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The Question Of Olohega, Part Two
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2025
Abstract
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The South Seas nation of Tokelau is officially comprised of three islands: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. But many people believe there is a fourth island in the group. Its indigenous name is Olohega (oloˈhɛŋa). Since 1925, Olohega (Swains) has been a U.S. territory by way of American Sāmoa and is privately owned by one family. The basis of the claim involves two American claimants, William W. Taylor and Eli Jennings.
“The Question of Olohega” is presented in two parts. Part One, published in APJJF in 2021, is an in-depth investigation of Taylor's fraudulent claim to all four of Tokelau's islands under the U.S. Guano Act of 1856. Part Two, presented below, is an investigation of Jennings' claim to Olohega, with a focus on the trajectory of events and questionable statecraft that led to the island's eventual annexation.
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