A tribute to a renowned Tongan writer and Pacific scholar, the late Epeli Hau’ofa, was held by the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies (OCAPS), at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji, with the launch of a new book, titled ‘Remembering Epeli Hau’ofa His Life and Legacy’ on 7 March.

Acting Director of the centre, Larry Thomas said the Tongan poet, writer and academic had influenced generations of Pacific Islanders. In 1997, Hau’ofa became founder and director of OCAPS at the Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji, “and under his leadership it became a world-class centre for showcasing and disseminating Pacific cultural performance and artistic expression.”

Epeli Hau'ofa's literary work helped to shape the global perception of the region as a large ocean state.

The book editors Eric Waddell, Vijay Naidu and Claire Slatter, who were close friends of the late Hau’ofa, said that “Epeli Hau’ofa played a crucial role in reimagining the place and status of the people of the Pacific Islands in the global community.”

They said he was Tongan by name, Papuan by birth, Tongan, Fijian, Canadian and Australian by upbringing and education, and Fijian by citizenship.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, Dr. Gulio Massasso Paunga, said, “USP is very proud of having had the late Professor Epeli Hau’ofa as a staff member for 37 years who provided academic leadership. He was an exemplary mentor of several cohorts of artists widely recognised for their creative works.”


Eric Waddell said that the call for contributions to the book was received with enthusiasm and came from Fiji, Tonga, Hawai’i, Guam, New Zealand, and Australia.

The book launch was attended by academics, USP current and former staff, USP Senior Management Team members, Pacific artists and others from OCACPS and the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education, and the School of Law and Social Sciences at the University of the South Pacific.