The unusual circumstances surrounding Taufa’ahau’s birth and how his mother Hoamofaleono, while carrying full term, sailed on the Kaliopau from Kahoua in Pea to Ha’apai, battling rough seas to reach ‘Uiha in time for the birth. With her trusted maidservant Atipau, Hoamofaleono and her travelers were twice directed off course by treacherous weather, landing on two small islands- one where her contractions began (Ofolanga), the other where she vomited for the last time (Luahoko). They managed however to reach Tongoleleka, the location of the chief Tupouto’a and the chief Malupo’s residences, in time for the baby’s arrival at dawn. Malupo planted a rain tree to mark the significant occasion, and it remains standing to this day. As is Tongan custom, the first nourishment or namoa a newborn receives is the juice from a mature coconut. However with none on hand for coconut brought on the boat from Ofolanga where the traveling party had first been stranded. The babby was named Nginingini Ofolanga, which was given temporarily because of the superstition that a baby born at night must be named before daylight to avoid physical disfigurement. Taufa’ahau’s birthplace therefore became known as Niu’ui, where the Ha’apau Government Hospital stands today. Luahoko, koe pehe ko ‘ene fakahake faka’osi ia pea fakahifo. Na’e fakateletele matahakau pe ‘a e kalia ‘o fe’unga moe fanga ‘o e ‘api ‘o Malupo mo Tupouto’a ‘i Tongoleleka, kuo fakalalahi ‘a e langa ‘a Hoamofaleono pea talu ai e afe ‘a e vaka ‘o nau tau ki ‘uta oku kei po’uli pe ka kuo hengihengi, pea ‘i he’ene tu’uta pe na’e ikai tuai, kuo fakahifo ‘a Hoamofaleono koe tamasi’i tangata. Ko Atipau koe fefine na’e omi mo Hoamofaleono, ko hono tauhi, pea koe ma’uli ai pe ia. Ko e anga mu’a ‘o Tonga ni, ‘i hano fa’ele’i ha tamasi’i pe ta’ahine, koe uluaki me’a ‘e ‘atu kihe valevale koe namoa, ‘a ia koe konga niu motu’u ‘oku tunu pea mama ‘o kofukofu’i’aki ha me’i ngatu pea ki’i tatau ki he ngutu ‘o e valevale. Ko’ene ‘uluaki kai ia moe konga fakafaito’o. Na’e ‘ikai foki ha fo’i niu motu’u ‘e teuteu ‘i he feitu’u na’e fakahifo ai ‘a e tama, ka ko hono feuiaki ‘o ‘eke ha fo’i niu namoa, na’e tali mei he kalia ko e fo’i niu nginingini pe eni mei Ofolanga, pea koe fo’i niu ia na’e ma’u ‘o namoa’aki e tamasi’i ai pea kuo laumalie lelei, pea na’e ta hono uho pea telio, pea to ai e Malupo ‘a e fu’u ‘ovava pea ‘oku keu mo’ui ‘o a’u ki he ‘aho ni. Pea talu ai mo hono fakahingoa ‘o e api koia ko Niu’ui, pea oku tu’u ai ‘a e Falemahaki ‘o e Pule’anga ma’a e Vahenga Ha’apai. Copy straight from Tongaliuaki accounts Translator:Olivia Fukofuka Fulivai
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:17:46 +0000
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