'O si Manu a Ali'i is the first comprehensive guide for teachers of Samoan oratory and the Samoan language of respect. It is also an authoritative resource book for students of the language. The author's insightful descriptions of Samoan culture provide the necessary social contexts for learning these important speech registers. Text in Samoan

"Since independence in January 1962, several constitutional court cases have exposed the dilemma which the Western Samoa Government is facing balancing fa'a Samoa (Samoan customs and traditions) with Western legal systems of authority. This book traces the clash between Samoan and Western notions of government and law from the 1830s to the 1980s emphasizing the hitherto neglected interpretation of events from a Samoan perspective. As a critical reinterpretation of the literature on Western Samoa, drawing on oral sources and material from the archives of the Land and Titles Court of Western Samoa, the book provides important new insights into pre-colonial regimes, racial issues and the contemporary political problems of the independent state of Western Samoa."--Back cover.

Augustin Kramer's account of his sojourn in the Samoa Islands from 1897 to 1899. Of particular importance to Samoans are the original documents containing ceremonial greetings and genealogical pedigrees. All Samoan language texts have been retained in this edition.

Stories in Samoan and English providing an insight to the Samoan way of life in pre-papalagi times, and a valuable record of a culture rich in history and spirituality.

Focusses on the newer forces on the political scene within the Pacific Islands, examining the evolving impact of women in politics and relations with the wider world.