Tongan Oral Genealogy Project
English Version
Interview with
Siosi‘ana Po‘uli
of, Kanokupolu, Tongatapu, Tonga
Digital Conversion Tape 442
Tonga Tape 188 – Parts 1 & 2
Tevita Uatahausi Mapa: This is Tape #188, side A. The interviewer is Tevita Uatahausi
Mapa. The interviewē is Siosi‘ana Po‘uli of Kanokopolu, Tongatapu. She will recite her
genealogy and this is the first interview. Today is June 5th, 1976.
Siosi‘ana Po‘uli: I am Siosi‘ana Po‘uli speaking, and I am reciting my history. I was born in
1912, 28th of March at Tu‘atalatau, Kolomotu‘a. I attended government primary school at
Kolomotu ‘a. (M) Puloka was my teacher. Second, my teacher was (M) Sila Talakai. Later I
transferred to Ma‘ofanga and attended the Catholic School named ‘Ahopanilolo for two years. I
then moved and attended the Catholic High School right here in town. In 1925 I could see that
no one could stay at home to care for my mother, so I stayed home to care for her. In 1930 I gave
birth to my first daughter:
1. (F) Namoe, born Aug. 14 1930:
2. (F) Nanise, born Oct. 5, 1931
3. (M) Sonatane, born May 25, 1933
In 1936 I finally decided to marry (M) Sosaia Vaea, the father of my children. We decided to
move to Kanokupolu to run a small grocery store. Not only that, we continued having more
babies:
4. (F) Salote, born 11 June 1936
5. (M) Sione ‘Umeahola, born 22 Jan. 1938
6. (F) Seilose, born 26 Aug. 1939
7. (M)Sosaia Falefa Hihifo, 11 Aug. 1944, who has died.
8. (M) Tahafe Longolongo, born 16 Aug. 1942
9. (F) Mele Tupou, born 25 Nov. 1945
10.(F) Lisia, born Jan. 7, 1949
11.(F) Elisapesi, born Feb. 14 1952, who died
My father was Salesi Po‘uli and my mother was Salote Mafile‘o. These are their children:
1. (F) ‘Ofa
2. (F) Popua
3. (F) Susana
4. (M) Filimone
5. (M)Takai
6. (F) Siosi‘ana (That’s me)
7. (F) Mele Tokiheveve.
(A) (F) Namoe married Dr. ‘Isileli ‘Aho, and their children are
1. (F) Mele Sia ‘Aho
2. (M) Siaosi ‘Aho. He is attending Australia University at Melbourne. He was married to
(F)‘Akanesi from Kolofo‘ou
3. (M) Leveni, who is a student in New Zealand.
4. (M) Seneti, who is a student at Church of England High.
(B) (F) Nanise married (M) Mapili of Ta‘anea, Vava ‘u, and their children are:
1. (F) Loleine, who worked at the office of Bryan Vaea (minister)
2 (M) Petelo Fakavā, who married someone in Hawaī.
3. (M) ‘Isileli
4. (F) ‘Ana Manu, a student at Ma‘ofanga.
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5. (M) Tali
6. (M) Falakiko, a student at English High.
7. ( M) Pasifiki, who is at Longolongo
8. (M) Petani, who is at Longolongo.
(C) (M) Sonatane married ‘Olivia from Vaini. Their children are:
1. (M) Uelingitonia Tuita
2. (F) Litia attending Church of England High School
3. (M) Siale, attending Church of England High School.
4. (F) Fine, at Government primary school.
5. (M) Saia, at Government primary school.
6. (F) Manu, at Government primary school.
7. (F) Peti, at Government primary school.
8. (F) Mele, at Government primary school.
9. (F) Namoe, still at home.
10. (M) Viliami, still at home.
(D) (F) Salote first married Viliami Siale and they had twins:
1. (F) Vasitai
2. (M) Siaosi,
3. (F) Sela,
Then Salote was divorced. Then married (M) Salesi Niuva. They had:
4. (M) Vili Vuni
5. (M) ‘Otunuku
Before her second marriage, Sālote had:
6. (F) ‘Ani, who married (M) Napole and they had two children. Their son died, but
their daughter is still living.
