Ottoville, American Samoa


Ottoville is a subdivision or district within the village of Tafuna, American Samoa.
At Ottoville is the Cathedral of the Holy Family. It contains a picture of the Holy Family on a Samoan beach painted in 1991 by artist Duffy Sheridan. It also includes a 14 deep-relief Stations of the Cross and other woodcarvings made by artist Sven Ortquist, who also designed the cathedral's stained glass windows.
Near the Cathedral of the Holy Family and next to the Fatuoaiga Catholic Church is a historical and archeological park which houses a restored Tia Seu Lupe. The park and Tia Seu Lupe Historic Monument was dedicated by Governor Peter Tali Coleman in May 1990. The park sits next to a rainforest reserve. This reserve is home to the only low-land rainforest still found on Tutuila Island.
After the 2009 tsunami, a temporary visitor center for the National Park Service was located opened in Ottoville.

Geography

Ottoville Rainforest

As of 2002, nearly all forest on the Tafuna Plain have been destroyed, with the exception of the 20-acre tract at Ottoville, which is under threat. Ottoville Lowland Forest is a 20-acre forest reserve situated in central Tafuna Plain, bordered by the Fatuaiga Catholic Compound in the south, and the Ottoville Road and Kanana Fou Theological Seminary in the east. It borders the Kokoland area of Tafuna in the north. The rainforest is dominated by vegetation such as mamalava, tava, and maota trees. It is the only area remaining of native forest vegetation on the Tafuna Plain. Fourteen bird species have been recorded in the forest, including the common Red-vented Bulbul and the Jungle Myna, which are likely to breed in the forest. Common Myna is abundant in surrounding areas. It is home to the only roost of the White-necked Fruit Bat on the Tafuna Plain.

Tourism

Tradewinds Hotel has a day spa, resort pool, ATM, car rental and tour desk. Traditional dancing performances known as fiafia are held here on Friday nights. Equator Restaurant is located at the Tradewinds Hotel and is named for the ship which brought Robert Louis Stevenson to the South Pacific Ocean. The restaurant serves Southern-style shrimp sandwiches, Hawaiian saimin, hamburgers, chicken quesadillas, and more. An additional eatery in Ottoville is Jeffrey's Bar and Grill, which is located near Cost-U-Less and only a five-minute walk away from the Quality Inn Tradewinds Hotel. This restaurant specializes in steaks, but also serves all-day breakfasts, chicken, fish, salads, sandwiches, etc.

Points of interest