LAKUFA'ANGA

map of 'Eua Island

It is very interesting to grow up in the island that I am proud of it. You may ever wandered of what is it but it is the beautiful island of ‘EUA. 

Missionary tour to Lakufa'anga

It was really amazing to know that my mother is from Veitongo and my father is from the island of Vava’u. I sometimes question myself of where I am. But because at these little tiny of ‘EUA  which I always as the island of green and hope. Ever since I grew up I heard this name LAKUFA’ANGA. I wondered how it look like and why is it called. It is also known as one of the very famous historical site in the island. It is located on the south east end of the island of ‘Eua. It known in English as “THROW THE FA FRUIT”.

far tree at Lakufa'anga

 It is a story from long time ago. It was all about a family of seven members. All was this family had to eat was fa fruit. 

fa fruit

This is one of the famous noble and known fruit that use for making lays. Its smells good with colour red. As of this family they eat the fa fruit when it is very dry. In fact we may really wanted to eat it unless there were no food available. This was the problem of that family.

horse and the image of Lakufa'anga

Time goes by this family started to worried because they have eaten almost the fa fruit off the trees. Its came to this parent thinking that their children will be die of starvation because there were nothing more to eat inorder to survive. The parents were really sorry for their children there were nothing else to do and to think of but for them to take off their lives. This poor parents jumped off the cliffs into the sea, in order for their children to survive on what was left from the fa fruit.

ocean

ocean where the parents jump

          It was so sad for this children to lose their parents but theirwere no way to solve the problem but to take off their life. As they move along they were running out of fa to eat. They became to dieing in starvation. They did not know where else to eat and what to do because they are a children they have no choice but to follow what their parents did. They decided to jump to their death over the cliffs into the ocean.

fa tree

          The story does not end there. But as of now when you visit the area there is a saying that when you throw fa off the cliffs into the ocean in this area were the family of seven drop to their death. Their will appear and come as seven turtle. Meaning of the seven members of the family thinking that you’re throwing fa for them to eat. They have been re-incarnated into turtles. 

turtles

It is very true in now a days. People from different places who travel to ‘Eua have seen this historical site. I have experience this because I’ve seen it for almost every year.

          There is a poem of lakufa’anga with its saying:

        The Poem OfLakufa’anga

Tuakau 'ia( thefathers name)

Mo ho'ofanau (and your family)

Ha'u' 'o kaia'efa( come eat the fa)                                                               Teulakuatu( that I throw for you)