1. family and parenting
2. children

Tongan Oral Genealogy Project
English Version
Interviews with
Maile Tufui
of, Ha‘afeva, Ha’apai, Tonga
Digital Conversion Tape 567
Tonga Tape 190 – Parts 1 & 2
The Tongan Oral Genealogy Project. This is Tape #190, Side A. The interviewer is Kalolaine
Mapa. The interviewē is Maile Tufui of Ha‘afeva, Ha’apai, Tonga. Maile Tūfui will answer the
questions concerning her genealogy. This is the first interview. Today is June 11, 1976.
Maile Tufui: I am Maile Tufui and I was born at Ha‘afeva, Ha‘apai, Tonga in 1908. I’m
thankful to God above for his loving caring for me since 1908 all the way down to this day, June
11, 1976. He still loves and cares for me ever since I was born. Not only that, he gave me some
very special parents. Most of the time we lived together with the rest of my brothers and sisters
sharing our love and trying to get along with not too much trouble. I was married in 1926 to
Sione Tu‘utafaiva. He worked as a school teacher for the first 15 years. Then he became the
Town Officer for the next 15 years. Then later he was the representative for Chief Tu’uhetoka
and Ha‘afeva to the Tonga parliament, including giving the entrance exams for the students from
Ha‘afeva.
In 1951 we decided to move to Vava‘u and served as missionaries for our church from 1951 to
1972 until my husband got sick and died. We had 13 children:
1. (F) Vaine
2. (F) Meleane
3. (F) Sela
4. (M) ‘Amone
5. (F) Tupou and
6. (F) ‘Alamani (twins)
7. (F) ‘Ālisi
8. (F) Tina
9. (M) Noa
10.(F) ‘Ana Malia
11.(M) Paula
12.(F) Kalesita
13.(M) Sione Tu‘utafaiva.
K.M. Thank you Maile. Can you tell about your spouse’s parents?
M.T. Yes. His father was (M) Sione Takaunove and his mother was (F) Meleane.
K.M. Did he have brothers and sisters?
M.T. Yes.
1. (M) Sioeli
2. (F) Fe’ao
3. (M) Sione Tu’utafaiva, my husband
4. (M) Sailosi, all of these from Ha‘afeva.
K.M. Can you tell me about the marriage and family of (F) Vaine?
M.T. (F) Vaine was married to (M) Palu Netane.
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K.M. Who were the parents of (M) Palu Netane?
M.T His parents were (M) Maile ‘Akana and (F) Toi‘ilose from Ha‘afeva.
K.M. Can you tell me about the children of Vaine and Palu Netane?
M.T. Yes, they were:
1. (M)Sunia
2. (F)Simaima
3. ( ) Fononga
4. (M) Sēmisi Feke’ila
5. (F) ‘Ālisi
6. (F) Teisa
7. ( ) Maile
8. (F)Pauline has died.
9. ( ) Tāufa Laukau.
K.M. Tell me about (F) Meleane and her family.
M.T. (F) Meleane married (M) Taipaleti of Kanokupolu and their children are:
1. (F)Lavinia
2. (F)Mele
3. ( ) Mā‘asi
4. (M)Manase
5. (F)Sinai
6. (F)Losaline
7. (M)Toni – who died.
(M) Taipaleti’s mother was (F) ‘Atelaite.
K.M. Any of these children married yet?
M.T. Yes, two are now married:
1. (F) Lavinia married (M) Tākai, son of (M) Maumau from Kanokulopu and
2. (F) Mele married (M)Tuli of Ma‘ufanga.
K.M. Tell me about Sela and her family.
M.T. (F) Sela married (M) Teti from Ma‘ufānga and their children are:
1. (M) Viliami
2. (F)‘Alisi
3. (F) Sulia then
4. (F) Sela died.
K.M. Tell me about (M) ‘Amone and his family.
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M.T. (M) ‘Amone married (F) Pulei from ‘Eua and they had two children:
1. (M) Susuki
2. (F) Sela.
K.M. How about (F) Tupou?
M.T. (F) Tupou married (M) Halaleva here in Ha‘afeva, and their children are:
1. (F) ‘Eseta
2. (M) Sione
3. (M) Samuela
4. (M) Mosese
5. (F) Siu
6. ( ) Kātoanga, and they are all living.
K.M. Tell me about (F) ‘Alamani’s wife and children.
M.T. (F) ‘Alamani married to (M) ‘Ioane of Ma‘ufanga and their children are:
1. ( ) Fevaleaki
2. ( ) Mikato
3. (F) Sela
4. (M) Paea‘i Vaha Folau.
K.M. Can you tell me about (F) ‘Alisi’s spouse and children?
M.T. (F) ‘Alisi married (M) Kamilo of Ngele’ia, their children are:
1. (M) Semisi
2. (M) ‘Amone
3. (M) Peni
4. (F) ‘Ofa
5. (M) Simi
6. ( ) ‘Uila
K.M. Let’s go from here to (F) Tina.
M.T. (F) Tina married (M) Toupili from Pangai, Ha‘apai.
K.M. How about Noa and (F) ‘Ana Malia?
M.T. (M) Noa died single.
(F) ‘Ana Malia is not married yet.
K.M. How about (M) Paula?
M.T. (M) Paula married (F) Moe from Nuku‘alofa. Her parents are (M) Tevita Koka and (F)
Hiva, They had only one son:
1. (M) Hepeti (or Herbert)
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K.M. So those are your children and their families, any great grandchildren?
M.T. (F) Lavinia,(daughter of Meleane and (M)Taipaleti), and Tākai had:
a. (F) Ane
b. (F) Soana
K.M. Please tell me about your parents and their family.
M.T. My parents are (M) Sione Tufui and (F) Kalesita their children were:
1. (F) Manu
2. (F) ‘Olivia
3. (F) Maile Tufui (myself)
4. (F) Fatai
5. (M) Lalameipau
6 (M) ‘Alai’atu.
K.M. Tell me about Manu’s spouse and children.
M.T. (F) Manu was married but had no children and is now divorced.
K.M. How about (F) ‘Olivia?
M.T. (F) ‘Olivia was married to (M) Luke and their children are:
1. (M) Sunia and
2. (M) Laukau, twins
3. (M) ‘Aleki
4. (F) Na‘ati
5. (F) Tae
6. (M) Semisi
7. (M) Luke
8. (M) Sione
9. (M) Papipou.
K.M. Do you k now is any of ‘Olivia and Luke’s children are married yet?
M.T. (M) Sunia married (F) Po‘ulia, they reside at Kolonga, their children are:
a. (F) Afuhia
b. (F) Palu
c. (M) ‘Isileli
(M) Laukau married (F) Losena of Kolonga, they have children.
K.M. How about (F) Na‘ati?
M.T. (F) Na‘ati married (M) Latu from Kolonga. Also have children.
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K.M. How about (F) Tae?
M.T. (F) Tae married (M) Kalifa. They lived at Mailetaha.
Semisi is married to someone from Kolonga, Tongatapu.
Luke also is married to someone from Kolonga, Tongatapu.
Sione is now married to someone from Ha‘atafu,
Papipou, she is now married to (M) Manu from Fasimoeafu.
K.M. Tell me about Mele Seini.
M.T. She had (F) Vika, out of wedlock, married (M) Vili from Lotoha‘apai, had;
1. (M) Ta’u
2. (F) Meleane
The rest I don’t know.
K.M. Do you know if Fatai has bēn married yet?
M.T. (F) Fatai was married to (M) Semi from Vava‘u and here are their children:
1. (M) Saia Kaufusi, who was a schōl teacher.
2. (M) Vili, who is married and now living at Ma‘ufanga.
3. (M) Sione Tūfui
4. (M) Hala, who married someone from Vava‘u.
5. (F) Folola, who is married to someone from Hunga, Vava‘u.
K.M. How about (M)’Alai’atu?
M.T. He died, but he was married to someone from Veitonga, Tongatapu. They had no children.
And Lalameipau, who died young.
K.M. Tell me about Sione Tūfui’s parents and family.
M.T. Sione’s parents are (M) Kālisi and (F) Veisinia, they had;
1. (M) Vaea
2. (F) Melefehi
3. (M) ‘Amone.
K.M. Tell me about Mele Fehi’s children and family.
M.T. (F) Mele Fehi had a son named:
1. Tomasi and he had:
a. (M) ‘Ahokovi. Who is L.D.S.
b. (M) Minoneti
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c. (F) Nola
d. (M) Taitusi
e. ?? they are serving a mission for their church.
K.M. How about (M) Vaea? Did he have any children?
M.T. Vaea married (F) Mele Sa and had:
1. (F) Latai
2. (F) ‘Ana
He had children out of wedlock:
3. (M) Sio (Joe) whose mother is (F) Maile
4. (M) Taimikovi whose mother is (F) Fa’amelea
5. (M) Tulangi
(M) ‘Amone had only one daughter:
1. (F) Mele Kalua married someone at Vava‘u she had children;
K.M. Who was (M) Kālisi’s father?
M.T. His father is (M) ‘Amone and ‘Amone’s father was (M) Telekihi.
K.M. What do you know of this man Telekihi?
M.T. Of what I heard, many cultural songs have bēn composed about this man’s history and
what he had accomplished. He was a great warrior. He went to Fiji on a big war canoe
during the Tonga and Fiji civil war. He made it safely back and later died at Ha‘afeva.
K.M. Do you know if Telekihi had any other children besides ‘Āmone?
M.T. I think (M)‘Amone was his only child.
K.M. How about (M) Kālisi, did he have brothers?
M.T. Yes, a half-brother, (M) Langoia from Toula, Vava‘u. sons of ‘Amone.
K.M. Did Langoia have any children?
M.T. Yes.
1. (F) Kepa
2. (F) Va‘inga
3. (F) ??? Yes, he had a lot of children and is now living at Toula.
K.M. Who was (F) Veisina’s father?
M.T. (M) ‘Eniase of Ha‘afeva. (F) Veisina and (F) Mohuku were ‘Eniasi’s daughters from
different mothers.
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K.M. Please tell me of Mohuku’s children.
M.T. 1. (M) Uasi
2. (M) Penitoa
3. (M) Taulongo
K.M. Let’s go to your mother’s line. Tell me of her parents and siblings.
M.T. (M) Moli and (F) Pīsila were her parents and they had;
1. (M) Viliami Afu
2. (F) Kalo
3. ( ) Kale
4. (F) Mele Fatai
5. (F) ‘Ana Fehoko
K.M. Tell me about Viliami Afu and his family.
M.T. Of what I know, a boy named
1. (M) ‘Ahome‘e whose mother was (F) ‘Ulufonua
2. (M)Tonga whose mother was (F)‘Ana
3. with others that I don’t know.
K.M. Do you know (M) ‘Ahome‘e’s family?
M.T. A woman named (F) Savea from Talafo‘u, and their children were:
a. (M) Lotu
b. (F) Meleseini
c. (M) Veisa
d. (M) Tupou
e. (M) Ma‘ukava
f. (F) ‘Ulufonua
g. (F) Mavae
h. (F) Manu
K.M. Who was (M) Tonga’s wife and their family?
M.T. (M) Tonga married (F) Tupou and their children are;
a. (F) Tangisi
b. (M) Sione
c. (M) Tevita
d. (F) ‘Amelia
e. (M) Tonga
K.M. Please tell me about Kalo and her family.
M.T. (F) Kalo married (M) ‘Ula and their children are:
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1. (M) Sepeti
2. (F) Taufa
3. (F) Vai
4. (M) Sunia
5. (M) Losepeli
6. (F) Vea
7. ( ) Sinamoni
8. (F) Pisila
9. (M) Fisi‘ifeta‘u
K.M. Who did (M) Sepeti marry?
M.T. (M) Sepeti married (F) ‘Uinise and their children are:
a. (M) Moli
b. (F) Finehika
c. (F) ‘Otumo’unga
d. (M) Tofavaha
e. (M) Ula
K.M. Tell me about (M) Moli’s wife and children?
M.T. Moli married to (F) ‘Ana and their children are:
(1) (M) Tu‘ipulotu
(2) (F) ‘Uha
(3) (F) Maikale
(4) (M) Saulala
(5) (F) Ma‘ata
(6) (M) Molimoli
(7) ( ) Kava
(8) (F)Vasiti
K.M.
Let’s go to (F) Finehika.
M.T. (F) Finehika married someone from Pangai.
1. (F) ‘Otumounga married someone from Vava‘u.
2. (M) Tofavaha was married at Folaha, but his wife died.
K.M.
Any information on (F) Taufa’s spouse and children?
M.T. (M) Taufa had:
1. a. (M) Fetu‘u, his wife from Ha’apai, died without children.
2. b. (M) ‘Aleki. Half white of and in New Zealand
K.M. How about (F) Vai?
M.T. (F) Vai married someone from Vava‘u and had lots of children.
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K.M. How about (M) Sunia?
M.T. Sunia’s sons were:
1. (M) Sione Folilaki married (F) ‘Alapasita. His mother was (F) Ate.
2. Moeaki, whose mother was (F) Tano.
K.M. What do you know about (M) Losepeli?
M.T. (M) Losepeli married (F) Heimoana from Nomuka, Ha‘apai and they had some children
but Heimoana died.
K.M. How about (F) Vea?
M.T. (F) Vea married (M) Sione Vaka‘uta of Kolomotu‘a, they had;
1. (M) Viliami
2. (M) ‘Isileli
3. (F) ‘Ofa
4. (F) Mele’ana.
K.M. What do you know about (?)Sinamoni?
M.T. Sinamoni married one from Nukuleka and they had:
1. (F) Maile
2. (F) another daughter whose name I can’t remember.
K.M. How about (F) Pisila?
M.T.
Pisila married (M) Lepani of Ha’afeva, they had;
1. (M) Foni
2. (F) ‘Evalini
3. (F) Fusimo‘omo, who married (M) Fusi, a telegrapher.
4. (F) Fe‘iloaki
5. and others
K.M. Talk to me about (M) Fisi‘ifeta‘u.
M.T. (M) Fisi‘ifeta‘u married (F)‘Atilini, they live right here. They had:
1. (M) Sūnia
2. (F) ‘Iva
3. (M) Lito
4. (F) Fina.
K.M. Who was (F) Pisila’s father?
M.T.
(F) Pisila’s father was (M) Sinavatu from Tungua.
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K.M. Do you remember your spouse’s birth date?
M.T.
I can’t remember it right now, but I remember his death date. He died on the 16th of
May, 1975, here in Ha‘afeva Ha‘apai.
K.M. Maile, thank you so much for all these wonderful data you have shared with us at this
time. The rest of the time is yours to express your feeling or message to your family.
M.T. Kalo, I’m so grateful to you, for your coming to bring the good news for us to share my
genealogy and our family at this time. I’m so grateful to the Lord for leading you to me so
this work can be accomplished today.
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