Vaimalo
Encyclopedia
Vaimalō, is a village in the western district of Vavaʻu
in Tonga
. Before the passage of the Vavaʻu Land Acts (V.L.A) of 1849 and 1914 that effectively placed Vaimalō under government control, the whole of Vaimalō was the single residential estate of Naufahu Mapilitoa and his family. Vaimalō's current general population is made up mainly of Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs family, relatives, and friends from Niue
, Fiji
, Samoa
, and the Solomons.
that became the historic road-map and foundation for change in all of Tonga
forever.
When the V.L.A went into effect in 1849, His Majesty George Tupou I meticulously and cleverly persuaded countless Nobles or “ʻEiki” of Vavaʻu to accept the new V.L.A, especially those who stood to loose entire estates and land in accordance to the re-distribution ordinances of the new Vava'u Code
. In exchange for the Nobles' acceptance and allegiance, His Majesty appointed the most influential of them to new governmental positions and bestowed upon some new aristocratic titles.
Such was His Majesty's appointment of a young Tevita Taʻofi-kae-tau Tapueluelu to become the first Governor
of Vava'u
in 1850. This appointment is viewed by many as a very clever measure that appeased and formed an iron-fist alliance with a very influential, unpredictable and sometimes unruly Tapueluelu. The prestigious position and title with its implied significance did just that, Tapueluelu permanently moved out of Vaimalō and made Neiafu his new home, now the newly established and bustling capital city
of Vava'u
. Tapuelueluʻs new position and title came with a hereditary estate that Tapueluelu named Sailoame. Tapueluelu was not the only child of Avala-ʻae-tau that moved out of Vaimalō, earlier in 1878, Lesieli Afu Haʻapai married Siaosi ʻUlu-ki-vaiola who was the 6th Tuita, and made ʻUtungake, Vavaʻu her new home.
Lavinia Sialehaehae was barren and didn't have any children so upon her passing, Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea became the sole “hereditary occupant” of Vaimalō. Soon thereafter, he gave his inland home of Mohe-mo-langa to Manase Manu'okafoa a relative and moved in to Laviniaʻs oceanfront home of Muileleu. Salesi married another Lavinia, this time a daughter of Kolotesi from Faleloa, Haʻapai. They had one child, a son they named Salesi Kato-ki-moʻunga Tuʻipulotu whose grandchildren are the current occupants of Muileleu, Mohe-mo-langa, and most of Vaimalō today.
Vava'u
Vavau 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...
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...
. Before the passage of the Vavaʻu Land Acts (V.L.A) of 1849 and 1914 that effectively placed Vaimalō under government control, the whole of Vaimalō was the single residential estate of Naufahu Mapilitoa and his family. Vaimalō's current general population is made up mainly of Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs family, relatives, and friends from Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, and the Solomons.
A Family Estate
Naufahu Mapilitoa was the only child of Luseane ʻI-fanga-Hihifo to Finau Fisi. Naufahu Mapilitoa married Tulukava Siliika of Talau and they had one child, a son they named Avala-ʻae-tau. Upon Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs passing, Vaimalō became home to Avala-ʻae-tau and a few relatives. ʻAvala-ʻae-tau married ʻAlilia Funakitoutai and they had 4 children;- Tevita Taʻofi-kae-tau Tapueluelu
- Lesieli Afu Haʻapai
- Lavinia Sialehaehae
- Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea
Government took over the land
When His Majesty George Tupou I became Tu'i Vava'u, "Vava'u King", in 1833 after the death of Fīnau ʻUlukālala III (Tuapasi), he ushered in a new political and social era in Vava'uVava'u
Vavau 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...
that became the historic road-map and foundation for change in all of 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...
forever.
- He abolished serfdomSerfdomSerfdom is the status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to Manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted to the mid-19th century...
in Vava'uVava'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...
in 1835 - He published the Vava'u CodeVava'u CodeThe Vava'u Code was instituted in Vava'u, Tonga in 1839, by Tu'i Tonga George Tupou I. It contained the country's first ever written laws, and formed the bases of the first constitution of the Kingdom....
the first written laws of TongaTongaTonga, 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 1838 - He dedicated and pledged TongaTongaTonga, 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...
to a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and officially made TongaTongaTonga, 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...
a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
kingdomMonarchyA monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
in 1839 - He established the Vava'uVava'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...
Land Act (V.L.A) of 1849 which empowered government to acquire land owned by chiefs and distribute them to commoners
When the V.L.A went into effect in 1849, His Majesty George Tupou I meticulously and cleverly persuaded countless Nobles or “ʻEiki” of Vavaʻu to accept the new V.L.A, especially those who stood to loose entire estates and land in accordance to the re-distribution ordinances of the new Vava'u Code
Vava'u Code
The Vava'u Code was instituted in Vava'u, Tonga in 1839, by Tu'i Tonga George Tupou I. It contained the country's first ever written laws, and formed the bases of the first constitution of the Kingdom....
. In exchange for the Nobles' acceptance and allegiance, His Majesty appointed the most influential of them to new governmental positions and bestowed upon some new aristocratic titles.
Such was His Majesty's appointment of a young Tevita Taʻofi-kae-tau Tapueluelu to become the first Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau 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...
in 1850. This appointment is viewed by many as a very clever measure that appeased and formed an iron-fist alliance with a very influential, unpredictable and sometimes unruly Tapueluelu. The prestigious position and title with its implied significance did just that, Tapueluelu permanently moved out of Vaimalō and made Neiafu his new home, now the newly established and bustling capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau 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...
. Tapuelueluʻs new position and title came with a hereditary estate that Tapueluelu named Sailoame. Tapueluelu was not the only child of Avala-ʻae-tau that moved out of Vaimalō, earlier in 1878, Lesieli Afu Haʻapai married Siaosi ʻUlu-ki-vaiola who was the 6th Tuita, and made ʻUtungake, Vavaʻu her new home.
Muileleu and Mohe-mo-langa
When the two eldest children of Avala-ʻae-tau moved out of Vaimalō, the two remaining; Lavinia Sialehaehae and Salesi Matele-ʻo-Haʻamea decided to divide Vaimalō into two separate Estates. Lavinia Sialehaehae made the whole oceanfront part of Vaimalō her home and named it Muileleu. Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea took over the inland part of Vaimalō and named his home Mohe-mo-langa.Lavinia Sialehaehae was barren and didn't have any children so upon her passing, Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea became the sole “hereditary occupant” of Vaimalō. Soon thereafter, he gave his inland home of Mohe-mo-langa to Manase Manu'okafoa a relative and moved in to Laviniaʻs oceanfront home of Muileleu. Salesi married another Lavinia, this time a daughter of Kolotesi from Faleloa, Haʻapai. They had one child, a son they named Salesi Kato-ki-moʻunga Tuʻipulotu whose grandchildren are the current occupants of Muileleu, Mohe-mo-langa, and most of Vaimalō today.