NOBLE LUANI (50) who passed away in Vava'u on 12 May was laid to rest at the Tufu mo Kale Cemetery, at the village of Malapo. Tongatapu, on Friday, May 21.

One of the nobles of the Ha'a Vaea, Luani was bestowed with his noble title by the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on 29 November 1987, following the death of his father, the previous holder of the title.

Noble Luani was born on 18 June 1959 at Tali ki Vava'u, Kolofo'ou and was named Sione Laumanu'uli Luani, the eldest of the two children of Noble Luani and his wife, 'Ala ki Hihifo Luani.

Sione Laumanu'uli received his secondary and university education in Australia, at Newington College, then at the University of California at Berkeley, USA. After graduating with a management degree from Berkeley in 1982, he returned and joined Tonga's Public Service on 22 June 1984.

Noble Luani was elected into the Tongan parliament as a Nobles' Representative for Vava'u in 2006, a seat he held as the Governor of Vava'u until his death on 12 May 2010.

Noble Luani is survived by his wife, Luseane Fakaola 'I Fanga Vaea and three children, two boys and a girl, 'Inoke Tongaleva NgoNgo Kilitoto, 'Alipate Hala Ki Langi and 'Ala ki Hihifo Fusi.

Noble Luani's estates are Tefisi, Vava'u; Malapo and Nakolo Tongatapu.