National Park of American Samoa

National Park of American Samoa is a U.S. national park that protects tropical rainforest, coral reef, and culturally important land across three Samoan islands. The park unit was established in 1988 to conserve the islands’ terrestrial and marine ecosystems and Samoan cultural sites.

The park’s main attractions are its reef-protected lagoons, fringing coral reefs and intact tropical forest. Snorkeling, village cultural visits and short coastal hikes are the most common activities; steep ridgelines on Ta
u support seabird colonies and offer airy viewpoints.

Congress established the park to protect both marine and terrestrial habitats important for endemic species and traditional Samoan subsistence. The lands and waters were long-used by Samoan communities before formal park designation.

Geographically the park covers parcels on the islands of Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega and Ta
u in the South Pacific. Tutuila and the territorial capital Pago Pago are the nearest major settlement and visitor gateway.

• Access: Most visitors arrive via Pago Pago on Tutuila by air; inter-island travel between units may require small boats or local flights.
• Top activity: The Ofu lagoon is the park's best-known snorkeling site, with coral reef habitat close to shore and shallow, clear water in summer months.

What to See #

• Tutuila unit: The largest unit located on Tutuila island that contains the park visitor center, coastal trails, and several shoreline villages; it is the primary arrival point for most visitors.
• Ofu-Olosega unit: A largely marine and reef-protected unit around the islands of Ofu and Olosega noted for a wide, shallow lagoon and established snorkeling sites.
• Ta
  u unit: A smaller land unit on Ta
  u island containing steep ridges, seabird colonies and cultural sites important to Samoan history and traditions.