the seamount was first discovered in 1975 after seismic activity, including earthquakes, was noted in the area and was originally known as either rockne volcano or fa'afafine seamount. the name vailulu'u refers to a sacred rain that supposedly fell with every gathering of the last king of samoa; it was assigned by samoan high school students in 2000. the nafanua cone is named after a samoan war goddess, nafanua. today the seamount is part of the national marine sanctuary of american samoa.