Vaisala, Samoa

Vaisala
Village
Vaisala
Coordinates: 13°30′33″S 172°40′0″W / 13.50917°S 172.66667°W / -13.50917; -172.66667Coordinates: 13°30′33″S 172°40′0″W / 13.50917°S 172.66667°W / -13.50917; -172.66667
Country  Samoa
District Vaisigano
Population (2006)
 • Total 541
Time zone -11

Vaisala is a small village on the northwest coast of Savai'i island in Samoa. The village lies within the political district of Vaisigano.[1]

It is located close to the coast in the northwestern corner of the island. To the west are the neighbouring villages of Auala and Asau.[2]

A significant family from Vaisala is the Va'ai family. Va'ai Kolone, a matai, was a Member of Parliament of the Vaisala area who became a Prime Minister of Samoa twice in the 1980s. A progressive leader, he was also the founder the Human Rights Protection Party which has since been the dominant party in Samoan politics and currently in power. Va'ai Kolone's father, a government clerk in the German administration of Samoa during colonialism, foresaw the importance of education and sent his own sons to boarding schools in the capital Apia.[3]

The Vaisala Hotel situated at a white sandy beach is one of the largest hotels at the west end of Savai'i.[4]

In 2009, the village council of chiefs banished their Member of Parliament for the Vaisigano No. 1 district, Va’ai Solia Papu Va’ai, over a domestic dispute. He was allowed to return a few months later following a presentation of gifts and reconciliation with the chiefs.[5] In 2007, the same Member of Parliament had survived being shot by a gunman while attending a meeting in the village of Falealupo.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan, Vaisigano No.1 District" (PDF). Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment, Government of Samoa. October 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  2. ↑ Stanley, David (2004). Moon Handbooks South Pacific. David Stanely. p. 549. ISBN 1-56691-411-6.
  3. ↑ Davidson, Prof. J.W. (December 1957). Leadership in Western Samoa. Te Ao Hou quarterly. Maori Affairs Department, New Zealand Government. p. 17. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  4. ↑ "Standard Accommodation, Vaisala Hotel". Samoa Tourism Authority. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Banished Samoan MP returns home after village reconciliation". Radio New Zealand. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Samoa court gives jail term to gunman for trying to kill MP on Savaii". Radio New Zealand. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-11-20.


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