Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Swains Island’s 100 year Flag Day Anniversary is scheduled to be celebrated on May 13, 2025. Preparations to celebrate this year are in the works with Faipule Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings leading the way. It’s unknown at this time, what exactly is being planned with American Samoa’s government as no announcement has been made by Gov. Pulaali’i Nikolau Pula about the celebration- 100th anniversary.

PART 1

BECOMING PART OF AMERICAN SAMOA

Swains Island’s status as a United States possession dates back nearly 170 years since August 1856 through the Guano Islands Act - 48 U.S.C. ch. 8 §§ 1411-1419. The Jennings family, who descend from Eli Hutchinson Jennings of Southampton, Long Island, New York has been in continuous ownership of Swains Island from the 1850s to the present.

At that time, Eli H. Jennings and wife Malia Su’a Jennings of Lefaga, Samoa, industrialized a coconut plantation at the height of the copra trade in the Pacific.

The Tripartite Convention of 1899 between the United States, Germany, and Great Britan resulted in the formal division of the Samoan islands into a German colony and a United States territory. In 1900 the United States signed a Deed of Sessions with the leaders of Tutuila (and Aunu’u), and in 1904 the United States signed a Deed of Sessions with the Kingdom of Manu’atele.

The configuration of the U.S. Territory of American Samoa continued for the next 25 years. Also by that time Swains Island was extremely prosperous with the copra trade.

Swains Island's incorporation into American Samoa reflects strategic efforts to support its fragile economy and establish its governance as a U.S. territory. The historical steps — from Congress recognizing U.S. sovereignty over Swains Island on March 4, 1925 by making it a part of American Samoa under 48 U.S.C. § 1662, to Lt. Commander C.D. Edgar raising the U.S. flag on May 13, 1925, declaring Swains Island part of American Samoa — underscore the significance of this transition.

Then on February 20, 1929, Congress Ratified the Deeds of Sessions between the United States and Tutuila & Manu’atele under 48 U.S. Code § 1661, solidifying American Samoa’s place as a U.S. Territory together with Swains Island.

These measures created opportunities for economic and social growth. The Swains copra providing jobs, tax revenues, and the opportunity for Tutuila and Manu’a to combine their copra harvests with that from Swains Island for export.

Later the Swains Island seas contributed 100 thousand some sq. miles of ocean that continues to feed the tuna cannery today.

Descendants of Swains Island became prominent leaders in the Church, Traditional Samoan Families, Government, Businesses, and Decorated U.S. Soldiers.

(Source: These articles are part of the preparations by the Committee for Swains Island’s 100 year Flag Day Anniversary to be celebrated on May 13, 2025.)