Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following officials, volunteers, and organisations for their cooperative support of this project: David Herdrich, Julie Taomia, John Enright, Senator P.C. Lualemaga E. Faoa, Epi Suafoa, Phillip Johnson, Sandy Loiseau-Vonruff, and Jason Barrett, the Matais and people of Aasu, Vatia, Pago Pago, Tula, and Onenoa, the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, and the American Samoa National Park. Special thanks to David Herdrich for also providing research expertise concerning the Tongan wars. Wood identifications were graciously donated by Regis Miller of the Center for Wood Anatomy Research. This paper was greatly improved by comments from David Herdrich and Robyn Pearson. Major funding was provided by Texas A&M University, Office of the Vice President for Research, Texas A&M University Galveston Research and Graduate Studies Office, and the Department of General Academics.