One of the many tributes to the late Prime Minister of Tonga, the Right Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva is a poem by New Zealand-based Tongan academic, author and health professional Sione Tu’itahi.
Tu’itahi is originally from Hā’ano, the same island as Hon. Pōhiva.
Written in rich metaphoric language, the poem uses the Tongan literary device of heliaki (symbolism) to outlines the family roots of the late Pohiva, revealing his little-known connection to the Tongan royal family and to some of the 33 noble estate holders.
More significantly, the poem distils the essential values and principles, and vision that shaped and informed Pōhiva’s relentless campaign for truth, justice and freedom, for more than 40 years.
Tu’itahi, a former journalist, knew Pōhiva for more than 40 years and covered his activities in Tongan education, governance and leadership for almost two decades.
Hā’ano Si’i Fakalahi ki he Lotu mo e Ako
(Ko e manatu ‘ofa mei Lautala he pekia ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia ‘o Tonga ko Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, ‘I ‘Aokalani, Nu’usila, Tu’apulelulu Sepitema 12, 2019)
Mala’e Lahi mo Aleipata pe’i mo fakahā
Ki he Maka-ko-Fele’unga mo e Houma Tetefa
Taha si’ena fanautama mo’unga’i tangata
Kuo ui mei Langi he Taulanga Vai-o-Mata
Si’i Mohenga-e-‘Atu kuo ngalu pea ‘au
Funga Kelekelenoa ena si’i tangi lau’aitu
Pulonga Pakimoeto’i si’i Heilala Fisi’iniu
Kakapu Vai-ko-Kanakana mo e Taulanga Fualu
Fanakava mo Ma’u-kuo-mate si’oto fakapō
Tā ne o’o he kaiha’a tangitauloto
Fakanonoa si’i fangatapu ‘o Nukunamo
Huli ‘o Ofolanga kuo takavaha mama’o
Sia-ko-Toloke si’oku ‘ofa ni ke fakaa’u
Kia Puatoka, Kienga mo Pouvalu
Ko e tongiaki mei Lautala kuo tō tau
He siu-i-moana ma’a e ko eni mo e kaha’u
Kanivatu eni ‘o Tokonakao mo Lofia
Siu mānoa ki he Kolo Ta’engata
Lava e fetau ‘i moana mo maama
Tofa hala fononga ma’a Tonga kotoa
Fangofulu ta’u pea ‘osiki a Velenga
Tufunga’i fo’ou e taha ki he fakakātoa
Toutai ola ki he totonu mo e tau’atāina
Ke tatau e palai mo e tua
Vake, Hiko mo Vunipola pe’i na’a ā
He ko e hala kuo papa ne matua’i mei mu’a
Fakalahi ki he lotu mo e ako e kaveinga
Mate he mo’oni, feilaulau ma’a e fonua
Folau ā si’i to’a ne fakakikite’i ki Kiliki mu’a
Si’o kafu e fisi’inaua mo lūsia pē ke tau fonua
Tuku ki he kaha’u ki ha’a vavanga he faiva tala
Ke ‘auliliki e mo’oni si’o tufunga fonua fisifisimu’a
Tōfā si’i Heilala-o-Fusipala kau tatau atu
‘O lepa heke ‘i Lepanoni teu e folau
Tafoe he Vaonukonuka ki he Fa’onelua he ala folau
Ki he Manuka-ki- Langitoto ‘o ‘unaloto mo tali fekau
Ka ‘eke si’a sola pea tohitongi he manatu
Ko e tufunga mei Lautala, he tu’unga fale ne pou valu
Hiko e taulanga hoto faiva fakatalutalu
Hafoka mo ‘Otukolo ha melenga mo faka’osi atu
© 2019 Sione Tu’itahi
(Sepitema 12, 2019)
