Hiva: Si’i Tonga – Makamaile

‘Oku ou malie’ia he hiva ko ‘eni, fakamanatu melie pe ki he taimi kuo hili moe famili ‘i Tonga’ na. Mou mamata atu mo hivehiva pe mo Makamaile. Malo ma’u koloa .

Beautiful song describing village life in Tonga, brings back many memories. I will attempt to translate as best I can. Makamaile talk about the backstory to this song which starts at 14:00

Si’i Tonga fa’u ‘o Makamaile (14:00)

Teu langa fale Tonga ‘i ha ki‘i potu vao

Pea huohuo fiefia pe

Kaka hake toli niu, Pea inu pe ke fiu

Fakalata fiemalie

Kaka hake heke hifo hihi loku hau he ifo tuli hopo kakautahi faka’uha pe

Si‘i Tonga e koe ki‘i ‘Otu Motu ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe hehe,

Ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

‘I he hopo ae la’a teu fiefia pe

Ngaahi lou’akau lalanga toli mei

‘o kato tulu pe ‘a e fale lalanga pola pe

Fakalata fiemalie

Hifihifi ke manifi fakapakupaku mei pekepeke tunu moa moe manioke

Si‘i Tonga e koe ki‘i ‘Otu Motu ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

Te u mapu tuitui

Taufetuli ta’e su

Toli fekika tuli puaka oiaue

Tafue va’inga moa pea hiko ono pe

Fakalata fiemalie

Langatoi kumi toi ‘i ha lalo mohokoi

Kumi veka (ki) keu ‘ilo’i koe

Si‘i Tonga e ko e ki‘i ‘Otu Motu ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe hehe

ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

Taitai to ‘ae la’aa

Teu manatu atu pe

Ki he taimi faklata pe ko e

Na’e nofo ‘a e famili

I ha ki’i poto vao

Fakalata fiemalie

‘I he malu efiafi na’e tafu pe ha afi

‘o fanongo talanoa koe fananga pe

Si‘i Tonga e koe ki‘i ‘Otu Motu ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe hehe

ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

Na’e tuku ‘a e fonua ‘e he Tu’i ko Tupou

Kia Tu’i mo ‘Eiki ‘o e langi

Kae lilingi hifo ai ae ngaahi tapuaki

Ae ‘ofa moe tui lahi

Koe kakai fa’a lotu koe kakai tui lahi

Koe kakai fe’ofo’aki fakakalaisi

Tauhi sapate hiva malie  

‘o fe’ofo’ofani ma’u pe x2

Kaka hake heke hifo hihi lou hau he ifo tuli hopo kakautahi faka’uha pe

Si’i Tonga e koe ki’i ‘Otu Motu ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe

ko si’oto ‘ofa’anga ma’u pe x 2

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Hiva: Si’i Lolo Lyrics

Mou teuteu ke tau hiva e! Get ready to sing-a-long!

I had fun translating this for one of my readers. With a bit of research I found out the meaning and history behind the song. Apparently this was originally composed by Talolakepa Fulivai on behalf of a young Queen Mata’aho, wife of Tupou IV in the 1950’s who captained a champion Netball** team named “Lolo ‘a Halaevalu” (being the nickname for Neiafu, Vava’u) during a tournament in Vava’u against other teams from Vava’u.

CHORUS

Si’i Lolo

Vā’inga loto mokomoko

Fai si’o anga

Ko e malimali katakata

Kuo malo mu’a

Si’omou hela’ na

mo e tou’anga

Si’ono faingata’a

Si’i Lolo [Delightful Vava’u! probably referring to the Teams in the tournament]

playing it cool

as usual your sweet nature

of cool laughing smiles.

thank you dearly for your tiring efforts there

and your earnest work

through the battles faced.

VERSE 1

Funga Veitatalo mo e Hala Kaute

Funga Veingangana mo e Hala Siale

‘Ā’ā pe ‘oua ‘e mohe

Na’a ke tafia ai pea ke mole

Pea ke hanu mo ke faka’ise’isa

Ka kuo ‘osi si’ete fakatokanga

Funga Veitatalo team and the Hala Kaute team

Funga Veingangana team and the Hala Siale team

Stay awake do not tire/ sleep

before you are swept away to your peril

and you complain with regret,

But I have forewarned you.

VERSE 2

Tala hoku ‘ofa ki Lelea

Mo e fu’u Fā ko Fieme’a

Lolo ‘a Halaevalu si’ene tafe

Lanu ai pea ke hake

Pea ke hifo ki he Fanga Leavale 

Mo e Heilala ‘o Loto Takaunove.

