The buildings expanded in size and use over time as every village had a big house that hosted meetings and later chiefs gained enough power and money to build significantly larger houses. With the arrival of the Europeans and their extensive building materials, the houses have continued to change. Today numerous decorational aspects have been added, building materials have changed, and many houses and buildings today are rectangular as it eases the construction process and costs. Blinds are also common today, which are called pola, as they provide some privacy and protection from the winds and rains.
Despite the changes, the structure and style remain very similar today due to tradition, costs, and appeal. Many people can't afford modern buildings so choose to build a traditional fale, while the tourism industry has discovered the appeal of the style to foreigners so many hotels are built in the same design, although they are made with concrete and they have walls and modern amenities.
Although the arrival of the Europeans changed the fale, it also introduced new structures. Most of the earliest structures built in the European style were churches as missionaries had a significant presence on the islands in their early recorded history. In more recent times more modern buildings have been constructed as well, although few buildings boast much architectural significance or ornamentation.