Vaiee

Vaiee is a small village on the Samoan island of Upolu. It is located on the central south coast of the island.

This village is known for the chiefly matai titles of Tuia and Te'o. The Te'o title is a well known title from the district of Falealili. The Tuia title of Togamau is held by Tuia Pu'a Letoa of the Fuaialii Clan and Tuia Aufonolua Siaosi as appointed by the Court. Reference can be made to the Courts decisions which after appeal cases by both sides, determined that both title holders are "suli." To record otherwise, is a contempt of Court.

Tuia Pu'a Letoa has fought and won 2 major land and titles cases relating to the "measina" of the TUIA i TOGAMAU including the confirmation of the land "TOGAMAU" and the land "LOGOTONU."

The 2014 decisions by the Land and Titles Court are landmark decisions which preserve the authority, rights and title over the said land and also determined that the title TUIA was founded in Vaiee and was the founding title of the village.In addition to the fact that the TUIA title has existed in Vaiee for over 15 generations,the protocols that define and regulate the relationship between the Tuia of Togamau and the Te'o title were confirmed in the TOGAMAU case, based on arguments submitted by Tuia Pu'a Letoa. For example, when the ava ceremony is performed in Vaie'e the honour of the first cup is given to Te'o in recognition that the title "Te'o" is a guest within the village of Tuia.However once the village of Vaie'e travels to another village outside of Vaiee, the first ava is given to Tuia.

These 2014 cases further confirmed that the title "TE'O" emanated from Falealili and upon arrival in Vaie'e the TUIA title determined the land to be allocated to the Te'o title and also there "va nonofo." There are currently about 20 holders of the Te'o title living in Samoa and overseas. There are 3 branches of this title.

There is also another "Tuia" title held by Tuia Faato'ia of Laupolatasi. This title was derived from the Tuia of Togamau and does not share the same authority as the "Tuia" of Togamau. The Tuia of Togamau is one of the four paramount titles in Safata known as "le falefa o le uluga tanifa." The Falefa o le Uluga Tanifa include Anapu, Taoa and Afemata (Siulepa ma ona tua) and Tuia i Togamau (Togamau ma ona tua). This is distinguished from the "fanau a Tunumafono" Pule, Afemata Maugagaoa and Taoa.

In March 2015, the Falefa o le Uluga Tanifa met for the first time in over 30 years at TOGAMAU to discuss the political division of the Safata District which has not followed the correct traditional division of Siulepa ma ona tua - Saanapu, Sataoa and Lotofaga and Togamau ma ona tua - Niusuatia, Vaiee, Fusi, Fausaga, Tafitoala, Mulivai. A petition to the Land and Titles Court has been lodged by the Falefa ole Uluga Tanifa for its decision. Any matter for discussion (termed AVEI) can only be "opened" at TOGAMAUA Vaiee, by the Tuia i Togamau titleholder.