EXPLORING the RUINS of the ATAULOMA GIRLS SCHOOL | American Samoa | Is it HAUNTED?
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- Deep in the jungle of American Samoa, there lies the crumbling remains of a historic school, whispering of what once was here.
The Atauloma Girls School, found on the island of Tutuila, in American Samoa, has all but been reclaimed by nature, but if you make your way through its vine-covered walls, you'll see the legacy of the bright young women of American Samoa.
You might remember an old episode of Ghost Hunters International that took place in this exact spot. If not, just type in "Atauloma School" and you'll be treated to the suspenseful and ridiculous video.
We did not find any ghosts on our excursion.
But you never know...
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00:00- Intro
00:53- Island Driving
02:43- We Find the School
04:29- History of the Atauloma Girls School
09:04- Crumbling Around Us
12:08- We Find More of the School
14:43- Expectations
16:59- Tofa Soifua
Parochial girls school, my mom went there in 40s. Wish the Govt would do a better job of maintaining these historical landmarks rather than let it rot
Wow! I would love to hear what it was like back then! I find so much beauty in old ruin that are being reclaimed by nature, but you’re right, Atauloma Girls School seems like a place that would have been worth maintaining.
My ancestors once owned that land... SAD how LMS are just NEGLECTING this beautiful historic building. My parents built our house on our land in Atauloma, right next to the school... blessed to have a piece of our land back. BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE. LMS should just give back the LAND back to the families... it's been Decades. GOD BLESS ❤
I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to live there. I don’t know the circumstances of your family giving or selling the land to LMS, and certainly it should be yours again, but may I say fa’afetai tele lava that I got to be a part of that place, it is forever in my heart.
@@shannonpurvis7412 I would go back to visit. I have my little sister, husband and her 3 kids living and taking care of our land. I plan to go back whenever this Covid ends.. all clear and safe to travel home. Atauloma is a very special and beautiful village. Lots of history behind all this.. grave sites are behind the school, I heard. Girls were buried there.. glad your life in Atauloma was Memorable. Take care.
@@shannonpurvis7412 Wow! glad you were part of that historic Atauloma School. its such a waste to just see it rotting away...you take care. hopefully, your get a chance to visit Samoa again. GOD BLESS.
In 1990 I was sailing by myself around the Pacific. I was offered a job of house sitting at Atauloma by Susan Yakutis, a palagi woman working for the government. It turned out to be an extended stay of about 4 months. I was told the house was formerly the residence of the school principal and it sat on top of the hill. The classrooms below had been converted in apartments for government employees who had housing as part of their contracts. Very nice spaces with one peculiarity...one wall would always have a blackboard. I was told there was a plague in the Samoas a century earlier and many of the little girls died. There were remnants of a cemetery in the jungle nearby. I don't know if the place is haunted, but I had to walk to my car to go to work at 4 A.M. It was probably a 5 minute walk and it was an issue of mind over matter. I just looked straight ahead and tried to ignore the spooky sounds from the jungle. Living at Atauloma is one of my favorite travel memories.
In the 70s, the building was turned into apartments for contract workers from off island. We turned the cafeteria area into a volleyball court until we were told by the village chief to find another area to play volleyball. Just watching brings back memories. Fa'afetai tele. God bless
Wow! We would love to have stayed there when we were on contract 😃 What an introduction to the island ❤️ I wish we could have seen it in those days! Do you know when it was finally closed?
I'm always happy to see a video of home away from home. Thank you AMSAM FAM. A big shoutout from 4th Squadron-2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany. SABER RECON.
I went to Atauloma in the 1960, I was 111/2 yrs old at the time as a 6th grader. It was a beautiful place, a huge 2 story building that stands majestic on the hill, top floor was sleeping quaters for all girls, bottom floor was all classrooms. it had 1 huge room for (8th/9th grade)north side looking to the ocean, n 1 huge room on south side for (6th/7th grade) n it had 4 rooms in the middle, occupied by 2 teachers with (4th/5th grade). There was a bridge that connected to another palagi building at the top occupied by the Principle n his family. Downstairs towards the back in had bathroom/shower. On back South side it had small kitchen n a Mess Hall like must have been used by Marines as cafeteria. On West side was the River where we use shower every day m border with Afao village. Another Palagi building was across the north side next to ocean, Occupied by the school Pastor (Kereti Faiai) n his family stay. The entrance to the school was where the 2 huge Mango trees use to stand. The whole Area was nice n clean. From the two story building going down to ocean side, there was another palagi building the was use for samoan school n Church on Sunday. Walk below that building was like a malae n 2 faleo'o where the 2 families stay, they were the people that was fixing food for the girls morning n evening, God bless them where ever they are. I used to be so greatful to these families all the time when we go eat. Im from Vaitogi, there was 5 of us girls that went there in 1960. I was sadden when I visited in 2018 of how it was all covered up as jungle s when it wide open n beautiful area. If you google for Atauloma school It shows photos of how it really looks. All those buildings I meantion was all build by the marines n there is also a picture of those marines in the internet, hope you fine. They say its spooky, its only at night time. We were not allow to walk around outside at night time n if you need to use bathroom that is down stairs you're suppose to have another girl go with you, that was one of the rules in the dorm. God blessed.
