King, Queen and congregation joined together this morning to remember the late Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mata’aho at the Kolomotu’a Centenary church.
Their Majesties, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho, and some members of the royal family joined hundreds of people at the Free Wesleyan service.
The congregation was visibly moved by the realisation that the Queen Mother was no longer with them.
The Church’s Secretary General, Dr Tevita Havea, told the king the church today looked shapeless (“fuofuanoa”), a Tongan reference to a situation where someone was showing no interest in what was being doing because something or someone had gone or was lost.
Although the Queen Mother was resting at Mala’ekula her image was in the church members’ thinking and prayers, Dr Havea said.
The king and the queen were visibly miserable, but watched in approval while Dr Havea spoke from the pulpit.
Some of the royals, including Hon. Virginia Rose Aleamotuʻa, Hon. Sālote Maumautaimi Tuku’aho, Prince Tungi and Princess Latufuipeka took part in hymns and Bible readings.
The Haʻamo
After todayʻs thanksgiving service Prince Ata and Princess Latufuipeka led the Haʻa Ngataʻs haʻamo to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa.
The haʻamo, or carrying a basket of food tied with long kavei to a stick over the shoulders of two persons will continue on until the 10th night of the funeral taboo is over.
The food includes fruit, root crops and meat to feed people with responsibilities during the funeral taboo.
These responsibilities include the kau nima tapu (people whose hands are regarded as taboo) after they touched the body of the Queen Mother and prepared her after she died and before her burial.
There have also been kava ceremonies at certain places around the palace as a show of respect to the deceased.
Those with these responsibilities are divided into three groups known as polas. Members of the Fale Haʻakili’s pola are staying at Pangai Lahi. Members of the Haʻa Tufunga pola are staying at Mapuʻafuiva whereas the ʻUlutolu pola are at Talakaepau.
The burial of the Queen Mother on Wednesday was followed by the normal practise of feituʻui, led by Princess Pilolevu and a haʻamo by her daughter Hon. Fanetupou Vavaʻu Kaho and her kainga from Nukunuku.
Another haʻamo was carried by Lord Lavaka’s kainga from Pea. The title Lavaka was also held by the king.
Lord ‘Ahome’e, the Queen Mother’s late brother, also presented a ha’amo from his kainga.
Other ha’amos from Lord Veikune, Lord Vaea, Prince Tungi, Crown Prince ‘Ulukalala Tupouto’a were also presented.
Lord Tu’ilakepa told Kaniva News not all the nobles could carry ha’amo because the funeral taboo ran for only 10 days.
He said the ha’amo had already been taken up by the royals and most nobles had not had an opportunity to present it to the polas or go straight to the palace.
Instead, they presented their own ha’amo to the Crown Prince at his Liukava residence because they had no opportunity to
The funeral restrictions for the Queen Mother’s death will be lifted on March 11 with the practice of fakamalele.
The main points
- The late Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mata’aho, was remembered during this Sunday’s morning service at the Kolomotu’a Centenary church .
- Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho and some members of the royal family joined hundreds of people at the Free Wesleyan service.
- The congregation was visibly moved by the realisation that the Queen Mother was no longer with them.
- The Church’s Secretary General, Dr Tevita Havea, told the king the church today looked shapeless (“fuofuanoa”), a Tongan reference to a situation where someone was showing no interest in what was being doing because something or someone had gone or was lost.
