Where It's Located
The Savai'i Samoa Temple will be located at:
Lot 1098 to Lot 1105
Fataloa
Salelologa, Savai'i, Samoa
The site is on the southeast coast of Savai'i, next to the Don Bosco College and Vocational Technical Center.
The property covers approximately 4.6 acres (1.9 hectares).
Salelologa is the primary commercial and transportation center of Savai'i, making it a practical location for a temple serving members throughout the island.
Getting There
Most international travelers will first arrive in Apia on the island of Upolu, Samoa's capital and main international gateway.
From Upolu, travelers can take a ferry across the Apia–Savai'i channel to Savai'i. The ferry arrives near Salelologa, making the future temple site particularly convenient for visitors traveling from Upolu.
Because the temple has not yet begun construction, there is currently no temple operating schedule or public interior access.
A Bit of History
The Savai'i Samoa Temple was announced on October 1, 2023, by President Russell M. Nelson during the October 2023 General Conference.
The announcement was especially significant because it will be the second temple in Samoa.
The first was the Apia Samoa Temple, which was dedicated in 1983.
At the time of the announcement, more than 85,000 Latter-day Saints lived in Samoa, making the country one of the places with a particularly high concentration of Latter-day Saints relative to its population.
Samoa's First Temple
The original Apia Samoa Temple was dedicated on August 5, 1983.
It served members throughout Samoa for decades.
The Apia Temple has also had an unusual history. A fire destroyed the temple in 2003, after which it was rebuilt and rededicated in 2005.
The Savai'i Temple will therefore give Samoa a second temple rather than replacing the existing one.
Why Savai'i?
Savai'i is the largest island in Samoa and is home to a substantial Latter-day Saint population.
The Church's current statistics list multiple stakes on Savai'i, including stakes in Fagamalo, Pu'apu'a, Sagone, South, Savai'i, and West Savai'i.
For members living on Savai'i, having a temple on the island will eventually eliminate the need to travel across the ocean to Upolu to attend the temple.
That is particularly meaningful in an island nation where even relatively short geographic distances can require a ferry journey.
Temple Site
The location for the Savai'i Temple was announced on March 11, 2024.
The Church selected a 4.6-acre site at Fataloa in Salelologa, next to the Don Bosco College and Vocational Technical Center.
Plans call for a temple as well as several supporting facilities, including:
- Patron housing
- Ancillary building
- Distribution center
- Temple president's residence
Current Status
The Savai'i Samoa Temple is currently in the planning and approval phase.
The current milestones are:
- Announcement: October 1, 2023
- Site announced: March 11, 2024
- Official exterior rendering: October 20, 2025
- Groundbreaking: Not announced
- Construction: Not started
- Open house: Not announced
- Dedication: Not announced
So while the project has progressed to the point where its location and exterior design are public, construction has not yet begun.
Architecture
The planned Savai'i Samoa Temple will contain approximately 29,630 square feet (2,753 square meters).
It will be a single-story building with an attached central spire.
The temple will contain:
- Two instruction rooms
- Two sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The relatively compact design is consistent with many newer temples designed specifically to serve established local populations.
The Official Rendering
The official exterior rendering was released on October 20, 2025.
The release represented an important milestone because it gave members and the surrounding community the first official visualization of what the completed temple is expected to look like.
The rendering was released more than two years after the temple was originally announced.
A Temple for Savai'i
The Savai'i Temple will be especially meaningful because it will be the first temple physically located on the island.
Members currently living on Savai'i have had to travel to the Apia Temple on Upolu for temple ordinances.
Once completed, temple worship will be available without leaving the island.
That geographic convenience could make a significant difference in how frequently local members are able to attend the temple.
Samoa's Strong Latter-day Saint Heritage
Samoa has a particularly strong Latter-day Saint heritage.
The Church has been established in the islands for more than a century, and the Apia Samoa Temple became one of the earliest temples outside the continental United States.
Today, Samoa has two temples announced or operating, with the Savai'i Temple becoming the country's second once completed.
Exploring Savai'i
A trip to the future Savai'i Temple could be very different from visiting a temple in a major city.
