SAN DIEGO – The nu'u tutai (islands) are a vasa (ocean) away – 4,792 miles as the seagull flies – but in San Diego the la (sun) was warm, the savili (breeze) gentle and the pese (songs) recalled a distant aiga moni (home).

For a few hours yesterday, the county's large community of Samoans gathered at Market Creek Plaza east of downtown San Diego to celebrate fa'a Samoa – the Samoan way of life – in the free Samoan Day Festival.

Drums pounded. Voices soared. Men, women, boys and girls danced and sang in brightly colored, flower-patterned lavalava and puletasi, their arms, legs and bodies stretching, gesturing and clapping to evoke age-old images of Polynesia.

DETAILS Samoan Day Festival When: 3 to 6 p.m. today Where: Market Creek Plaza, near Market Street and Euclid Avenue in San Diego Admission: Free Fare: Live music, dancing, food, gospel concert by seven youth groups

Most aren't native Samoans. Many, in fact, have never been to Samoa or American Samoa, both located northeast of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. And so the reason for this fourth annual Samoan Day Festival, which continues today with an afternoon gospel concert.

“Part of the idea is to bring together Samoan people from all around the county, to celebrate our culture,” Easter Leasau said. “But more important, it's to reach out and educate Samoan children who were born here, who maybe don't know very much about their heritage.”

SAMOA AND AMERICAN SAMOA Background: The Samoa Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand, are divided into two entities: the independent nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Population: Samoa, whose two main islands and several smaller ones are slightly smaller than Rhode Island, has a population of 217,083. The five islands of American Samoa are slightly larger than Washington, D.C., with a population of 57,496. Culture: Both share a common Polynesian heritage and official languages (Samoan and English). Their cultures are somewhat divergent; Samoa is oriented more toward New Zealand, American Samoa more toward the United States. Local history: Samoans came to San Diego after World War II, primarily from the military. The 2000 U.S. census estimated that 4,500 Samoans live in the county, with distinct communities in Oceanside, southeast San Diego and the South Bay.

San Diego County is home to a significant Samoan population: about 4,500, according to the 2000 U.S. census. Though fairly dispersed, there are significant communities in Oceanside, southeast San Diego and the South Bay.

Yesterday's festivities were highlighted by cultural dances and songs performed by eight local youth and church groups, followed by a speech competition in the Samoan language and a puleeasi (cultural attire) fashion show.

While the festival's emphasis was all things Samoan, Lefaua Leilua, a member of the International Outreach Team that organized the event, said some of the message was directed outward, beyond the islands.

“Respect is a big key in Samoan culture. We want not just Samoan children to learn about their culture but other cultures, too, so that there can be respect and understanding.”