Manono Island

Manono lies in the strait between Upolu and Savai'i, home to under nine hundred people in four villages - Samoa's third island by both area and population, with electricity only since 1995 - and it has no roads, no vehicles and by village decision no dogs or horses, so the only way round is a footpath that circles the island in about ninety minutes past every house, church and plantation. A grave with ninety nine stones and a hilltop star mound sit inland. The pace of the place is the point.

The main sights

• The island footpath - the circuit round the shore taking around ninety minutes.
• The absence of vehicles - an island with no roads, cars or dogs.
• The grave of ninety nine stones - the burial with its counted markers.
• The star mound - the ancient platform on the hill inland.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and calmest for crossings. Sundays are strictly observed and the island is quiet. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Good to know

Sunday observance is strict and walking or swimming during services is not acceptable. Facilities are basic fales with shared washing. Boat crossings are informal and cancelled in rough water.

Nearby

Apolima is west in the same strait, and Upolu is east.

Key facts