(E) Sione ‘Umeahola married Soana from Kolovai, but they made their home right here in
town. Their children are:
1. (M) ‘Afui, who died.
2. (M) Salesi Po‘uli, a student at Tailulu.
3. (F) Kolotita, a student a t Tailulu.
4. (F) Siosi’ana, at primary school.
5. (M) Solomone, at primary school
6. (M) Lomano, still young at home.
(F) (F) Seilose is not married, but she had some children;
1. (F) ‘Ana; her father was (M) Fungalei.
2. (F) Penita; her father was (M) Sipa Fine of Fo‘ou,
3. (F) Susana: by (M) Sipa Fine also, now in the USA.
(G) (M) Tahafe married (F) Vaimoana of Ha‘asini. They have;
1. (M) Paula, a student at Government primary school here.
2. (M) Kilisimasi, also attending primary school here.
(H) (F) Mele Tupou married (M) Ma’usia of Ha‘atafu,(at the western end of Tongatapu) and
their children are:
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1. (M) Setaleki Tonga
2. (F) ‘Ofa ki Laie
3. (F) Taiana.
(I) (F) Lisia married (M) Moli from Niutoua They had one child:
1. Sinipata.
(F)‘Ofa, my oldest sister, Her children are:
1. (F) Losa, who died
2. (F) Laumanu married (M) Kavelata, a man from here.
3. (F) Vakahi, married (M) Popoaki from Leimatu‘a, Vava’u. They had no children.
4. (F) Mele, who died.
5. (F) ‘Ofa.
(F) Popua, next to ‘Ofa only had one son:
1. (M) Salesi Mapu. Resides in Australia. Fathered by (M) Lilo of Fiji.
Takai had no children.
(F) Mele Tokiheveve married (M) Sione Inu from Mu‘a. had:
1. (F) Luseane.
Then divorced. Mele had 2 children by (M) Tevisi Pelesikoti:
2. (F) Seini
3. (F) Viola
One brother was older than (M) Salesi Po‘uli. His name was Vili-Kuli-Ha ‘apai. He was first
married to a woman from Mu‘a named Lesieli and they had a son before (F) Lesieli died:
1. (M) Pō’ese.
Vili-Kuli-Ha‘apai remarried ‘Ema from Ha‘amoa. They had:
2. (F) Mele Pusiaki
3. (M) Siale Luani
4. (M) Niulala
5. (M) Tangifietaua.
(M) Po’ese married (F) Ma‘u from Kolomotu‘a. Their children are:
1. (F) ‘Ana
2. (M) Vili, who was a soldier and he died.
3. (F) Lesieli; she died.
4. (F) Setaita; married and living in New Zealand.
5. (F) Loseline, married (M) Vili Koka. Have lots of children,
‘Ana married (M) Samiu Lavulo and they had a son:
a. (M) Filisi married (F) Mele they had children.
(F) Mele (daughter of Vili-Kuli-Ha’apai) had two children:
a. (M) Siaki, by (M) ‘Elemia,
b. (M) Saia, by (M) Katoa. A dentist at Vava’u
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Siale had children:
a. (F) Mele, who married to a Samoan there.
b. (F) Palatisi. She also is married to a Samoan there.
c. (M) Niulala. I’m pretty sure he is married too.
Niulala had a daughter:
a. (F) Vika. She married a Samoan minister and they had a lot of children,
Tangifietaua was unmarried, died single. Those are (M) Vili-Kulī’s.
I forgot to mention Vili-Kuli-Ha‘apai’s oldest daughter.
(F) Vea Faleola. She married (M) Ve‘ehala of Kolomotu‘a. Their children are:
1. (M) Na‘a Pangai, who died,
2. (M) Moeakiola married (F) Lesieli from Tofoa, Tongatapu.
