 |
Pola Island is a protected seabird nesting area and important cultural site. In the past, Samoans feasted on seabirds when untitled men
(taulele's) snared boobies (fua'o) for a community outdoor meal (umu). The entire village shared in their achievement. Young men would also
climb to the top of the Pola to demonstrate their bravery. Pola Island is the most active seabird nesting area on Tutuila. The 400 foot (120m)
cliffs make ideal nesting areas for noddies, frigatebirds, and brown boobies. The trees provide good nesting areas for red-footed boobies and
white-tailed tropicbirds, The Polauta ridge is an up-thrust dike (layer of molten rock), not a volcanic caldera rim. It is made from very
erosion-resistant rock.
|