Page 25 - IB MAR 2017

Obituary

Halaevalu Mata’aho Ahome’e May 1926 - February 2017

Ode

to a

Queen

MUCH loved by her subjects, respected
throughout the kingdom, Queen Ha-
laevalu Mata’aho ‘Ahome’e was laid to
rest in the Royal Tombs at Mala’ekula
on March 1.
The late Queen Mother bore two
kings – Tupou VI and his eccentric
brother, Siaosi Tupou V, who died in
2012.
And she was Queen Consort of
Tonga from 1965 to 2006 as wife of
King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV whom she
married in 1947.
Tupou IV ascended the throne in
1966 after the death of his mother,
Queen Salote, the previous year in
Auckland, New Zealand. Queen of hearts ... Halevalu Mata’aho ‘Ahome’e Photo: Invictus
A quarter of a century later, Mata’aho Royal Family acted in the best interests on her 90th birthday last year: “Her
– like her mother-in-law – went to New of the kingdom. Majesty The Queen Mother’s wis-
Zealand and succumbed to an illness In a rare moment of informality, dom, faith, compassion, commitment
which she had suffered for some time. the Queen Mother watched on last to charity and love for the people of
Born the eldest daughter of ‘Ahome’e year as her grandson – Crown Prince, Tonga has been witnessed in Tonga
(Manu-‘o-pangai) and his wife, Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala – and her daugh- throughout the decades of Her Maj-
Heuʻifanga, Halaevalu was descended ter, Princess Pilolevu Tuita, danced esty’s presence.”
from Ma’afu – the warring prince who with commoners at a wedding in Fiji. More than 100,000 Tongans turned
governed Lau and threatened to rule Ever observant of duty to the crown, out for the funeral with people wear-
Fiji in the late 1800s. she left proceedings early to allow the ing black and radio stations playing
As Ma’afu’s great-great-grand- younger royals to let their hair down. religious music from the moment her
daughter she had blood ties to several Back in Tonga – royal observers death was announced.
Fijian chiefly families including those said – the Queen Mother would not Times of Tonga publisher and
in Lakeba, Taveuni, Bau and Rewa. have allowed such frivolity. manager Malemanu Bloomfield said
Those links were revived last year Despite her piercing looks and sharp Mata’aho’s death was a huge loss for
through the marriage of her niece, tongue which could cause errant roy- the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Odette ‘Ainise Kilinalivoni Tupouo- als and commoners to literally wither Tongan social media was flooded
homohema Taumoepeau-Tupou to in their places, this was a woman of with messages and condolences from
Ratu Penaia Kamisese Tuivanuavou compassion. abroad and within the country.
(Edward) Ganilau. Her social work at the Alonga Center Even some of the younger Tongan
Mata’aho was educated at St Jo- and the Tonga Red Cross involved royals have posted the news on Face-
seph’s Convent School, Nuku’alofa, helping the elderly and those with book - one granddaughter writing “my
Tongatapu, and St Mary’s College, disabilities. heart is broken in pieces”.
Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand. Even Prime Minister Samuela On Twitter, a Tongan man compared
She was a stickler for protocol and ‘Akilisi Pohiva, an outspoken critic the death to the moon disappearing.
insisted that members of the Tongan of Mata’aho’s husband proclaimed q Invictus News and Features

Islands Business, March 2017 25