Ti’avea village in the Aleipata district has, again, scooped the overall winning prize for the Samoa Tourism Authority annual beautification competition.
The village also took out the top prize for the Upolu rural village contest, while Tapueleele topped the one for Savaii island.
This is the third time Tiavea has won the top tourism award — which totaled $10,000 tālā this year.
Ti’avea resident Hinorma Seumalu Tagiilima told the Samoa Observer, they nurture their gardens like a ritual throughout the year.
She said, each garden has to be a row of ginger only in the front then it is up to each family what plants they can grow behind it.
“We have a Saturday ritual and it is trimming ginger plants and growing new plants,” she said.
Families that fail to clean their front yards are also fined by the Women’s Committee, according to the villager.
Photo: Samoa Observer