3. (F) Lolohea, married (M) Mavae from Ha‘apai, and had no children with him. She
had children out of wedlock:
a. (F) Fale’aka; her father was (M) Mumui.
b. (M) Paula; his father was (M) Fulivai.
c. (F) ’Aivi; her father was (M) Kalisi from Nomuka.
d. (F) Pule. I don’t know her father.
The oldest one in my mother’s siblings was:
(M) Tu‘ipulotu married (F) Hepi and they had a son:
1.(M) Saia, who married (F) Sailata from Ha‘ano, Ha‘apai.
(F) Siu married (M) Pese of Kolomotu‘a. Their oldest:
1. (M) Sione, who died single, unmarried.
2. (F) Lesieli; she married (M) Kaulave from Ha‘apai.
3. (M) Finau first married (F) Mele from Holonga. Then to (F) Falepua from Niua
4. (M) Sione Tupou married ‘Ainise from Fatai. They had:
a. (M) Samiuela
b. (M) Naisa
c. (F) Luana
These are all their children I know.
5. (M) Samiuela, who had no children.
6. (M) Kaisa had children out of wedlock before he died.
a. (F) Lupeolo.
b. (F) Vai
c. (M) Soakai those are the ones I know.
7. (F) ’Ana married one from Niua and had;
a. (F) Kalesita who married a foreigner.
Those are (F) Siu’s children.
(M) Tupou had 2 children;
1. (F) Toa single when she died.
2. (M) Pifeleti was married but died without kids.
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(F) Meleseini married (M) Po’uli from Vava’u, no kids.
(F) Sikipeni married (M) Tevita Fifita and had;
1. (M) Timote Afu married Mele from Kolomotu’a, Mele died so Timote married (F)
Kaufo’ou with children.
2. (M) Sione Misa married (F) Mele of Kolomotu’a, had;
a. (M) Malakai
b. (M) Tevita
3. (F) Manu married (M) Vili Sekona their children are;
a. (M) Piukana
b. (F) Ma’ata
c. (F) Toa
d. (F) Lesieli
e. Vasitai
f. (M) Tevita
g. (M) Sekona
h. (M) Paueli
i. (M) ’Alipate
K.M.
(F) Ma’ata, Manu’s daughter, was she married?
S.P.
Ma’ata married (M) Huluholo of Kolovai
(Picks up later)
(Sione Misa’s children continue)
c. (F) Mafile’o, than were divorced to marry (F) Kalo from Vava’u. they have;
i. (M) Tevita ‘Oto married daughter of (M) Kaitu’u of Kolomotu’a.
ii. (F) Fakalelu.
K.M. (F) ’Oli is (M) Tu’ipulotu’s daughter, what have you got on her.
S.P.
‘Oli married (M) Simi of Hofoa and had one;
1. (F) ’Ana married (M) Muti of Puke they had;
a. (F) ’Ailine
b. (F) Milika
c. (M) Feleti
K.M. (F) Meleseini is after ‘Oli. How about her?
S.P.
(F) Meleseini married (M) Sione Tupou had one child,
1. (M) Kanavale who died early.
K.M
(M) Kuli is after Meleseini, what’s of him?
S.P.
Kulī married (F) Mo’oni from Te’ekiu and had one child.
K.M. So those are Tu’ipulotu’s. How about Tupou?
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S.P.
(M) Tupou married (F) Kuila, had two children;
1. (F) Toa died in her youth.
2. (M) Pifeleti married (F) He from Hahake, were barren.
K.M. Tell me about Ma‘ata’s family, oldest daughter of Manu.
S.P.
(F) Ma‘ata was married to (M) Hulohula from Kolovai. Their children are:
1. (M) Manu-o-Pangai
2. (M) Mo’ungaloa
3. (F) Kinikini
More children, but I don’t know their names.
K.M. Tell me about (F) Lesieli’s children.
S.P.
All I know, (F) Lesieli had two children unmarried:
1. (M) Siale
2. (M) Semisi
Later she was married to ‘Ulu’ave of Ha‘asini and they had:
3. (M)Vili
4. (F) Litia
That’s all I know.
K.M. How about (M) Piukana? Any children?
S.P.
Piukana married (F) 'Ana from Mu'a. I don't know about their children.
K.M. Did he have any out of wedlock children?
S.P.
Only (F) Vasitai. She married (M) Peni Filimoehala (Chief title name) at Ma'ufanga.
They had:
1. (F) Salote
2. (F) ‘Itanoa
3. (F) Mele Naite
4. (F) Manu, who married someone at Ha'atafu, Tongatapu.
There are more children, but I don't know them.
K.M
Do think you mentioned all of Sikipeni's children?
S.P.
Oh no, Sikipeni had:
1 (F) 'Itanoa. She married someone from Vava'u and she died without children.
2. (M) Kuma. He married (F) Langaloa from Vava 'u. They had;
a. (F) 'Itanoa, named after the first one that died. She was married to (M) Keni
Taukolonga.
b. (F) 'Ana. She married Tava of Houma.
c. (F) Vasi Taiamoni, who married someone from Niua.
d. (F) Fusi, who married someone from Vava'u.
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e. (M) Kelepi
There's more but I don' know them.
K.M. Were there any one of Sikipeni's children came after Kumā?
S.P
There was:
3. (M) Taniela. He married to a Samoan and they had a daughter:
4. (M) Semi. He married (F) Lu’isa from Vava’u. They had :
a. (M) Tu'ipulotu, who died.
b. (M) Kelepi
c. (M) Viliami
d. (M) Nusi.
Semi divorced Lu’isa to married (F) Tiulipe from Vava'u and had:
e. (M) Latu Mailangi
f. (M) Tu'ipulotu
K.M. Whoa! Did we miss any more of (M) Sikipeni's children?
S.P.
(M) Lisala was the youngest. She married (F) 'Alisi of Kolovai. They had children:
1. (F) Matamoana. She married a white man from Australia.
2. (M) Fangupo married (F) Seneli, a daughter of (M) Siua Kaihau.
3. (F) Liliō. She married a son of Samiu Taumoepeau and are now living in Australia.
4. (M) Sifa. He married Soana, daughter of Sione Tonga and 'Ana Vaikakala.
5. (M) Timote, still single.
K.M. Tell me about Salesi's parents.
S.P.
Salesi Po’uli's parents were Sosaia Tuita and 'Ana Tonga Ha'apai.
K.M. Did Sosaia Tuita have any brothers and sisters?
S.P.
One brother: Salesi Mapu, who died. And a sister Setaita Mohulamu.
K.M.
Did Setaita Mohulamu have any children?
S.P.
Neither Mapu nor Setaita had any children.
K.M.
Tell me about their parents.
S.P.
They were (F) 'Atu Louaki and (M) Kaiasi.
K.M.
Who were Kaiasi's parents?
S.P.
The mother was (F) Popua and the father was (M) Vehikite.
K.M.
Tell me about the brothers of (M) Kaiasi.
S.P.
There was (M) Siale Haehae and (M) Talai.
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K.M.
Did (M) Siale Haehae have any children?
S.P.
Siale Haehae had no children, but Talai had some:
(F) 'Ilaisaane married Sione Kaivao of Kolovai and they had:
1. (F) Sa'ili
2. (M) Filipe Fakauho
3. (M) Lupina
4. (M) Fine
5. (M) Vili
K.M. Do you know if Sa'ili had any children?
S.P.
(F) Sa'ili married (M)Mo’ungaloa of Kolovai, their children were:
1. (M) Hululolo
2. (M) Sione Mo'unga
3. (M) Lopeti
4. (F) Mele Latai. She married Lupeti.
5. (M) Sāmiuela
K.M. Did Vehikite have any brothers or sisters?
S.P.
Two sisters that I know of,
1. (F) Seluvaia and
2. (F) 'Elisiva.
K.M. Where did (M)Vehikite come from.
