Tu'ipelehake
Encyclopedia
The Tuipelehake is the 2nd highest ranking traditional chiefly title in Tonga
, in the absence of the Tui Faleua title, Tuipelehake is second only to the King in rank. There have been several holders of the title for years and years mainly from the ruling royal family, from princes to prime ministers. It is Tongan custom to refer to the holder by his customary title, only adding his personal name if confusion may arise. An example of this would be: Tui Pelehake (Uluvalu).
The Estates of the Tui Pelehake are:
The Tui Pelehake title goes back to the first Tui Tonga, Ahoeitu
, the youngest son of Tangaloa Eitumātupua
. His oldest brother, Talafale, fell out of grace and was bestowed the titles Tui Pelehake and also Tui Faleua, a backup in case the Tui Tonga line would die out. Note that the original Tui Pelehake title therefore derives its authority from the Tui Tonga, even though, since it came to George Tupou II, is has been essentially linked to the Tui Kanokupolu
.
He was the son of Filiaipulotu and the father of King George Tupou II.
He was Prime Minister of Tonga in 1905. After his death the title remained vacant as the king had not really need for it, nor had his successor Sālote Tupou III.
. He attended Newington College
, Sydney
, (1941–1942) and an agricultural college in Queensland
. Fatafehi married Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune (13 November 1924 — 16 March 1993) on the same day as his older brother, the Crown Prince (in that time still called Tupoutoa-Tungī
) married Halaevalu Mataaho Ahomee. That was the famous double royal wedding (taane māhanga) of 10 June 1947. He received the title Tui Pelehake (Fatafehi) from his mother in 1944, and he also received the runner up highest title of Tonga of Tui Faleua (king of the second house).
From a non-traditional side, he was honoured with the CBE
. He inherited from his mother an artistic side; he was a well known poet and composer.
His career was with his brother in the government. He was first governor of Vavau (1949–1952), later of Haapai (1952–1953), next he held various ministerial portfolios in cabinet, until he took over as Prime Minister when his brother had to vacate the post on becoming king in 1965. He remained in this post until he had to withdraw in 1991 because of serious health problems. His last years were spent in a rollchair on a life support system.
He kept the both titles of Tui Pelehake and Tui Faleua for so many years, that they became synonymous with him. But after his death, only the former was conferred to his son, while the latter returned to the king.
They were buried at langi Nāmoala in Mua
on 21 July, apparently as a reminder of the title's Tui Tonga heritage, and not at Malaekula
in Nukualofa
where all kings find their rest.
To the dismay of the royal family his next two marriages were to particularly low rank common women. His second marriage in 1996 was to Maata Moungaloa, a beauty queen who won the yearly Miss Heilala beauty pageant. His third marriage was to 'Alakifonua villager Eneio Tatafu whom he divorced in 2009. His fourth and current wife is Fifita Holeva Tuihaangana, a member of one of the most prominent noble families in Tonga
.
Mailefihi returned to great prominence upon the death of his older brother Uluvalu in July 2006. Shortly after his brother's death he was bestowed the Tuipelehake title by his late uncle King Tāufaāhau Tupou IV. In August of the same year via a bi-election he won his brother's vacated seat in Parliament. In 2008 his 'Prince' title was restored back to him by his first cousin the current King George Tupou V and is now known as His Serene Highness Prince Tu'ipelehake. In 2009 he became a Minister of the Realm when he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, in the absence of the Tui Faleua title, Tuipelehake is second only to the King in rank. There have been several holders of the title for years and years mainly from the ruling royal family, from princes to prime ministers. It is Tongan custom to refer to the holder by his customary title, only adding his personal name if confusion may arise. An example of this would be: Tui Pelehake (Uluvalu).
The Estates of the Tui Pelehake are:
- Fatai a town estate in NukualofaNukuʻalofaNukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
on TongatapuTongatapuTongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population... - Village of Pelehake in the eastern district on TongatapuTongatapuTongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
- Village of 'Alakifonua in the eastern district on TongatapuTongatapuTongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
- Tonga's main airport, Fuaamotu International Airport, is also situated on his estate and not, as the name misleadingly suggests, in neighbouring Fuaamotu.
- Village of Vaihoi in VavauVava'uVavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
, close to the villages of Leimatu'a and Holonga - Village of Foa in HaapaiHa'apaiHaapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs and shoals in the central part of the Kingdom of Tonga, with the Tongatapu group to the south and the Vavau group to the north. Seventeen of the Haapai islands are populated....
Origin
All the Noble Titles in Tonga were established and formalized into its current state via a royal decree in accordance to the newly established constitution instituted by King Tāufaāhau Tupou I in 1875. Though the Tui Pelehake was one of the six most ancient titles of Tonga, a Title from its very inception. Lekaumoana in the list below was the first holder of the new title as recorded per the aforementioned proclamation of the new constitution. The fact that they were held by the most powerful chiefs of that time has saved them. Hundreds of minor titles were abolished and have disappeared since.The Tui Pelehake title goes back to the first Tui Tonga, Ahoeitu
'Aho'eitu
In Tongan mythology, or oral history, Ahoeitu is a son of the god Tangaloa Eitumātupua and a mortal woman, Ilaheva Vaepopua. He became the first king of the Tui Tonga dynasty in the early 10th century, dethroning the previous one with the same name but originating from the uanga instead of...
