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American Samoa

Territory of American Samoa

1:2 image by Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

Status: territory of the United States
Flag hoisted: 27 April 1960

Description of the flag
Specifications for the flag
Vertical flag
Seal

See also:

Description of the flag

In his left claw is an orator's "fly-flap". This is a functional object (used to shoo flies away) which has become the symbol of a "talking chief", one of the ranks of Samoan nobles. In his right claw is what looks like a dance-paddle, a form of club used in dancing.
Stuart Park 19 February 1996

According to Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags, 1985 [mch85a]:

The flag is blue with a white triangle, edged in red, based on the fly. The triangle extends to the hoist and bears the American eagle in proper colors and facing towards the hoist. It grasps the symbol of power of the Samoan chiefs, the "uatogi" (war-club), and the symbol of wisdom of the councils, the "fue" (ritual stick). The colors of the flag are both Samoan and American, and the American eagle, holding traditional Samoan emblems, represents the protection and friendship of the United States.

Jarig Bakker, 10 April 2000

Specifications for the flag

The colors of the flag of American Samoa are a bit tricky. I have not found any legislation, yet. Its flag consists of a dark red-edged white triangle with dark blue upper and lower triangles, as we can see it at Government of American Samoa page. It seems to be identical with the American colors.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012) provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be. For American Samoa, PMS 281 blue, 032 red, 109 yellow, 167 brown and black. The vertical version has the eagle's wings on the left, and the fly-whisk on the right.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012

Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 gives a color specification: PMS 281 blue, 032 red, 109 yellow, 167 brown and black. However, PMS 032 is a lighter red color, so called Pomegranade red, which is definitely not dark red.

According to the Flag Manual - Beijing 2008, the colors are similar ones, PMS 032 (red), PMS 102 (yellow), PMS 281 (blue), PMS 440 (brown) and Black.

Two French Navy Books illustrated the flag with dark blue and dark red colors, but they didn’t give any color specification.

Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone system as follows: Blue 280C, Red 200C and White. These colors are very similar to flags seen on pictures (and they are identical with colors of U.S. flag).

Wikipedia illustrates the flag with dark blue and dark red colors, but didn’t give any color specification.

An image at the Government of American Samoa page doesn’t show the details, but I found another flag image where we can see details of the eagle as well.

Olympic Flag Manuals and French Navy Books illustrates the eagle in plain one brown color, Vexilla Mundi and Wikipedia gives detailed versions, where there are at least three shades of brown of eagle feather.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

Vertical flag

image by Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

The vertical flag, based on the Olympic Flag Manuals, has the eagle's wings on the left, and the fly-whisk on the right.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

Seal

image by Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024

American Samoa has a seal, which is a black and white disk depicting a traditional local design. Wikipedia describes it: "The fly switch (fue) represents wisdom and the staff (To'oto'o) represents authority. Both symbols are used by talking chiefs indicating their rank. The Tanoa (kava bowl) represents service to the chief. The tapa clothed background represents the artistry of the Samoan people. It also includes the date April 17, 1900, which was the date when Samoa became a U.S. territory. The seal was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on March 2, 1985.” I also found a colorized version of the seal.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024