Tell of my love to Lelea

and to the big tree of Fieme’a

Lolo ‘a Halaevalu team oh how she flows,

colouring the terrain up and

down towards Fanga Leavale

and to the Heilala Royal Estate of Loto Taukaunove.

**Netball otherwise known as “pasiketipolo” is the Tongan version of netball which has 9 a-side instead of 7 a-side.

Ka ‘i ai ha fehala’aki pea kātaki ‘o fakatonutonu mai e.

Mālō tu’a ‘ofa atu Hema

Fakafeta‘i: Praise the Lord

This youtube clip is a great example of how we Sāmoans and Tongans learn back in the Islands. No matter where we are at Church or at School, singing and dancing is part of our DNA, instilled in us at a young age. Now most of us would be living far away from the Kingdom leading a western lifestyle but this is how we should approach our learning of the language. Making it fun. Boys should not be passively learning. And everyone is involved.  Sing-a-long now!

Samoan verse –
Ua ou sau te vivi’i le ali’i
Ae pe fa’apefea oe
Ua ou sau te vivi’i le ali’i
Ae pe fa’apefea oe
Ua ou sau te vivi’i le ali’i
Ae pe fa’apefea oe

Alelu, Alelu, Aleluia !!

English verse –
I don’t know what you came to do
But I came to praise The Lord
I don’t know what you came to do
But I came to praise The Lord
I don’t know what you came to do
But I came to praise The Lord

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah !!

Makahokovalu

‘Oku ‘oatu ‘a e hiva ko eni ma’amoutolu kau ‘Uiha ma’alahi. Ka ‘i ai ha me’a ‘oku hala pea mou kataki ‘o tanaki mai. 

A good way to re-learn your language is through songs. This song sung by Teine Latu is a hiva hanu a lamenting song for ‘Uiha an Island in Ha’apai and perhaps a girl left behind. The italic bolded words are all landmarks associated with ‘Uiha. This is a literal translation of the song.

Makahokovalu 

  1. Fangufangu mohe he vaeua pō
  2. Si‘eku ‘ofa’ni mo e manako
  3. ‘Oku fuiva ‘a e si‘oku loto
  4. He fe‘ofa‘aki he vavamama‘o
  5. Ikai malava si‘ono ha‘aha‘a
  6.  Si‘eku ‘ofa’ni fai tokotaha
  7. Lotomo‘ua he fiemata
  8. Kae vaetu‘u a ‘e he vaha
  9. Makahokovalu te u si‘i fēfē?
  10. He ko e tauala ‘a e folau he
  11. Auhanga Mea ‘oku kei taka fe
  12. Liku’omatoto te u si‘i vale
  13. Tangi muimui si‘oku loto
  14. Ongo Ha‘angana ke ta fe‘ao
  15. ‘Otukinekina si‘oto makano
  16. Ko e na‘a a si‘i to‘onga pō
  17. Lose ‘o e MakakoFele’unga
  18. Tatongi ‘i hoku mafutefua
  19. Huni ‘o e ‘Api ko Hala ‘Ikumea
  20. Sio‘ata Vai ko Kanakana 

Makahokovalu

  1. Awoken from my slumber in the midnight hour
  2. My dear love and one desire
  3. My dear heart is a seabird
  4. that travels long-distance like our love.
  5. Not able to face her busy life full of difficulties
  6. My poor love doing it on her own
  7. My heart is concerned to see her
  8. But my feet stands still in this space/ time
  9. Makahokovalu what shall become of me?
  10. my voyage is sailing close to the wind
  11. but the wind keeps changing direction at Auhanga Mea Pass
  12. Cliff-bound coast of Matoto I will be a poor fool
  13. My dear heart cries following
  14. Two from Uiha look out for each other
  15. Weary Island (south of Uiha) is what one desires
  16. Calms my emotional state at night.
  17. The Rose of Rock of Fele’unga
  18. is imprinted in my heart makes it whole
  19. like the huni flowers at Home of Hala ‘Ikumea
  20. and the Mirrored waters of Kanakana.

 

Hiva: Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki/ Song: I am Soldier of God

 

 

I am a soldier of God

I heard this song during this years Children’s White Sunday and have found the words to it. I am an advocate for learning through play and song so enjoy. Is this useful? Let me know?

Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
No’o’aki ‘a e mo’oni – tied on my belt with truth
tu’uaki e kosipeli – spreads the Gospel
pea he’ikai te u hola he fili – and I will not flee from being chosen
he ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – for I am a soldier of God

Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
Kofutau’aki e mā‘oni’oni – i wear the breast shield of righteousness
mo’ui pe ‘i he kelesi – filled alive with grace
pea he’ikai te u hola he fili – and I will not flee from being chosen
he ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – for I am a soldier of God

Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
topuva’e’aki e melino – my feet soled with peace
mo tukulolo kakato – and I surrender totally
pea he’ikai te u hola he fili – and I will not flee from being chosen
he ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – for I am a soldier of God

TAU
Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
pea he’ikai te u hola he fili – and I will not flee from being chosen
he ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – for I am a soldier of God

Ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – I am a soldier of God
heletā‘aki e folofola – fight with the sword of the word of god
mo’ui’aki ‘ene ‘ofa – reborn with his love
pea he’ikai te u hola he fili – and I will not flee from being chosen
he ko e sotia au ‘a e ‘Eiki – for I am a soldier of God

 

 

LLT Love song dedications: Loka Siliva

So your Tongan partner or father/ mother goes on and on about these old Tongan Love songs but you just don’t get it. Koloa pe e lava ‘a e Let’s Learn Tongan Love Song dedications ‘o tokoni atu. The first of many LLT Love song dedications to come. I hope you enjoy.

We learn best through songs and our first song has a wonderful story to it. Composed by the Late Queen Sālote for her future husband Tungī titled the Silver locket. I can imagine her writing this song, she is a young woman getting ready to marry at the age of 17, a year before her father Tupou II dies and she ascends the throne. She has her kingdom and people on her shoulders, she is young but in this composition shows her readiness for love and to dedicate the rest of her life for Tungī who is more experienced in life at nearly 30 years of age. Like the wind is free to do as it pleases (ie Tungī), she decides her heart will be like a silver locket, forever locked for him only.

Tau
Amusia pe ‘a e matangi’na
‘Oku’ne angi fa’iteliha
Kae hopoate pe kita
He ‘ofa ‘oku loka siliva
Chorus
I envy that wind
It moves freely as it pleases
Nevertheless, I surrender myself
to love that is the silver locket

Himi 391: ‘Oku ai ha ki’i fonua lyrics

One of my favourite hymns. It tells the story of a little island in the ocean which did not know God and was not blessed (so say the missionaries), but has many blessings now because Tupou I gave his nation to God.

‘Oku ai ha ki’i fonua
‘Oku tu’u ‘i ‘Oseni.
Na’e ‘ikai ke ma’u ‘Otua,
Na’e masiva he lelei.
Haleluia! Kuo monū’ia eni.

Tama Tonga, tu’u ‘o ngāue,
Ho koloa ke fakamonū.
Lotu ki he ‘Eiki ma’u pē,
Ke ne poupou ki he lotu
‘O malu’i,
‘O malu’i ‘a Tupou

*****
There is a small Island
that stands in the Ocean.
It  did not have God,
They were poor in goodness.
Hallelujah! They are now blessed.

Tongan man, stand and work,
your treasure must be expressed.
Pray to the Lord always,
for his support in prayer
To protect,
To protect Tupou.

A Royal visit to Tongan Language School

‘I he ‘aho 15 ‘o Ma’asi ‘e me’a mai ‘a Pilinisesi Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu ki he’emau ako’anga Tongan Language School ‘i Senee’ni. Pea ‘oku mau teuteu kihe ‘aho mo ako’i ‘a e fo’i fasi ko e Fala Paongo ‘o Pilolevu

Feeling excited with the upcoming Royal visit on 15th March. Princess Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu will be gracing our Tongan Language School here in Sydney with her presence and we’re all excited. Will keep you guys posted how it goes, we are learning this song to sing for the Princess, titled Priness Pilolevu’  Fala Paongo (royal mat), hopefully we do it justice.

Tongan Childrens Silly Song about Grandma

Tongan Childrens Silly Song about Grandma

If you have primary school aged children you will know the tune of Mr Clickety Cane by Peter Coombe. I use that tune to sing this silly song that I made up. For Tongans we have the utmost respect for our elders and I would never say this to my grandma directly. This is simply a silly song which does not need to make sense and it is the best way for children to learn. Children love silly songs and itʻs a great way to engage them and besides how many people know of a grumpy grandma.

  1. Taʻahine ko Grandma – The girl that is Grandma
  2. ʻOku nifo ava – Is missing some teeth
  3. Faʻa kaikaila – always screaming she is
  4. Tuku ā ho faʻa ʻita – youʻre always getting mad, please stop!