Fa'a Samoa, the Samoan Way

Samoa is proud to preserve one of the most intact traditional cultures in all of Polynesia, known as fa'a Samoa, the Samoan Way, a system of life centred on the extended family, or aiga, the village, and the authority of matai chiefs. Everyday life still revolves around communal open fales, respect for elders and custom, and the deeply woven role of the church. This living heritage is expressed in the joyous fiafia nights of song and dance, in fine mat weaving, and, strikingly, in the ancient and painful art of the pe'a, the intricate traditional male tattoo applied by hand.

What you actually see

• Village life - the communal fales and matai chiefly system.
• The fiafia - the nights of Samoan song and dance.
• The pe'a tattoo - the ancient hand-tapped traditional tattoo.
• The fine mats and craft - the weaving and traditional arts.

When to go

Year-round; village stays, cultural villages and resort fiafia nights offer insights into fa'a Samoa, and festivals and church celebrations showcase song, dance and custom. A respectful visitor observes local etiquette, especially the quiet, church-centred Sundays and the modest dress and customs expected in villages.

Honest expectations

Fa'a Samoa is a living culture to be respected rather than a performance, so cultural etiquette matters: modest dress, respect for Sunday observance and village custom, and asking permission where appropriate; resort fiafia shows, while fun, are a lighter taste than genuine village life. For the rare experience of one of Polynesia's most intact traditional cultures, though, from the fiafia to the extraordinary pe'a tattoo, encountering fa'a Samoa is deeply rewarding.

Nearby

Villages across Upolu and the wilder island of Savai'i are the places.