Fa'asamoa

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The "faasamoa" or "fa'asamoa" is also known as the Samoan way of life and consists of the Samoan language and customs of relationships and culture that is a traditional and continuing Polynesian lifestyle of the Pacific Islands and diaspora. It is completely understood by all Samoans, and provides support and direction.

The fa'asamoa is practiced in all 9 islands of Samoa, (including American Samoa and Western Samoa, and other small islands like Manua and Aunuu. When missionaries arrived from Europe in 1830, they found out that a lot of the Samoan cultural beliefs are similar to Christianity^{[citation needed]}, which contributed to the spread of Christianity in 19th century Samoa. Examples include respect and honoring elders -- even powerless elders. In the "fa'samoa", the young respect whoever is older than them, especially their parents. The Samoan way of life was hard before the European arrived. Tauanu'u, an old chief tells his story about the Samoan life before the Europeans. He was one of the witnesses of the arrival of the "palagi's" or Caucasian. "I remember when I was a little boy-" said Tauanu'u. "I heard everyone talking about it" "E! O mai e va'ai kagaka ese ia o mai! E papa'e ia o lakou kigo! Which translated "Hey! Come look at these strange people approaching! Look at them! They are so white!" As he continued, "I saw my aunt trying to figure out what to do. By then, everyone in the village was awake at about 5 o'clock in the morning to come and see the white folks. I was one of them." "All of a sudden, my cousin Giu told everyone that there are going to create an "siva samoa" or the samoan Dance" "Lue mai!, the dance started and every Samoan village member of what is now called 'leone'." So they danced and that's all I remembered" said Tauanu'u Leotasili.