Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva (78) was laid to rest today, September 19 at the Telekava Cemetery, Kolomotu'a after lying in State for two nights at St George Government Building.

The funeral procession began this morning from St George Building where his cortege was conveyed to a hearse and proceeded slowly along Hala Taufa'ahau, where Tonga High School students sat on the side of the road, all the way to the Wesleyan Centenary Church.

Cabinet members, the late Hon Pohiva's family and mourners followed on foot in a quiet morning in the CBD, with a public holiday declared for the State Funeral.

HM Queen Nanasipau'u, foreign diplomats, family members and members of the publlic were at the Centenary Church for the two hours funeral service. At its conclusion, at noon, the cortege was then transported to the Telekava Cemetary.

Biography

In his biography, the late Hon Pohiva was born on April 7, 1941 in Fakakai, Ha’ano on the outer island of Ha’apai to Samuela Pohiva (Magistrate's Court Clerk) and Salote Fifita Pohiva.

As the eldest of seven children, he attended Fakakai Government Primary School before continuing to Taufa’ahau College in Pangai in 1955.

In 1957, he entered Tupou College before Tonga Teacher's College in 1962, where he graduated with a Teachers' Training Certificate, two-years later.

He started his teaching career at various Government Primary Schools (GPS) in Nuku’alofa including Kolomotu’a Government Primary School. He married his wife the late Neomai Tu'itupou Pohiva from Kolomotu'a before transferring back to work at GPS Fakakai and onwards to GPS Nomuka as Head Teacher.

Hon Pohiva was awarded a Tongan Government scholarship to study for a Diploma in Education at the University of the South Pacific in 1975. He also completed a Bachelor in Education.

Among his earlier works, was initiating with others a radio program called 'Matalafo Laukai', which irritated Government of the day and was prohibited from being aired on national radio. This also led to his dismissal from Civil Service in 1985.

In 1987, he established with friends the Kele’a Newspaper and in 1987 established Tonga Pro-Democracy Movement.

In 2013 Hon Pohiva was awarded a Defender of Democracy Award from the Parliamentarians for Global Action, the first Pacific Islander to receive the award.

In 2015, he was awarded the Royal Order of the Crown, Rank and Dignity of the Grand Cross to mark the Coronation of King Tupou VI.

His first four-years as PM following the 2014 General Election was prematurely terminated when King Tupou VI dissolved the Legislative Assembly on August 2017 and called for a General Election.

In January 2018 Hon Pohiva was re-elected as a Prime Minister by the Legislative Assembly. 

Hon Pohiva passed away at Auckland City Hospital on September 12 and is survived by seven children, 30 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.