Funeral of Noble Vaha'i today [1]
Friday, June 3, 2005 - 17:45. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 13:05.
Photos by Linny Folau
The Hon. Noble Vaha'i of Fou'i was laid to rest this morning, June 3, at the Tutulu Pea Tau burial ground at the village of Fou'i.
The funeral procession from his residence to the cemetery was led by the police band, and the police also gave a three-gun salute.
Present at the burial were HM King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, the Crown Prince Tupouto'a, Princess Pilolevu, the Prime Minister Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, Prince Tu'ipelehake, and other members of the royal family.
Noble Vaha'i died at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, on May 22 at the age of 69, and his remains was returned to Tonga on June 2. His ...apo, or night of mourning, was held last night at his residence at Fo'ui where ongoing prayer services were conducted until early this morning.
Noble Vaha'i is survived by his widow, Princess ...Elisiva Fusipala Tauki'onetuku Vaha'i, their four children, the Hon. Nikotimasi Fatafehi Laufilitonga, Hon. Siosifa ...Alematea, Hon. ...Elisiva Tauki'onetuku Vete and Hon. Sinaitakala 'Ofeina He Langi Leanahola and two grandchildren.
Noble Vaha'i served the Tonga Government for 23 years and was recently re-elected as the Tongatapu No.1 Noble...s Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly.