Mau Movement - An American Samoa Mau

An American Samoa Mau

There was also an American Samoa Mau that took place in Tutuila in American Samoa in the 1920s. This movement received a lot of press in the United States, both favourable and unfavourable. The leader of the movement, Samuelu Ripley of Leone, Tutuila, was in effect exiled from American Samoa, when he was barred by the US Navy authorities from disembarking from a ship returning to Pagopago from California, and he was never allowed to return to his homeland. He eventually became the mayor of Richmond, California. The United States sent a committee to American Samoa in 1930, including US citizens from Hawai'i who had a prominent role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom and Queen Lili'uokalani. Their report, favourable to the US position, had a considerable influence on US policy, and the American Samoa Mau was totally suppressed by the US. Its influence however continued to be felt. Today American Samoa is on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.