National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Afao Beach (AS-12-053), Tutuila Island, American Samoa

Klenck, Joel; Enright, John

A National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Afao Beach, Western Tutuila Narrative Description summary paragraph: "The Afao Site is located along the coast at the village of Afao in Western Tutuila, the largest island in American Samoa. The site is associated with multiple features comprising a range of prehistoric grinding stones including a unique tripartite specimen. World War II features at Afao include two pillboxes and the remains of a broken granite shelf where servicemen carved inscriptions into the rocks. These inscriptions include Western and Samoan personal names, service designations, and possibly unit designations and the name of a construction company. The site borders Visigano Point, adjacent to the village of Asili, where United States Marine Corps units camped during World War II." Statement of Significance summary paragraph: "The Afao Beach Site is an excellent nominee for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places. The site qualifies due to three criteria of significance (A, C, and D). They are very few, if any complexes of this kind that still exist in the Pacific Theater of World War II and comprehensive range of prehistoric artifacts further increases the import of this locale." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, Executive Offices of the Governor, administered by the Pacific West Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior (grant number 60-09-21857).

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Afao Beach (AS-12-053), Tutuila Island, American Samoa

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