The first full day at Matareva Beach Fales started out with breakfast being served at 08:00. A young man hit a bamboo drum to announce this fact. Breakfast was served buffet style. A number of dishes were put on tables and each individual helped him/herself. There were items I recognized and others I was not familiar with. Each person made his/her own coffee. After breakfast people followed their own agenda. The three couples I had met the previous day disappeared, doing their own thing, and I started to observe my surroundings. Many Samoans started to show up, in individual cars, mostly women and children, but also some men. Apparently it was a family get together. One of the men looked like a 'Matai', and I asked about him, and it was confirmed that he was. He sat on one side of the open-side building, and all activities seem to be directed toward him. He never said anything, but he projected authority just sitting there. Over the course of the next few hours, besides the younger people going into the water or playing volley ball, a meal was served. The 'Matai' being served first, and then all the others. There was also dancing, by young girls, by young men, by both, young men and girls simultaneously, and by women. All dancers were facing the 'Matai'. During the entire time he never spoke a word. I realize, that I am being exposed to the Samoan culture. I had learned before I arrived that Samoa is the country in the Pacific that adheres most to its cultural heritage, and I realized that this was more than I expected. I had found out that many families still live in FALES, but apart from this, little else. Fa'amatai Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society. It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, compromising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, The term comprises the prefix fa'a (Samoan for 'in the way of) and the word 'matai' (family name or title). Of central importance in the system are the 'matai', the holders of family chief titles, and their role in looking after their family. Fa'amatai is the key socio-political system of governance and way of life (fa'a Samoa) in Samoan culture. Inherent in the fa'amatai system is the welfare and well-being of the extended family ('aiga) and the protection of family property, consisting most importantly of customary land. In the 49-seat parliament of Independent Samoa, all 47 Samoan Members of Parliament are also 'matai', performing dual roles as chiefs and modern politicians. with the exception of the two seats reserved for non-Samoans. The fa'amatai system is significant in modern Samoa where most land. about 81% (567,000 acres), is under customary ownership with the rest under the national government (malo) as public lands with another 4% freehold. The 2011 official census of Independent Samoa identified a total of 16,787 'matai' (8.9%) living in the country from a total population of 187,820. Of the total number of 'matai', 15,021 (89.5%) were male and 1,766 (10.5%) were female., This system dates back to pre-colonial times and also explains that the country in essence is run by the 'matai'. I wrote the above down primarily to help me understand of what I had witnessed while there for six days. I realize that it is impossible to fully understand the status of individual 'matai'. This system pre-dates colonial days, with some 'matai. achieving royal status. This picture was taken on 29 December 2017, Sig....