Wow, so very interesting!! That makes so much more sense that the dorms were on the 2nd floor. I just couldn’t visualize how it had been laid out. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and what the layout was like. Next time we visit, we’ll be able to have a much clearer idea of what was what. ❤️
Omg! You passed through my village of AFAO!!❤🇦🇸❤ ty for sharing!!
It’s a beautiful spot 😍
Hi Tremayne and Vincent. Do you guys remember that this was our favorite place to go trick-or-treatind during Halloween?
My mom and aunty lived in Autoloma in the early 60s, when they were hired to teach in American Samoa. In the 70s, my mom would drive my sister and I, out to Autoloma and we would sit in our vehicle. Our mom would not allow us to get out of the vehicle. It appeared that mom was lost in another world and she talked about the spooky ghosts that lived there.That sent chills running up our spine😮😮
I lived there from 1975-1978. It was beautiful, they did a great job on the conversion to apartments. My house was down the hill in what was once the chapel, looks like it was torn down (it was a wooden building, not concrete like the school). The little structure up the hill you went to was the teacher quarters and then converted to a one bedroom cottage. It was lived in until at least the early 80s, I don’t know why it was shut down.
The story I heard about the haunting (Aitu) was a girl jumped from the second floor, she was suffering from depression. I never had an experience related to that but for sure when the kids came from Afao to get mangoes, there was one tree they wouldn’t touch because the aitu lived there.
When we lived there in the early 90s, there were 2 houses off the building, one towards the ocean, and another up the hill in the back. We once found the old kitchen, which was mountainside/right of the school. My grandmother used to be friends with the principal of the school. There was story of the limestone being carted off the ships at Atafao and up the hill to build the school. That building has so many stories over the years, I would love to see the old pictures and hear the old stories.
My mom told me when she was about 13, in the 1950’s, an incident took place at Atauloma that required the assistance of the church. A class of about 12 girls were swimming at a field trip and angered a nearby well known spirit, a former chief named Tuliatua. According to witnesses, some of the girls were swimming naked and playing with the clay that used to be used as ink for the siapo aka a paper thin type of traditional garb. The girls ended up becoming possessed. Villages got involved and some of the fofou’s advised the girls were going to die until the school decided to call up a Catholic parish in Fagaalu. My mother and my grandparents were one of the few families who had vehicles so they drove some of the priests there. Something bizarre happened. They reported as they went up a hill before getting to the church, the car suddenly shook violently as if a boulder slammed atop their roof and the car could barely push forward, even if when my grandadher tried to gas it. The most terrifying part for my mom was when the girls were transported to the hospital. They all spoke in unison and when they got off the bus they were transported on upon arrival, every single girl was slammed to the ground on their face when they stepped off the bus
Wow, fantastic exploration! Thank you for searching out so many great places on such a tiny island.
That school closed down the year my family moved off the island. Funny to look at the decay as a forensic "qualifier" for my memories of Samoa!
Oh, Nate, the remark about spiders and centipedes! Man, I remember feeling and saying that when my brother and I would wriggle our way inside banyan tree roots. Nostalgia running wild for me now. I was also rather afraid of those wasps there, large orange colored ones, which hid their nests in sheltered hollows I liked to find. Their sting was terrible and I suffered many.
The thing the boys found at about 15:00 looks like an old G.E. washing machine transmission, the long shaft would have held the agitator.
Love what y'all are doing, thank you so much!
What a beautiful drive! Thanks for the upload!
We had perfect weather for our drive ❤️
Wow! My mom went to school there, and many years later my sister lived there after it had been converted into apartments. It was such a beautiful old building.
Oh, so cool! I’d love to be be able to hear the stories from back then ❤️
My mother attended Atauloma. At the time she was living in Lauli'i. They had no roads then, so they would walk up the mountains with a few others. She doesn't believe it's haunted but she talks about her days there.
That school was film in the "ghost hunters international" in American Samoa
I heard it was the most beautiful place on Island at one point in time and folks from all around the Island would visit there. I use to visit there with my dad during the early 70's. The place had a huge yard clearly visible from the main road and a well kept lawn and sidewalks between buildings. There were huge mangoes along the entrance road and the stream was well kept. I heard stories about the marines were barracks there during WWII.
So cool!! You can tell from the pillars and archways it was once very beautiful ❤️ Other people have mentioned the mangoes too. They must have been especially sweet and juicy.
@@AmSamFam I remember walking through their to school in Nua and Seetaga every day back in the days when it well kept all white two-story building beautiful well kept lawn in the front thanks for the memories
Thanks for sharing..
