Villages are laid out to prevent crowding and have a large open space for games and ceremonies. While most Samoans now live in conventional homes, it is still common to see a small fale, or traditional Samoan home, nearby. Each aiga will also have a meeting fale where the matai discusses matters of concern and importance. Economic activity is strongly linked to the United States, which is American Samoa's main trading partner. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector and employ a third of the people.
Government employs another third.
Samoa's remote location, limited transportation and hurricanes restrain attempts to develop a larger and broader-based export economy, particularly in the agricultural sector. However, the country does produce bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy products and livestock for local consumption and some export. Tourism is a developing sector, drawing visitors to American Samoa's pristine waters, beautiful beaches and reefs and friendly people. Twenty of the members are elected and one, from Swains Island, is an appointed, nonvoting delegate. American Samoa also elects one delegate to the United States House of Representatives.