Palauli

District in Samoa

Palauli
District
Taga blowholes on the coast.
Map of Samoa showing Palauli district
Country	Samoa
Population (2016)
• Total	9,300
Time zone	-11

Palauli is a district and village of Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 9,300. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i. The capital is Vailoa which is also referred to as Vailoa i Palauli (Vailoa in Palauli district).

Geological formations of lava tubes have created the Taga Blowholes on the coast of Taga village and attracts visitors and tourists.

In recent years, the inland village of Sili has refused to let the government of Samoa build a hydroelectric power plant on traditional land due to conservation and cultural concerns.^[1]

The paramount title of this district is Lilomaiava,^{[citation needed]} which is conferred in Vailoa. As part of the selection process for the title-holder, Vailoa must consult Safotu village in the Gagaifomauga political district. Safotu is the northern base of the Lilomaiava title in Savai'i.

Archaeology

Extensive pre-historic settlements have been surveyed and studied in the Palauli district where the Pulemelei Mound is situated.^[2]

Notable people

Jay Laga'aia, from Faala village is an actor, Laga'aia is known for his part on Australian children's TV show Playschool, and also for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He played the role of Draco in several episodes of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Marina Alofagia McCartney, is the granddaughter of Sevai Leleisi'uao from Vailoa, Palauli and Asiata Leaoa Lameko from Pitonu'u, Satupa'itea. Her Mother is Tavu'i Mapuni Leaoa from Pitonu'u, Satupa'itea and Stuart Stanley McCartney from Newcastle upon Tyne, England. She was Miss New Zealand 1997 and placed 15th in Miss Universe 1997. She is now an award-winning writer and director (Vai, Milk & Honey) and academic.
Uale Mai, from Vailoa village, is a rugby union player and former captain of the Samoa Sevens team and one of the great players in the international sport.^[3] He is the only Samoan to be awarded the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year which he received for the 2005–06 World Sevens Series.

Gallery

Satellite photo of Palauli and Satupa'itea districts, southside of Savai'i island. (NASA photo).
View from Pulemelei Mound
Volcanic coastline.
Mu Pagoa Falls by the sea.
Southern Tafua Peninsula

References

^ "Samoa's Sili hydro plan scuttled, 12 March 2004 UTC". Radio New Zealand International. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
^ [1] Samoan Village Patterns: Four Examples by Jesse D. Jennings, Richard Holmer and Gregory Jackmond, University of Utah, Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 91, No. 1, 1982. Retrieved 6 November 2009
^ "Mai returns as squads declared for NZI Sevens". International Rugby Board, News. 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.