The Palauli Heritage Trails in Savai’i has been experiencing a steady increase in the number of visitors lately that its owners are considering extending the tour in the future.

Dionne Fonoti, who is part of the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) research team currently working at the site, told the Samoa Observer in a telephone interview on Saturday that they have had a few groups visiting the site since its reopening.

She said due to the state of emergency (S.O.E.) restrictions currently in place, the tours are held on the last Saturday of each month based on public request to visit.

The trail is run by the Palauli Heritage Trust and since its reopening has hosted visits by different groups including 20 from the N.U.S.

Mrs. Fonoti revealed that they are planning to expand the trail in the near future to add to the existing tour.

However, there are limits on the number of people they can take on the tour due to transport limitations and the land where the trail is located being customary land. 

The highest number they can take is 10 people, as they do not want to make noise near plantations which are family owned.

The site is becoming popular according to Mrs. Fonoti and more people are contacting them for information. 

And with the availability of the ferry service on Sundays from Savai’i to Upolu, Mrs. Fonoti says this will make it easier for people to stay on in Savai’i on Saturday.

In terms of income that is generated, all money earned from the trails goes back to its further development.

The trails are run by the Palauli Heritage Trust with the N.U.S. Center for Samoan Studies offering their support in terms of logistics, communications and marketing.

While the tours are only done on the last Saturday of each month, Mrs Fonoti indicated that that could change as the S.O.E. orders are relaxed. 

Mrs Fonoti welcomed the idea of international tourists being able to join the tour and added that it would be the locals would be able to benefit, as the heritage site is a representation of Samoan heritage which is connected to wider Pacific history.

Acknowledging the efforts of the Government to promote domestic tourism, the N.U.S. staff said all credit goes to the Palauli Heritage Trust and the people of Vaitoomuli, such as the village mayor who continues to do an amazing job driving the initiative from their homes.

The Palauli Heritage Trails is home to Samoa’s “star mounds”, which according to the NUS Centre for Samoan Studies is the largest and oldest pre-colonial man-made structure in Samoa and Polynesia. 

It is a rectangular mound constructed of locally sourced basalt stone and volcanic rock. It is located in the village of Vailoa in the district of Palauli on Savai’i’s south coast.  Since 1872, the site of the Pulemelei has been part of the Nelson family-owned Letolo Plantation. Pulemelei sits about 1700 meters and is 2.7 kilometers inland from the coast as well as about 100 metres above sea level.