S.P.
He came from 'Ōtea.
K.M. Any idea where (F) Popua's parents came from?
S.P.
Popua's parents are (F) Lākai and (M) Tupou Malohi, and (F)Popua's brother was (M)
Setaleki Mumui.
K.M. Tell me about Setaleki Mumui's children.
S.P.
His children were:
1. (F)'Ana Seini, who had one son:
a. (M) Ulukalala
2. (F) Mele Latai Niu'ui. She had no children, but she raised Sami Mafile'o.
3. (M) Sami Tupou. He had illegitimate children;
a. (F) 'Ilaisiane married (M) Fainga of Puke
b. (F) 'Ovava
c. (M) Maile.
K.M.
How about (F) 'Atu Louaki's parents?
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S.P.
Her father was (M) Fa’e from Pea, Tongatapu.
K.M.
Did (M) Fa’e have any brothers?
S.P.
Yes, the well-known warrior, (M) Tākai, of Pea.
K.M.
Tell me about (F) 'Ana Tonga's family.
S.P.
'Ana Tonga Ha 'apai's parents were (M) Fakalolo and (F) Litia. They had:
1 (F) 'Ana. She married (M)Tuita of Kolomotu'a.
2. (F) 'Ilaisāne, who had a daughter:
a. (F) Mele 'Ana
3.(M) Kini Tukia, who married (F) Lupe of Mu'a.
4. (F) Lopasi. married (M) Lulu from Ha'ano, Ha'apai.
K.M. Do you know about Fakalolo's siblings, father of 'Ana Tonga Ha'apai?
S.P.
Of what I know, there were:
1. (M) Koli
2. (M) Lausi'i married one from Faleloa and had (M)Vea.
K.M. Let's go to (F) Salote Mafile'o’s parents.
S.P.
Salote's parents were (M) Lisala Mafile'o and (F) Toafilimoe'unga.
K.M. How about Lisala's parents?
S.P.
They were (M) Tevita Mafile'o and (F) Melaia.
K.M. Do you know if Lisala had any brothers or sisters?
S.P.
Yes, a brother named
1. (M) Halaholo and a sister named
2. (F) Mafile 'o.
K.M. Did Halaholo have any children?
S.P.
Yes, he had:
1. ( ) Leka who married Lupe from Hofoa. They had:
1. (F) Lepeti married (M)Taani Suliafu. They had a daughter who died.
Later they had:
2. (M) 'Unga
3. (M) Tevita, who died.
4. (M) Haumono
5. (F) Kasa
6. (M) Solo
7. (F) Tapu'osi
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K.M. How about Mafile'o? Any children?
S.P
Mafile 'o married Toni and they had:
1. (F) Sina was married to (M) Tu'itupou from Fakakai.
2. (F) Fifita married (M) Kamoto
K.M. How about Fifita and (M) Kamoto, any children?
S.P
(F) Fifita and Kamoto children;:
1. (F) Fonuku
2. (F) Salote, who died
3. (M) Kamoto Ma'afu
4. (M) Kamoto Fuapau
5. ( ) Lōvai
6. ( ) Hala'unga
7. (M) Sione
8. ( ) Losa
K.M. Tell me about Sina's children.
S.P.
Sina's first son out of wedlock was:
1.. (M) Vailala
Then she was later married to Tu'itupou. They had:
2. (F) Mele Kosi
3. (F) Vika
4. (M) 'Iseleli
K.M. Tell me of Tevita Mafile'o's father.
S.P.
A man named (M) Latu Songi. I bet he was a Fijian.
K.M. Did Melaia have any brothers and sisters?
S.P.
Her brother was (M) Nusi, Nusi's son was:
1. (M) Pahulu, father of Paula Lava Pahulu.
K.M. Who was (F) Toafilimoe'unga's father?
S.P.
Her father was (Chief) Lasike, but I'm not sure of her mother.
K.M. Did she have any brothers?
S.P.
Her brother was named Lasike Taniela.
End of Second Interview.
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