In  April 2025 the chiefs and orators of Lalomanu declared the  Lua o Fafine Conservation Area (CA). The  20 ha CA protects an intact patch of rare lowland rainforest and is Samoa’s newest CA. Most of Samoa’s lowland rainforests have been cleared for human settlement or for agriculture. The lowland rainforests (below 600m elevation) have been particularly badly impacted and only small stands remain: mainly on areas too rocky or too steep for development or agriculture, such as here at the Lua o Fafine crater.

The crater is a critical refuge for native biodiversity because it is protected from strong winds and has intact rainforest with many large native trees and few invasive plants. In the past up to 14,000 Pe’a fanua or Tongan flying foxes (Pteropus tonganus) have been recorded roosting here in the breeding season (June to September) with perhaps 10-15 of the rarer Pe’a vao or Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis), making it the largest flying fox colony in Samoa. Flying foxes are critical for the health of the Samoan rainforest as they are the key pollinators and dispersers of many native rainforest plants and are fully protected under Samoan law. We hope they will return to this crater one day!

The two flying fox species are quite distinctive: the Pe’a fanua lives in large colonies and is most active at night while the Pe’a vao is solitary and active during the day. There are also many native forest birds here especially pigeons and fruit doves, Samoan whistlers, starlings, broadbills and wattled honeyeaters, as well as native reptiles, butterflies and land snails. Please help us keep this crater beautiful by not littering, disturbing the wildlife or removing any plants!

Trail to the Crater

The 300m long trail (approximately 5-6 mins walk) to the crater edge is marked with orange plastic trail markers. The trail continues along the crater edge to a viewpoint at the highest point of the crater. The crater is steep so please be careful and carry water.

Entrance Fees

The crater is on customary land and permission from the landowners must be granted.  Guided Tour:  $30 tala/person for one, $20 tala pp for groups; Non guided tour- please contact the landowner.  Points of Contact: Fuataga (Landowner) – 7672665; Litia Sini Beach Fale- 7516700

Lua o fafine Management Rules

•No smoking, No littering, No dogs

•No hunting of native birds and bats

•No collecting native plants or cutting down trees

•Please don’t disturb the flying foxes

•Leave only footprints and take only photographs!

Here are some photos of plants found in the Lua o Fafine forest: