Tongan Oral Genealogy Project
English Version
Interview with
Sione Mailefihi Vehikite
of, Talafo'ou Nuku'alofa,
Tongatapu
Digital Conversion Tape 474
Tonga Tape 189 – Parts 1 & 2
KALOLAINE MAPA : The Tonga Oral Genealogy Project, this is tape # 189 side A, the
interviewer is Kalolaine Mapa, the interviewē is ‘Sione Mailefihi Vehikite of Talafo’ou Nuku’alofa
Tongatapu Tonga . Sione Mailefihi Vehikite will answer the questions concerning his genealogy,
and this is the first interview concerning his genealogy, today is the 8th of June 1976.
K.M. I'm happy to be here with you so we can talk and have this interview about your family
history and family genealogy. Please tell me where you were born and your birth date.
S.V.
(M) Sione Mailefihi Vehikite. I'm 65 years old and I was born in that beautiful place
by the sea called Nukuleka, Tongatapu, Tonga.
K.M. Who was the one who named you?
S.V.
She was ( F ) Poli, sister o f Nginingini.
K.M. Did you live right here at Nukuleka as you were growing up?
S.V.
I lived here at Nukuleka, but my mother was married to someone from Talafo'ou,
Tongatapu. I finally left Nukuleka in 1930.
K.M. Do you remember the woman you were first married to?
S.V.
Yes, ( F ) Kalatiola Tea. Her mother was ( F ) Selu from here in Nukuleka and father
was (M) Mafi, a Samoan.
K.M. Do you know if (F) Kalatiola had any si bl i ngs ?
S.V.
Most of them dead. The only one sister is still living was ( F ) Sefa, the mother of
Kalemeli and those children. ( F ) Kalatiola is now married to someone from
Ha’akame..
K..M. Can you tell me if you had any children out of wedlock?
S.V.
Yes, thrēe of them:
1. (F) Mele Fūnaki (died)
2. (M) 'Alatini
3. (M) Koli
K.M
Tell me about Mele Fūnaki and her family?
S.V.
She married ( M ) Sione Fūnaki and they had lots of children.
K.M. How about ( M ) 'Alatini?
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S.V.
‘ A l a t i n i was married to (F) Manu. Their children are:
1. (M) Molino
2. (M) Tēvita
3. (F) Vinola
4. (F) Lute
5. (M) Manisela.
K.M. Tell me about ( M ) Koli and his family.
S.V.
He is still single
K.M. Tell me about your second marriage and wife.
S.V.
My second wife's name is (F) Maikale, the rest of our children are:
1. (F) Tilisa
2. (F) Tupou
3. (M) Pongi
4 .(F) Sūlifa
5. (F) 'Ofa
6. (F) Tetefa
7. (M) Viliami
8 (F) Kolotina
9. (M) Mēsui
K.M. Do you know if Tilisa is married yet?
S.V.
She was married to ( M ) Peni Tavalu and their children are:
1. (M) Sālesi
2. (F) Naimila
3. (F) Tupou
4. (M)Faitangane
5. (M) Matanuku
6. (M) Tapu
7. (M) Sione Vehikite
8. (F) Kolotina
K.M. (M) Peni Tavalu from where?
S.V.
From Koulo, Ha'apai. His parents are ( M ) Matakipau and (F) Mele Vesi and
they are now living at Lakepa.
K.M. Tell me about ( F ) Tupou's family?
S.V.
Tupou married (M) Mōsese Hāmani. They have two children:
2
1. (F) ’Ileni Mosese
2. (F) Lata
K.M.` Tell me about ( F ) Sūlifa and her family.
S.V.
Sūlifa out of wedlock had
1 . ( M ) 'Amalani Vehikite by (M) Taāni Talia 'uli from Ha’akame.
Later Sūlifa married (M) Fūnaki from Taoa, Vava'u they had:
2. (M) Mōsese
3. (F) Vai
K.M. How about ( F ) 'Ofa?
S.V.
She had (M) Tīmalu out of wedlock, by (M) Muli from Vava'u.
K.M.
How about ( F ) Tetefa? Is he married yet?
S.V.
She is married to Laiolo in New Zealand and they had;
1. (M) Kīveni Laiolo.
2. (F) name unknown
K.M. How about ( M ) Viliami? Is he married yet?
S.V.
Not yet.
K.M. Tell me about your parents, please.
S.V.
( M ) Vilisoni Ma'u and ( F ) Milise Asi.
K.M. Did you have any brothers and sisters?
S.V.
There were three of us:
1. (F) Siale had children by (M) Taufa Lehā’uli, of Makaunga.
a. (F) Mele Lātiume married (M) Sēkope Loholoho of ‘Eua, had;
i. (M) Tēvita Sēkope
ii. (M) Vilisoni Ma’u
iii.(F) Tisiola
b. (M) Filimone has died.
2. (F) Lingisiva
3. (M) Sione Mailef i hi Vehikite (that's me)
K.M.
How about Filimone, is he married yet?
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S.V.
( M ) Filimone was married to (F) Siosi of Makaunga, Their children:
1. (M) Vili Maka
2. (M) Sālesi
3. (F) Lātū
4. (F) Milika
5. (M) Suli.
K.M. How about Lingisiva, did she have any children?
S.V.
Yes.
1. (M) Vai
2. (F) Sose
3. (F) Siu
4. (F) Ana
5. (M) Siaiku.
K.M. Can you recite for me some of your genealogical line as far as you can?
S.V.
A man named ( M ) Tu'ifuna married ( F ) Mele Mafi and they had;
1. (F) Mele Lātū
2. (M) Siosifa whose son is Mīsini who had (M) Vilisoni Ma’u who is my father.
Mele Lātū married ‘Amone and she had:
l. (F) Fehoko
2. (F) Lepolo
3. (M) Lea
4. (M) Tēvita Mena - had no children
5. (M) Nani - had no children
K.M. Do you know any of (F) Fehoko's children?
S.V.
Yes, a n o n l y c h i l d
1 . (M)’Alifeleti Falekāono. He just died. and
2 . (F) Lepolo’s were:
a. (M) Lino. He died
b. (M) Tāvite. He died
c. (F) Kā who was married to one from Malapo.
d. (M) Kosi
K.M. Tell me about ( M ) Lea.
S.V.
Lea only had one a daughter but she is now dead.
K.M. Was that all of the children of Mele Lātū?
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S.V.
K.M.
S.V.
There were other children:
1. (M) Siosifa
2. (M) Kēsomi
3. (M) 'Āpolosi died no children
4. (F) 'Asinate
5. (F) Mele Lōsana
How about 'Asinate?
She had:
1. (M) Limutea
2. (F) Nūnia
3. (F) Mele Mafi. They all died.
But ( M ) Kēsomi held the title of a Matāpule for Kalaniuv alu or Niua, called
"Fakahafua."So Kēsomi had the first given name of Fakahafua. Then he died. His
son, Fili Fakahafua was 2nd, then now his other child is Manoa Fakahafua 3rd.
K.M. And where was (M)Tu'ifuna from?
S.V.
From Okoa, Vava'u. He was brought up to live at Fonuamotu and he married (F )
Mel es ēi n i who al r ea d y had these children:
1. (M) Lēisi
2. (M) Pale
3. (F) 'Ana Kaisipi
4 (F) I can't think of her name now.
K.M. Do you know ( M ) Mīsini's mother?
S.V.
Not right now, but there was one woman named (F) Fusi at Manuka who would know. So
I'll get that information later for you.
My paternal grandmother is (F) Mele Fūnaki, from Navutoka
My mother is Milise Asi, her parents are (M) ’Aisea and (F) Kalo Lapila had;
1. (F) Lātū married (M) Havea they had;
a. (M) Kutu married (F) Kesa and had
i. (F)Tupou, an only child.
b. (M) Tonga Pōteki married (F) Lītea and had;
i. (M) Vaea married (F) ’Apikale from Ha’apai
ii. (M) Foloke married (F)Sivi had;
(1) (M) Siulanga, and
(2) (M) Kolopeaua
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iii.(M) Palei married (F) Sisīlia and had
(1) (F) Lū’isa
iv. (M) Tonu married (F) ’Ōlive and had
(1) Fe’ofa’aki
v. (F) Sīlia married (M) Falealea and had
(1) (F) Vāvāhe’a
vi. (F) ’Akosita married (M) Tēvita had
(1) (M)Tonga Pōteki.
vii. (F) Fai’ana still single
viii (F) Kalo married Sione Lātū had
(1) (M) Nafe
ix (F) Laukau married (M) Siaosi had
(1) (F) Hēhea
x. (M) Mīsini died single
xi (F) Tiueti died single
c. (F) Mele’ana married (M) Kailahi of Holonga had
i. (M) Tangitangi
2. (F) Lupe had (M) Fīnau by (M) Hakafā of Puke
Fīnau married (F) Fepaki, and had
a. (M) Sione Tamānika,
b. Sālō,
c. (F) Tupou,
d. (F) Sela,
e. (M) Lūpeni and
f. (F) ’Ana.
3. (M) Ikafoli married (F) Poi but was barren.
4. (M) Pauli married (F) Siokāpeti had
a. (F)’Aola and
b. (F) Kalo
5.
Kālisi was barren
6. (M) Fīnau was also barren
(F) Kalo Lapila had siblings,
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1. (F) Naulangi,
2. (F) Mele Langi,
3. (M) ’Aisake they lived at Ha’afeva so I don’t know much about them,
(M) Fuluvaka and (F) Mekemeke’s children are;
1. (F) Maikale born 6 Sept. 1920 in Talafo’ou
2. (M) Solo
3. (M) Tava
4. (F) Vika
Sione Mafile’o expresses his heart felt gratitude for being included in this endeavor to preserve what
he knows of his family.
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