Upolu island's highest mountain Mt Vaivai is yet to be formally recognised by local authorities including the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Previously it was believed that Mt. Fito is Upolu’s highest mountain but the discovery of what surveyors call a “trig point” on Mt. Vaivai in 1999 changed that record. The trail starting at the foot of the mountain to the top of Mt. Vaivai is 1,158 metres.  

Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) President James Atherton was asked about Upolu’s highest peaks when he did a recent presentation on hiking sites in Samoa.

He said Mt. Vaivai’s record as Upolu’s highest peak is yet to be endorsed and formalised by the authorities in Samoa. 

“We already told them (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) about it but so far nothing has been said of whether they have gone to find out and officially endorse the findings," Mr. Atherton said. 

"The Australian team contracted by Samoa [Government] conducted an expedition in 1999, where they discovered that the highest point on Upolu is actually Mt. Vaivai and not Mt Fito.

"A team also went up there in 2009, but we did not find the trig point. I walked it three times after that and wrote a report about it and what it means to us." 

When the trail up to Mt. Vaivai was last visited in 2009, the S.C.S. President was part of the expedition.

"A team also went up there in 2009, but we did not find the trig point. I walked it three times after that and wrote a report about it and what it means to us." 

S.C.S. Board Member and Project Coordinator, Faleafaga Toni Tipimaa told the Samoa Observer that he used to be a surveyor with the M.N.R.E. and was one of the few team members who was involved in placing the trig point at Mt Vaivai in the late 1990s.

"Now that the trig point has been discovered recently by James and the group, I think it is time for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to send their team of rangers up there to endorse the findings,” Faleafaga said. “We [Samoa Conservation Society] should not have to do everything.”

Attempts by the Samoa Observer to contact the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, for comment were unsuccessful.

The M.N.R.E. Chief Executive Officer, Lealaisalanoa Frances Reupena Brown, in response to the email sent to Minister Toeolesulusulu said the Ministry is happy to work with the S.C.S. on the issue. 

"We would be keen to work with S.C.S and investigate further," she said in her email reply to this newspaper. 

However, Mr. Atherton said it would be best for the Ministry’s Forestry Division to take on the assignment following the discovery of the trig point. 

"The Forestry Division came up with the name Vaivai and they also published it as the highest point so I think they can do the work," he said.