Gaga'ifomauga, Administrative district in Savai'i, Samoa
Gaga'ifomauga is an administrative district in northern Savai'i comprising coastal villages like Aopo, Manase, Safune, Safotu, Samauga, and Sasina. The area stretches along the shoreline and is accessed through the main road that circles the island.
The district developed as part of Samoa's administrative structure and is closely connected to Olaf Frederick Nelson, who was born in Safune and became a key figure in the country's independence movement in the early 1900s. His influence shaped the region's importance in Samoa's development.
The village of Safune gained recognition when it served as the filming location for one of the earliest documentaries, Moana, directed by Robert Flaherty in 1926.
The region is well served by the ring road around Savai'i, and the village of Safotu has a district hospital for medical services. Visitors should plan ahead as services are limited and spread across scattered settlements.
The village of Safune served as the filming location for Moana, a documentary directed by Robert Flaherty in 1926. This film is considered one of the earliest ethnographic documentaries and brought the region international attention.
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