I remember my grandmother Fa'aliliu saying she attended this school when she was a little girl. She passed away a few months ago. I should have asked her more about her time there.
Nate, you are so my kid! I love that kind of thing, too. I love exploring old, deserted places. I always have!
Another question, how come we don't see Hadley much on these anymore? Just little glimpses now and then. Love seeing the rest of you, tho!
Love this video!!!! Wow...I didn't know about this!!! Great job Amsam fam🙏🙏
Awesome tour. Love the background music effect and the creative camera images. I'm impressed. Great historical content as well. Great job AmSamFam.
Thank you for this video😇😇
Hopefully someday I will come, Melinda, and this would definitely be a great adventure! You're right, I do love exploring old places and wondering what life was like and the stories of each who lived or worked there. Thank you... ;-)
people back home are very superstitious, you won't find many wandering around old ruins, caves, etc. maybe the youth, but most wouldn't.
thanks for sharing.
That’s so interesting. We’d love to hear some of the stories sometime.
I was there back in the days in the 70 and it's all a history thing am Samoa should have saved it to make it a historical place to be.
That my Grandba house down by water Fuamatu he name, I was there around 1968
Watch out for them 🐝 on the second floor, when walking up
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for showing interesting place of history... it's a shame it wasn't preserved for the future generations.... the 19th century was Renaissance..of my grandparents era.. ..
Another awesome clip. You guys change your lense? Hectic
Very peaceful , and beautiful family take care guys 😎
Thanks for these vids💯
What happened to the giant mango tree that was in the front by the road where you turn off to go up there ?
Ua leva ga pe. 😁😁
So the "ghost story" that I heard was that the girls in the school used to play and eat the mangoes that grow near there. But there was a "spirit" that would get angry if the girls made too much noise. Some of the girls were said to have been "slapped" by the angry spirit and it left their faces permanently disfigured... but that's just an old "ghost story"... lol.
Thank you! My grandma attended this school😍🙏
Loving your vids! I was wondering about how safe it is to bike there? I see what look like bike lanes in the town, but surprised to see no bikes in the footage! Thanks!
Not safe to bike, little space with the cars on the road and the dogs here are not friendly.
Man I remember my grandma telling me her experiences going to this school.
You missed out on the burial grounds out back
this school was actually filmed on ghost hunter episode.
In the lae 60s there was an Air Force attachment based on Amerika Samoa. Atauloma became the barracks for the enlisted men like me. Fortunately I met Padilla Passi on my 2nd day on the island and the family allowed me to stay in their home in fagasa for my 6-month term of duty there.
Watched this place on "Ghost Hunters"pretty cool.love you AmSamFam
That was so cool, I'm Google the real story about that All Girl School, hopefully to find out more interesting stories about the school! Thank you AmSam Fam! Manuia le aso❤ Tell the kids to have fun at school!
Very interesting. I'm 10 years old in 1972 when this place closed. If those walls could speak. I see many comments here of first hand experiences there. Its always nice to see old abandoned places. One interesting abandoned place I saw was a place on Diego Garcia called "The Plantation". A lot of abandoned bunkers and structures on Saipan left over from WW2. Same scenario. You can see vegetation growth over moldy green concrete and the smell of the dampness. So I've been there. Not there but many alike.
That will be a good place to sute a haunted movie.... even thou I don't believe... beautiful love from Australia ♥️
Wow good to see you guys again
Thanks 😊
That's pretty cool
🍉🍉🍉Awww, why did they close it!!! Do they have old silver/white photos of it's Heydays?
I have yet to hear a full answer as to why they closed it 🤷♀️ I believe the Feleti Barstow Public Library has some in their photo archive.
Aye uce if its getting late at the girls school get out of there or if you still want to hunt some spirits then take your kids home and you guys hunt spirits just for safety enjoy samoa
Did you find the graves in the back?
I personally like to see the 2 boys have a MATAI name for them ... I mean your 2 boys !!😍🤩😃👍✌️
Boat update please!
I bet it is spooky at night !i the mountains in our village at night has spirits - try camping at night and surely you will experience it - pre-1600s ancestors lived and are buried on the mountains
Oh I’ll bet! I’m not sure we’re brave enough for that 😬😄
The stories in the 60's were that many girls died there from some disease. There was suppose to be a grave yard there.
Several contact workers said they had seen a girl sitting on a mat in one room. She was a ghost. People were spooked and did not want to live there.
Whoa! So Holden was right 😳 Someone else mentioned a cemetery there too. There might be something to this…
@@AmSamFam Yes,it was such a beautiful girl school. My mom&her sisters attended that school. We usually visit there to see families. My best scenery was standing in front and look at the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. Loved it. Thank you AmSamFam.
@@saaiolupotea5532 sounds amazing! 😍
Yes, there is still unmarked gravesites and a cemetery up there behind the school, and it's one of the most cleanest part of the old school. I live right underneath school.
🤩
They weren't washing any dishes 😂 i like that
Funny guy 😄