‘Akau‘ola's funeral to be held at Taunga Island [1]
Monday, October 10, 2005 - 18:00. Updated on Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 22:29.
The funeral of the late Hon. ‘Akau‘ola, the Governor of Vava‘u, will be held on the island of Taunga in Vava‘u this week.
The remains of ‘Akau‘ola, who passed away suddenly in Nuku'alofa on Thursday, October 6, will be flown to Neiafu, on Wednesday, October 12.
The 'Apo, night of mourning will be held at his estate, Taunga, on Wednesday night, and he will be buried at the family cemetery on the island on Thursday morning, according to a member of the family.
Hon. ‘Akau‘ola was born ‘Inoke Fotu Faletau on 24 June 1937, and was the second of four sons of ‘Akau‘ola (Sateki) and Sisilia Layden ‘Akau‘ola at Neiafu, Vava‘u.
He attended St Peters School, Cambridge, New Zealand, before attending Tonga High School in Nuku‘alofa, and then Auckland Grammar in New Zealand. He completed his tertiary education at the University of Wales, Swansea, and Manchester University in the United Kingdom.
In 1958 ‘Akau‘ola began working for the Government of Tonga as a Junior Clerk of the Ministry of Finance.
In 1961 he became the Official Translator and Acting Chief Clerk at the Prime Minister's Office before he was promoted to Assistant Secretary to Government in 1965 and then as Secretary to Government in 1968.
High Commissioner in London
In October 1972, ‘Akau‘ola was appointed as Tonga's High Commissioner to Great Britain concurrent with his appointee as Tonga's Ambassador to France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Italy, Russia, USA, European Economic Community EEC, Council of Europe, UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO.
In 1982 he was again appointed the Senior High Commissioner and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps to the Royal Court of St James, Great Britain.
A year later ‘Akau‘ola left the Government of Tonga to work for the Commonwealth Secretariat based in London and became the Director, Management Development Program.
Commonwealth Director
In 1985-93 he further took up the post of Director of the Commonwealth Foundation before returning to Tonga and became the Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's office.
In 1995 King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV bestowed on him the title ‘Akau‘ola after the death of his elder brother ‘Akau‘ola (Siaosi Filiapulotu), and a year later he took up the post as Secretary for Fisheries.
Hon. ‘Akau‘ola was appointed as the Governor of Vava‘u in 2002.
Honours
His honours include:
- Knight Grand Cross, Order of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany 1975 Invested by President Carsten of Germany
- Order of Merit, Luxembourg, Invested by HRH Prince Jean, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
- Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
- Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, United Kingdom 1993, Invested by HM Queen Elizabeth II
- Queen Beatrix Coronation Medal
- King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV Silver Jubilee Medal 1995
- Human Resource Development Fellow, University of Manchester 1989
- Honorary Fellow, University of Wales Swansea 1990
Family
‘Akau‘ola is survived by his younger brother Sione Faletau, his wife Ma‘ata ‘Evelini and seven children namely Steve Burdett, Mele Vikatolia, Silika Kilisitina, Susana Ma‘ata, ‘Ahovaleamoemapa Faletau, Siosateki ‘Inoke Fotu and Siaosi Fatufakatele; and 19 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.