| Vaimalō | |
|---|---|
| — Village — | |
| Nickname(s): Funga Mapitoa | |
| Country | Tonga |
| District | Vava'u |
Vaimalō, is a village in the western district of Vavaʻu in Tonga. Before the passage of the Vavaʻu Land Acts (V.L.A) of 1849 and 1914 that effectively placed Vaimalō under government control, the whole of Vaimalō was the single residential estate of Naufahu Mapilitoa and his family. Vaimalō's current general population is made up mainly of Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs family, relatives, and friends from Niue, Fiji, Samoa, and the Solomons.
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Naufahu Mapilitoa was the only child of Luseane ʻI-fanga-Hihifo to Finau Fisi. Naufahu Mapilitoa married Tulukava Siliika of Talau and they had one child, a son they named Avala-ʻae-tau. Upon Naufahu Mapilitoaʻs passing, Vaimalō became home to Avala-ʻae-tau and a few relatives. ʻAvala-ʻae-tau married ʻAlilia Funakitoutai and they had 4 children;
When His Majesty George Tupou I became Tu'i Vava'u, "Vava'u King", in 1833 after the death of Fīnau ʻUlukālala III (Tuapasi), he ushered in a new political and social era in Vava'u that became the historic road-map and foundation for change in all of Tonga forever.
When the V.L.A went into effect in 1849, His Majesty George Tupou I meticulously and cleverly persuaded countless Nobles or “ʻEiki” of Vavaʻu to accept the new V.L.A, especially those who stood to loose entire estates and land in accordance to the re-distribution ordinances of the new Vava'u Code. In exchange for the Nobles' acceptance and allegiance, His Majesty appointed the most influential of them to new governmental positions and bestowed upon some new aristocratic titles.
Such was His Majesty's appointment of a young Tevita Taʻofi-kae-tau Tapueluelu to become the first Governor of Vava'u in 1850. This appointment is viewed by many as a very clever measure that appeased and formed an iron-fist alliance with a very influential, unpredictable and sometimes unruly Tapueluelu. The prestigious position and title with its implied significance did just that, Tapueluelu permanently moved out of Vaimalō and made Neiafu his new home, now the newly established and bustling capital city of Vava'u. Tapuelueluʻs new position and title came with a hereditary estate that Tapueluelu named Sailoame. Tapueluelu was not the only child of Avala-ʻae-tau that moved out of Vaimalō, earlier in 1878, Lesieli Afu Haʻapai married Siaosi ʻUlu-ki-vaiola who was the 6th Tuita, and made ʻUtungake, Vavaʻu her new home.
When the two eldest children of Avala-ʻae-tau moved out of Vaimalō, the two remaining; Lavinia Sialehaehae and Salesi Matele-ʻo-Haʻamea decided to divide Vaimalō into two separate Estates. Lavinia Sialehaehae made the whole oceanfront part of Vaimalō her home and named it Muileleu. Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea took over the inland part of Vaimalō and named his home Mohe-mo-langa.
Lavinia Sialehaehae was barren and didn't have any children so upon her passing, Salesi Mataele-ʻo-Haʻamea became the sole “hereditary occupant” of Vaimalō. Soon thereafter, he gave his inland home of Mohe-mo-langa to Manase Manu'okafoa a relative and moved in to Laviniaʻs oceanfront home of Muileleu. Salesi married another Lavinia, this time a daughter of Kolotesi from Faleloa, Haʻapai. They had one child, a son they named Salesi Kato-ki-moʻunga Tuʻipulotu whose grandchildren are the current occupants of Muileleu, Mohe-mo-langa, and most of Vaimalō today.
Vaimalōʻs nickname is Funga Mapitoa. Mapitoa is a massive rock that protrude out of the ocean and is only five meters or so away from the tail end of Vaimalōʻs landmass right in front of Muileleu. This rock was so named “Mapitoa”, short for “Mapilitoa” by His Majesty George Tupou I, as a tribute to Vaimalōʻs original renowned resident Naufahu Mapilitoa.