The Legend of Sadie Thompson

There is evidence that the legendary Sadie Thompson of Sumerset Maugham's short story "Rain" was a real person and that in 1916, she arrived in Pago Pago aboard the boat "Sonoma" from Hawaii.

Maugham was also a passenger on the boat. He described her boarding of the “Sonoma” as a “blond runaway” from Iwelei running up the gangplank at the last moment before departure. Iwelei was a redlight district on the outskirts of Honolulu.

It was a storm at the time that made boat travel to Apia impossible; causing Maugham, Sadie, and some missionaries to wait out the blow together in Pago Pago.

There is no deportation records on Sadie Thompson in Pago Pago, however she is mentioned in a letter to Samoan Information as ”running a House of Prostitution” catering to U.S. sailors. It is said she called her place of business (our Sadie's Restaurant), the Sadie Thompson Inn.

It is believed Sadie returned to Honolulu aboard the steamship "Ventura " after her romance with a Samoan was discouraged. Although Sadie could never be found again, she became part of Samoa. She also became a legend

The Management and Staff of Sadie's thank you for visiting with us and hope you enjoy Sadie's as much as we do.

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