, the youngest son of Tangaloa Eitumātupua
Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)
Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleo and Maui, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa Eiki Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of...
. His oldest brother, Talafale, fell out of grace and was bestowed the titles Tui Pelehake and also Tui Faleua, a backup in case the Tui Tonga line would die out. Note that the original Tui Pelehake title therefore derives its authority from the Tui Tonga, even though, since it came to George Tupou II, is has been essentially linked to the Tui Kanokupolu
Tu'i Kanokupolu
The Ha'a Tu'i Kanokupolu is the most junior of the Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga. They are generally refer to as the Kau Halalalo The Ha'a Tu'i Tonga, the most senior and Sacred Ha'a Tu'i in Tonga are generally refer to as the Kauhala'uta, The inland side of the roads...
.
Lekaumoana
Lekaumoana's oldest son Maile Latamai was banished to Fiji, his younger son ULUVALU became the next Tui'pelehake.Toutaitokotaha
Siaosi Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha, 1842 — 1912.He was the son of Filiaipulotu and the father of King George Tupou II.
He was Prime Minister of Tonga in 1905. After his death the title remained vacant as the king had not really need for it, nor had his successor Sālote Tupou III.
Fatafehi Tu'ifaleua
Sione Ngū Manumataongo Tukuʻaho (7 January 1922 — 10 April 1999), was the youngest son of Sālote Tupou III and was educated in Tonga and AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, (1941–1942) and an agricultural college in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Fatafehi married Melenaite Tupoumoheofo Veikune (13 November 1924 — 16 March 1993) on the same day as his older brother, the Crown Prince (in that time still called Tupoutoa-Tungī
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
) married Halaevalu Mataaho Ahomee. That was the famous double royal wedding (taane māhanga) of 10 June 1947. He received the title Tui Pelehake (Fatafehi) from his mother in 1944, and he also received the runner up highest title of Tonga of Tui Faleua (king of the second house).
From a non-traditional side, he was honoured with the CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. He inherited from his mother an artistic side; he was a well known poet and composer.
His career was with his brother in the government. He was first governor of Vavau (1949–1952), later of Haapai (1952–1953), next he held various ministerial portfolios in cabinet, until he took over as Prime Minister when his brother had to vacate the post on becoming king in 1965. He remained in this post until he had to withdraw in 1991 because of serious health problems. His last years were spent in a rollchair on a life support system.
He kept the both titles of Tui Pelehake and Tui Faleua for so many years, that they became synonymous with him. But after his death, only the former was conferred to his son, while the latter returned to the king.
Uluvalu
Sione Uluvalu Takeivūlai Ngū Tukuaho (7 October 1950 — 6 July 2006 (5 July in USA)) was Tui Pelehake from the death of his father until his own death in a car accident near San Francisco, California. He played a key role in mediating between the Government of Tonga and striking civil servants in 2005. At the time of his death he was in the USA for consultations with Tongans living there to present ideas for political reform to his uncle, the king. Prince Uluvalu and his wife, Princess Kaimana, died without children.They were buried at langi Nāmoala in Mua
Mu'a (Tongatapu)
Mua is a small city in the Hahake district on the island of Tongatapu, and it was for centuries the ancient capital of Tonga. It is divided in the villages Lapaha and Tatakamotonga, is close to Talasiu and famous for the ancient langi .-Geography:Mua is situated along the eastern side of the...
on 21 July, apparently as a reminder of the title's Tui Tonga heritage, and not at Malaekula
Mala'ekula
Malaekula or Malae Kula is the proper name of the royal burial grounds in central Nukualofa in Kingdom of Tonga in the southern Pacific Ocean. The kings of Tonga and their very close relatives are buried there...
in Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
where all kings find their rest.
Mailefihi
When a title holder dies without heir, the title returns to the king, who then will decide what to do with it. In this case he decided to give it, on 21 July, 2006, to Uluvalu's younger brother, Viliami Tupoulahi Mailefihi Tukuaho (17 June 1957 — ) known as Mailefihi. Mailefihi lost his right to the title 'Prince' and inherited claim to the royal throne with his first marriage to Mele Vikatolia Faletau, which was against the wishes of his uncle King Tāufaāhau Tupou IV. From this first marriage he had two children a daughter and a son;- Taone Tukuaho
- Sione Ngū Tukuaho
To the dismay of the royal family his next two marriages were to particularly low rank common women. His second marriage in 1996 was to Maata Moungaloa, a beauty queen who won the yearly Miss Heilala beauty pageant. His third marriage was to 'Alakifonua villager Eneio Tatafu whom he divorced in 2009. His fourth and current wife is Fifita Holeva Tuihaangana, a member of one of the most prominent noble families in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
.
Mailefihi returned to great prominence upon the death of his older brother Uluvalu in July 2006. Shortly after his brother's death he was bestowed the Tuipelehake title by his late uncle King Tāufaāhau Tupou IV. In August of the same year via a bi-election he won his brother's vacated seat in Parliament. In 2008 his 'Prince' title was restored back to him by his first cousin the current King George Tupou V and is now known as His Serene Highness Prince Tu'ipelehake. In 2009 he became a Minister of the Realm when he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
External links
- "TU'I PELEHAKE (Title)", Non-European Royalty Website
- "Mailefihi becomes 7th Tu’ipelehake," Matangi, Tonga Online, Tonga News: Royalty & Nobility, 1 August 2006.