Tia Seu Lupe Star Mound
An ancient stone platform with radiating arms above Pago Pago, used for pigeon catching.
Updated 3 September 2026
Tia Seu Lupe is a stone mound with arms radiating from it, giving the star shape these structures are named for, built for a practice in which chiefs caught pigeons with hand nets from a platform, a contest of skill and status rather than a hunt for food. It is the best preserved of the several on Tutuila, standing in the grounds of a Catholic seminary above Pago Pago, and it was placed on the national register.
What you'll find
- The star shape - the arms radiating from the central mound.
- The pigeon-catching use - the chiefly contest the structure was built for.
- The preservation - the best preserved example of its kind on the island.
- The seminary grounds - the setting the mound now stands in.
When to go
May to September is the drier season. The grounds keep daytime hours. Half an hour covers the site.
Good to know
Vegetation obscures the shape unless it has been cleared recently. Interpretation is a single sign. Access is through seminary grounds and should be asked about.
Nearby
Pago Pago is below, and Rainmaker Mountain is east.
What to pack for Tia Seu Lupe Star Mound
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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