page_title: Falefa
section_title: Politics & Governance
hierarchical_section_title: Falefa / Politics & Governance
caption_attribution_description: English: Matua of Falefa, Moeono Kolio and his wife, Aniva Auva'a
context_page_description: Falefā is located on the north eastern coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It was the ancient capital during the malo of Tupu Tafa'ifa Fonoti who, after having defeated his siblings Va'afusuaga and Samalaulu for control of Samoa, chose to rule from his new seat in Falefa, an honour remembered in its faalupega to this day.
  Falefa is headed by the two Matua - Moeono and 'Iuli - and Leutele, the ranking alii. It is situated in the Anoama'a i Sasa'e electoral constituency which itself is situated within the larger ancient political 'district' of Atua. Atua is headed by the 'Tui Atua', a title once held by the seer Tui Ātua Leutele in the 10th century, during Samoa's period of antiquity. Since the 17th century, this mantle has been occupied mainly by one of the two Tama-a-'āiga of Ātua, Tupua Tamasese and Matā'afa.
  Together with the village of Salani, Falefa is the home of one of Samoa's main political families, 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao. It is led by Moeono and Leutele of Falefa and Tofua'iofoia and Fuimaono of Salani, and is the custodian of the Tama-a-'Āiga Tupua Tamasese title.
context_section_description: Falefa means the 'House of Four', indicative of the four sub-villages which make up the main components of Falefa; Sagogu, Gagaemalae, Saleapaga, Sagapolu. Each of these sub villages comprise families, the heads of which, represent their extended families and their respective area at Falefa's Village Council, headed by the two senior tulafale-alii of the village (Matua), Moeono & Iuli.
  The establishment of Moeono and Leutele titles predate the Tongan period, as the primordial holders were the sons of Tui Atua Mua'iteleloa (one of the earliest holders of the Tui Atua pāpā title) and founders of Falefa somewhere between 300B.C - 200 A.D.
caption: Moeono Alai'asā Kolio OBE (Moeono from 1957-1987), one of the signatories of the Constitution, pictured here with his wife, Aniva Atoafuaiupolu -Auva'a of Tanugamanono & Ti'avea
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