Focuses on Samoans in Los Angeles to highlight ways that kinship patterns influence cultural adaptation. Finds that the traditional descent corporate group has changed to quasi-kin organization within the migrant community and that because of this, Samoan migrants are relatively less motivated to assimilate into mainstream society. (GC)

Political division and domination by different foreign powers have given birth to national identity problems which Samoans face both at home and abroad. Community leaders should put aside antagonistic feelings among themselves and restore appreciation for the "faasamoa," that body of customs and traditions once shared by all Samoans. (GC)