Aua, American Samoa

On January 10, 1878, during the Tutuila War, Puletua rebels fled from Aua to Aunu’u Island after being pursued by government forces.^[10]

In July 1892, unrest in Maʻopūtasi County had significant consequences for Aua. Mauga Lei, who had aligned himself with Malietoa Laupepa during their shared exile in the Samoan Civil War, spent much of his time in Upolu after returning to Samoa. This absence left Aua and nearby areas without direct leadership. While Pago Pago remained loyal to Mauga Lei, Aua, along with Fagatogo, sought to replace him with a new titleholder. Villagers from Aua and Fagatogo joined forces and set out in boats toward Pago Pago to challenge Mauga Lei's position. However, as they neared Pago Pago, they were met with a heavy barrage of gunfire, forcing them to retreat. In retaliation, their opponents carried out incendiary raids on Aua, devastating the village with fire. The women and children of Aua fled to safety at the Roman Catholic Mission in Lepua, while the men escaped by sea to take refuge on Aunuʻu Island.^[11]

In 1893, acting consul William Blacklock traveled to Tutuila to explore the possibility of acquiring land. Both Blacklock and Harold M. Sewall were concerned about potential British efforts to purchase a plot in Aua. However, it appears the British were primarily seeking a location for a relay station to support their planned cable linking British Columbia and Australia. Ultimately, they shifted their focus to a more suitable site at Fanning Island.^[12]

During World War II, Aua became the site of several military installations. A central tank farm featured eleven large cylindrical tanks for diesel storage, complemented by scattered pump houses that maintained these tanks. On the western side of this farm, a construction battalion camp was established, consisting of around twelve buildings and a mess hall. Between Aua Village and Breakers Point, three separate U.S. Marine camps were set up. The first, the Samoa Marine camp, included sixteen structures along both sides of the road, such as living quarters, storage buildings, three mess halls, a sick bay, a guardhouse, and a refrigeration shed. The second, centrally located camp, comprised twenty-six buildings, including living quarters, mess halls, storage areas, a movie theater shed, and a post exchange. The southernmost camp housed twenty-one structures, which featured lookout, searchlight, and signal towers in addition to standard living quarters, storage facilities, and mess halls. Construction of the Aua fuel farm was completed on December 31, 1943. The U.S. Navy took over operations, using the farm for bulk fuel oil storage and distribution, as well as maintaining a construction battalion camp to support Naval Station Tutuila during the war. The entire project occupied approximately 44 acres in Aua Village, stretching from Highway 1 to the foothills of the axial mountain range. By May 1947, historical records indicate that the tanks were removed from the inventory of the U.S. Naval Station.^[13][14]

After the conclusion of World War II, the tank farm was dismantled and demolished, leading to the leakage of diesel fuel from several storage tanks. Over time, villagers constructed residences on the remnants of the tank farm. Residents later identified the presence of underground petroleum contamination at multiple locations throughout the village.^[15][16]

Aua, which is situated at the base of Rainmaker Mountain, serves as the starting point for a winding road featuring numerous switchbacks. This road ascends through Rainmaker Pass, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape, and connects to the north shore village of Vatia.^[18]

The Aua area contains five rivers or streams: Amano, Lalomauta, Suaia, Matagimalie, and Leasi Streams.^{[19]: 24:5–6} A 9-acre wetland area is situated near the center of the village. The smaller mangrove swamp stretches inland from the shoreline roadway to a site southwest of the LDS complex and the elementary school. The swamp is fed from the Lalolamauta Stream as well as runoff from Matagimalie and Suaia Streams.^{[19]: 24:12–13}

Toasa Rock outside Aua is about 20 yards in diameter and covers 2 feet.^[20]

On May 25, 1984, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Onesosopo reclamation site in order to initiate work on the first park in Tutuila's Eastern District. Onesosopo Park is located at Onesosopo, which is between Lauliʻifou (Tafananai) and Aua. It was completed and dedicated in 1990. The park houses swimming, picnic and restroom facilities.^[21] Fagaʻitua Vikings, the high school football team at Fagaʻitua High School, practices at the uneven turf at Onesosopo Park.^[22] It is a public park which is operated by American Samoa Department of Parks and Recreation.^[23] The high school's baseball team also trains here as well as Aua's rugby team, the Aua Black's and also Lauliʻi’s rugby team, Moli ole Ava.^[24]

The lack of skilled workers such as engineers, plumbers, electricians, and woodworkers have led to problems with improvement work at various Tutuila parks. Renovation and redevelopment work at Onesosopo Park, however, has received funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which had raised $201,000 for the park as of 2016.^[25] Onesosopo Park received new urinals and toilets during a 2018 renovation. The work was funded by a $75,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The park is utilized for camping, picnicking, reunions and other gatherings throughout the year.^[26]

In 2017, the summer baseball clinics, hosted by the American Samoa Softball Association (ASSA) in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), were held at Onesoso Park and in the Tafuna area.^[27] Eastern Star Youth Football League games have also been held at the park.^[28]