Fear of tsunami lingers as Niuatoputapu families gather for memorial [1]
Friday, October 1, 2010 - 08:25. Updated on Saturday, May 17, 2014 - 18:46.
Photos by Jessica Patolo
TWO memorial headstones were unveiled in Hihifo yesterday morning commemorating the nine people who died in the tsunami that ravaged the outer island of Niuatoputapu, a year ago on September 30.
The Manager of the Tonga Development Bank, Mafi Hoa, in Niutoputapu said the heartfelt ceremony attended by residents of the small community was sad as they not only remembered the nine lives that were tragically taken, but also recalled the dreadful day that three tsunami waves stuck following an earthquake on September 30, 2009.
Mafi said that most Niuatoputapu people were now living in temporary shelters and most had come down from the hills where they had fled when the waves hit.
"But it is our wish that government starts building the houses on higher ground because it is only then that we would definitely feel safe," she said.
Memorial
She said the one-year remembrance began on September 29 just after 5:00am with prayers followed by the unveiling of two separate memorial headstones encrypted with the names of victims who included two young children. All were residents of Hihifo village:
Kalolo Kivalu (65),
Sosefo Lefai (59),
Losalio Lefai (53),
Polasapina Lefai (2),
Toni Lefai (1),
Heneli Losalu (68),
Lupe Ohi (85),
Tulonia Tavake (69),
Lesina Tupouto'a (74),
One memorial was provided by government and the other by the Catholic Church.
The government headstone was unveiled by the Niuatoputapu Government Representative, Peauafi Haukinima, at the Likamonu Health Centre, while the other headstone of the Catholic Church located at the Kalevalio Cemetery was unveiled by Father Sepa Makaohi, with the laying of the wreaths at Kalevalio cemetery, where families spoke about their loss and loved ones, which brought tears to everyone's eyes.
"The fear that the natural disaster brought one year ago, still lingers in everyone because we have been experiencing numerous shocks," Mafi said.
Pilgrimage
The one-year remembrance began on the evening of September 29 at the Catholic Church at Falehau where members of the seven church denominations on Niuatoputapu attended. The program included spiritual singing and speeches and around 200 people slept outside on the lawn in a special camping program and fasted at midnight.
The 5:00am remembrance was opened with a prayer by Rev Brian Pulini of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Then a pilgrimage walk began from Falehau to Hihifo consisting of nearly 600 people, she said. At the Likamonu Health Centre at Hihifo at around 6am the first memorial stone was blessed Rev Nafetalai Fotu of FWC before being unveiled by Peauafi Haukinima.
The pilgrimage then continued to Kalevalio cemetery, where Father Sepa Makaohi unveiled the second headstone. A mass was conducted at the cemetery by Father Seluini 'Akau'ola, Father Sepa Makaohi and Father Lolesio Lakai.