Savai'i is famous for its:
- Tropical forests
- Volcanic landscapes
- Waterfalls
- Beaches
- Coral reefs
- Traditional villages
- Coastal scenery
The island is considerably less developed than many major Pacific tourist destinations, which is part of its appeal.
The To Sua Ocean Trench
One of Samoa's most famous natural attractions is the To Sua Ocean Trench on Upolu.
Although it is not on Savai'i, travelers visiting Samoa can easily combine a future Savai'i temple trip with time on Upolu.
The enormous natural swimming hole is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and has become one of Samoa's iconic landmarks.
Savai'i's Volcanic Landscape
Savai'i is a volcanic island, and its landscape contains numerous lava fields, volcanic craters, caves, and rugged coastal areas.
The island's volcanic history is visible throughout the countryside.
For travelers interested in geology, hiking, or natural scenery, Savai'i offers plenty to explore beyond the temple.
Alofaaga Blowholes
The Alofaaga Blowholes are among Savai'i's best-known attractions.
Waves force seawater through volcanic tubes in the rocks, sending enormous columns of water into the air.
The blowholes are located on the southern coast of the island and make for an excellent addition to a Savai'i itinerary.
Traditional Samoan Villages
One of the most interesting aspects of visiting Savai'i is experiencing traditional Samoan village life.
Many communities maintain strong traditions involving the fono, communal spaces, extended family, and the fa'a Samoa, or Samoan way of life.
Travelers should be particularly respectful when visiting villages, beaches, churches, and other community spaces.
Salelologa
Salelologa will be the most convenient base for visitors attending the future temple.
It is the primary commercial center of Savai'i and the arrival point for the ferry from Upolu.
Visitors can find accommodations, restaurants, shops, and transportation services in the area.
A Temple and a Ferry Ride
One of the most unique aspects of a future Savai'i Temple trip is that getting there can become part of the experience.
For many visitors, the journey will involve:
International flight → Apia → ferry to Savai'i → Salelologa → temple
That makes this very different from temples located in large metropolitan areas.
The temple will be located near the island's main transportation hub, making the final portion of the trip relatively straightforward.
Why the Savai'i Temple Matters
The Savai'i Samoa Temple is significant for both geographic and cultural reasons.
It will:
- Become Samoa's second temple
- Become Savai'i's first temple
- Serve members living throughout the island
- Reduce the need for members to travel to Upolu for temple worship
- Add another major Church facility to one of the world's strongest Latter-day Saint communities
For Savai'i members, the temple represents much more than a new building.
It will bring temple worship directly into their island community.
A Temple for an Island Community
The Savai'i Temple is an excellent example of how temple construction is increasingly focused on geographic accessibility.
A 29,630-square-foot temple may seem relatively modest compared with some of the world's largest temples, but its impact on a population living on a separate island could be enormous.
Instead of crossing the channel to Upolu, members will eventually be able to travel locally.
Planning a Future Temple Trip
The Savai'i Samoa Temple is not yet open.
There is currently no announced groundbreaking date, open house, or dedication date.
Once construction begins, additional information about the building's progress should become available.
After construction is complete, a public open house would provide an opportunity for the general public to tour the temple before its dedication.
After dedication, interior access will be reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Final Thoughts
The Savai'i Samoa Temple is one of the more geographically interesting temples currently planned.
Announced by President Russell M. Nelson on October 1, 2023, it will become the second temple in Samoa, following the Apia Samoa Temple.
The site was announced on March 11, 2024, with the temple planned for a 4.6-acre property in Fataloa near Salelologa.
The planned temple will contain approximately 29,630 square feet, with two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. It will have a single attached central spire and will be accompanied by patron housing, an ancillary building, a distribution center, and a temple president's residence.
The official exterior rendering was released on October 20, 2025, but the project remains in the planning and approval phase, with no groundbreaking date announced.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a future trip to the Savai'i Samoa Temple could be an incredible combination of temple worship, tropical beaches, volcanic landscapes, Samoan culture, village life, waterfalls, snorkeling, and the unique experience of traveling between Samoa's islands.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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