PHOTO: Lady Tangikina ʻAhomeʻe. Photo/Supplied
Lady Tangikina ‘Ahomeʻe has been threatened with legal action
after teeth removed by local villagers from a dead whale were taken away with promises they would be sold in the United States.
Lady ‘Ahomeʻe is the daughter of Lord Nuku, lord of the estate that includes Kolonga village, where the whale washed up.
As reported earlier in Kaniva News, villagers cut out the teeth and jaw bones of a dead sperm whale.
It is alleged that Lady ‘Ahomeʻe sent a request through one of the villagers saying she could sell the teeth for them in the United States.
It is claimed that she said that if she did not sell the teeth, she would return them.
The teeth have not been returned and the villagers could not make contact with Lady ʻAhomeʻe.
Sia Adams from Tonga’s Police Communication Unit in Longolongo said an unhappy villager had lodged a complaint at Mu’a Police Station. It is understood the villager was Kepu Noa.
Kaniva News understands that Noa’s legal representative has written to Lady ‘Ahomeʻe and threatened civil action.
Neither Lady ‘Ahome’e nor Kepu Noa could be reached for comment.
It now appears that the bones have been sold, but that Noa did not receive any of the money sent to the village.
before washing ashore.Photo/SuppliedLord Nuku said he did not know anything about the allegations against his daughter.
He said he was at the beach while the villagers were removing the teeth and bones, but he did not know about anything involving Lady ‘Ahome’e.
Lord Nuku said he knew Noa, but denied that he had threatened to remove him and his family from Kolonga because of the action they had taken.
“Ask them where they got that information from,” Lord Nuku said.
Kaniva News understands that the bones were in fact bought by a Kolongan carver, Lafaele Folaumoeloa, who lives in Hawai’i, for TP$10,000 (NZ$6684).
Faka’osi Maama, the editor of Tonga Weekly, confirmed that the money was sent to the village through a niece of Folaumoeloa.
Folaumoeloa did not respond to our request for comment.
However, while the money was distributed in the village, it appears that Noa was not paid.
It has been suggested that this was because he was sick after the removal of the teeth and the bones from the carcass.
/SuppliedThe main points
- Lady Tangikina ‘Ahome’e has been threatened with legal action
after teeth removed by local villagers from a dead whale were taken away with promises they would be sold in Hawai’i. - Sia Adams from Tonga’s Police Communication Unit in Longolongo said villager, understood to be Kepu Noa, had lodged a complaint at Mu’a Police Station.
- Neither Lady ‘Ahome’e nor Kepu Noa could be reached for comment.
- It now appears that the bones have in fact been sold, but that Noa did not receive any of the money sent to the village.
For more information
Villagers remove jawbone and teeth from whale washed up on Kolonga beach
