Tafuna Airfield:

The site and location of the current airport was originally known as Tafuna Airfield.  It was part of U.S. Naval Station Tutuila – Samoa Defense Group Area, and was partially constructed before the war broke out in the Pacific on December 7, 1941. Two airstrips were completed and opened on March 17, 1942.

The first commercial trans-Pacific air service started in November 1946 by Pan American Airways as they resumed their post-war flights to Australia and New Zealand from Honolulu. The peak of Pago Pago’s aviation came between 1975 and 1985 when the airport was used by airlines crossing the Pacific. Airlines include Pan Am, Air New Zealand, UTA French Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Samoa Air, Continental Airlines, and Air Pacific. However, Pago Pago’s significance as a destination declined, and by the end of the 1980s, only Hawaiian Airlines remained. This happened after neighboring Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport in Apia was lengthened and improved. At the same time, new aircraft started to be used to fly from the United States to Australia and New Zealand without the need for refueling.

The story of how the imperial powers (UK, Germany, USA) of the late 19th came to partition Samoa is fascinating. In short, all three powers claimed Samoa, and an American and German fleet nearly went to war over the islands, but the ships were wrecked in a typhoon before they could fire in anger. Ultimately, Germany kept the larger part of Samoa (modern-day Samoa), the British got the Solomon Islands, and the Americans received American Samoa (which they still possess today).

American Samoa comprises five main islands. Tutuila is the most populated and has the largest settlement (Pago Pago). In all, the territory of American Samoa has three airports: Pago Pago International Airport, Ofu Airport, and Fitiuta Airports (both minor airports on outlying islands). Pago Pago Airport is built partly on a fringing reef and is the only US international airport in the South Pacific and the islands’ international gateway.

https://simpleflying.com/pago-pago-international-airport-american-samoa-guide