Mt Tulimanuiva Star Mound

At the top of beautiful Manono Island is an ancient 12-pointed star mound.
One of around 300 recorded mounds in Samoa and the Pacific, this one is located on the flat peak of 110m-high Mt Tulimanuiva.

Constructed of earth and stones, it is thought the mounds were built around 900-1000 years ago when Tonga occupied areas of Samoa.

Theories behind their use vary from pigeon catching, religious reasons, rituals and a relationship between the people and the stars.

Whatever their use, most of the star mounds are hidden between the lush jungles of the Pacific, making Manono Island worth the trip to find one for yourself.