Manu'a Cession Day or Manu’a Flag Day in American Samoa

This month, on July 16, islanders will commemorate a significant date, the day the last of the islands, the Manu'a Group, came under the protectorate of the United States. At the time when American Samoa became a US Territory on April 17, 1900, the High Chiefs of Manu’a did not wish to cede their group of islands and opted out of the agreement.

Four years later in 1904, Tui Manu’a Elisara, the King of Manu’a, signed the Deed of Cession swearing allegiance to the United States and ceding the Manu’a Islands as her protectorate. From that day forward, July 16 has been observed as Manu’a Cession Day, separate from Territory’s Flag Day, which is celebrated on April 17.

Although Manu’a ceded in 1904, it was not made a public holiday until 1983 when the first official celebration was held in the Manu’a Islands with a church service, parade, and cultural songs & dances. Over the years the celebrations have ranged from the grandiose to the simple.