Every Monday through Friday, at 9 a.m., the Samoan police force marches along the waterfront of Apia, on the island of Upolu, from the police station to the government building to raise the flag.  

'Ava ceremonies (the Samoa version of the South Pacific stimulant Kava) hold special significance in Samoa. Villages prepare the root when welcoming visitors or gathering for important community meetings.  

Bottles of brined sea slug innards, eaten as a delicacy and all-around home remedy, for sale at the Fugalei Food Market—Upolu's main farmer's market—alongside fresh fruits and vegetables.  

The Fiafia is like a Samoan version of a Hawaiian Luau. This Fiafia at the historic Aggie Grey's Hotel is the most popular on Upolu and ends with a huge feast that lasts well into the night.  

Many flavors of churches populate the towns and countryside of Samoa, most decorated with a unique island flair. The Safotu Catholic Church on Savai'i is made entirely from coral and river rocks.  

A traditional umu or stone oven: The chief superheats lava rocks over a blazing fire before piling the stones over whole pigs, fish, lamb, and baskets full of taro roots.  

Like many South Pacific islanders, most Samoans wear all white to a Sunday morning church service, and the women make fashion statements with their wide-brimmed white hats.  

Families bury the remains of their elders in elaborate tombs in front of their houses. The more power and prestige a person holds in life, the larger and more elaborate his or her resting place.  

In Samoa, revered tattoo artists use traditional, boar-tusk tattoo combs to create intricate "cloths"—body tattoos that cover the hips and thighs—that symbolize the recipient's acceptance of leadership responsibilities within his community. Bonus knowledge: The English word tattoo comes from the Samoa word tatau, and Samoa is considered the birthplace of modern body art.  

Traditional necklaces: Red-painted bandanna fruits (ula fala) symbolize the blood of the Samoan people; brown pua tree seeds (ula pua) stand for the land of Samoa; and the white shells (ula sisi) link the wearer to the ocean.