was one of the predominant powers in Samoa A'ana and Atua were never occupied by Tongans only areas of Tuamasaga. Tuamasaga eventually becoming heavily intermarried with Tongans after TuiTonga Talaaifeii was expelled by the heroic pair of warriors from Atua called Tapatoa and Tapuloa. Ulumasui a descendant of the Tuiatua Tualemoso clan finally took the name Malietoa which was called our by the Tuitoga to Tapatoa and Tapuloa. "Ioe Taputoa, Ioe Tapuloa ua Malietoa ua Malietau...." The rest is history . One seat of rule for the Noble Salamasin.

At a national level, the district is home to one of the four Tama-a-Aiga titles in the Tuimalealiifano title based at Falelatai. In recent times, it has become common for both titles to be held by the same person.