Hisitōlia ʻo e Siasí
30 Faʻahinga Mamahi Pehē


Vahe 30

Faʻahinga Mamahi Pehē

ʻĪmisi
ongo nima ʻo ha sōtia ʻokú ne tāpuakiʻi e sākalamēnití maʻana pē

Naʻe fuʻu momoko ʻaupito ʻa ʻIulope ʻi he faʻahitaʻu momoko ʻo e 1944–45. Naʻe laka atu e kongakau Fakatahatahá ki Siamane, ʻo toutou fakahoko e ngaahi tau ʻi he sinou momokó. Naʻe feinga ʻa Hitilā ke kamataʻi ha malumu fakaʻosi ʻe taha ʻo fakafepaki ki he kongakau ʻa ʻAmelika mo Pilitāniá ʻi he tafaʻaki fakahihifó, ka naʻe hanga ʻe he ʻohofí ni ʻo fakaongosiaʻi ʻa ʻene kau tau kuo nau ʻosi ongosiá. Lolotonga iá, naʻe puleʻi ʻe he kongakau Lūsiá ʻa e tafaʻaki fakahahaké ʻi heʻenau teke ʻo fakaʻau ke nau ofi ange ki he uhouhonga ʻo e vahefonua ʻo e kau Nasí.1

ʻI Pealiní, naʻe fāifeinga ʻa ʻOlokā Peefi ke māfana ʻi he ʻōfisi ʻo e Misiona Siamane Hahaké. Naʻe vela e ʻuluaki ʻōfisí lolotonga ha laku pomu ʻi ha taʻu ʻe taha kimuʻa, ko ia naʻe ʻuluʻi ʻōfisi ʻa e misioná ʻi he fale nofo totongi ʻo e tokoni uá ko Paula Langihainiliki mo hono uaifi ko ʻElesaá. Naʻe fakaʻauha ʻe he ngaahi foʻi pomú ʻa e matapā sioʻata ʻo e fale nofo totongí, ko ia naʻe tāpuni ʻe ʻOlokā mo e kau faifekau kehé ʻa e ʻū matapā sioʻata naʻe hala he laʻisioʻatá ʻaki ha ngaahi sipi kafu ke malu mei he momokó. Naʻe ʻikai ha meʻa fakamāfana pe vai mafana. Naʻe siʻi ʻa e meʻakaí, pea naʻe faingataʻa ke fai ha mohe ko e tatangi e meʻa fakaongo fakatokangá ʻi he poʻulí.

ʻI he meimei kapa kotoa ʻa e koló, naʻe ʻikai malu ke ʻalu ʻa e kau faifekaú ʻo malanga. Ka naʻe fatongia ʻaki ʻe he kau palesitenisī fakamisiona leʻoleʻo ʻo e Misiona Siamane Hahaké, ʻa ia ko ha kāingalotu fakalotofonua pē ʻo e Siasí, ʻa hono tokangaʻi e Kāingalotu kotoa ʻi he misioná. Naʻe mavahe ʻa e palesiteni fakamisioná, Hēpeti Kolopifea, mo e konga lahi ʻo e kau ngāue ʻi he ʻōfisí ʻo ngāue fakakautau, ko ia ai naʻe tokoni ʻa ʻOlokā mo ha kau fafine kehe ke tauhi e ngaahi lekooti ʻo e misioná mo fetuʻutaki mo ha Kāingalotu Siamane ʻe lauiafe kuo uesia ʻenau moʻuí ʻe he taú.2

Kuo ʻosi mavahe ʻa e tokolahi taha ʻo e fāmili mo e ngaahi kaungāmeʻa ʻo ʻOlokaá mei Tilisiti ʻi he kapa ʻe he kau tau Lūsiá ʻa e ngaahi kolo fakahahake ʻo Siamané. Naʻe ui ʻene tangataʻeikí mo hono tuongaʻane siʻisiʻi taha ko Henelií, ki he sōtiá, pea ne kumi hūfanga ʻene faʻeé ʻi ha faama ʻa ha taha naʻá ne tokoua ʻaki. Lolotonga iá, naʻe ʻi ai ha Kāingalotu kehe ʻi Tilisiti, ne nau fakatahataha ʻi he fuoloa taha ne malavá, ʻo fevahevaheʻaki ʻi he kiʻi meʻakai mo e vala ne nau maʻú. Naʻe mole ʻa e ʻapi ʻo e palesiteni fakakolo ko ʻOto Silukeí mo hono fāmilí ʻi ha pomu, ʻo nau hola pea mālō pē ʻenau moʻui. ʻI he taimi naʻe fakataha fakaʻosi ai ʻa e kolo ʻo e Siasí, naʻa nau maʻu meʻatokoni mo toe fakafanongo fakaʻosi kia Palesiteni Silukei.3

Koeʻuhí ko e lahi e ngaahi meʻa ne mole meia ʻOlokaá, naʻá ne houngaʻia ʻi heʻene maʻu ha feituʻu ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e Kāingalotu ʻi Pealiní. Ka ʻi he vaeuaʻanga mālie ʻo ʻEpeleli 1945, naʻe kapa ʻe he kongakau Lūsiá ʻa Siamane hahake pea kuo nau ʻākoloʻi ʻeni ʻa e koló. ʻI ha pongipongi Sāpate ʻuhoʻuha ʻe taha ʻi he koló, naʻe fakatahataha mai ʻa ʻOlokā mo ha kiʻi Kāingalotu tokosiʻi ke lotu. Naʻe ilifia ʻa e Kāingalotú koeʻuhí ko e ngaahi pomú mo e fetāʻaki ʻi he loto halá ʻi he poó, pea tokosiʻi ai e Kāingaotu ʻo e Siasí ne omi ki he lotú. Naʻe lea ʻa Paula Langihainiliki fekauʻaki mo e tuí. Naʻe ongosia ʻa ʻOlokā, ka naʻe fakamālohia ia ʻe he Laumālié. Naʻá ne fakakaukau ki he folofola ʻa e Fakamoʻuí ʻi he tohi ʻa Mātiú: “He ko e potu ko ia ʻoku fakataha ai ʻa e toko ua pe ʻa e toko tolu ʻi hoku huafá, te u ʻi ai au mo kinautolu.”4

Hili e fakatahá, naʻe fakaafeʻi ʻe Paula ʻa ʻOlokā ke ʻaʻahi fakataha mo ia mo e palesiteni fakakoló, ko Peatolo Patemani, ki ha kolo kehe [ʻo e Siasí] ʻi he kolo lahí. Naʻe fie maʻu ʻe Paula ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku malu ʻa e kāingalotú hili e ngaahi ʻohofi ʻo e pō [ko iá].

Naʻe feʻunga mo e houa ʻe taha ʻa e lue ʻa ʻOlokā, Paula, mo Peatolo ki he falelotu ʻo e koló. ʻI heʻenau fakaofi atu ki he falé, naʻa nau sio ki he toto ʻi he ngaahi halá mo ha tau naʻe lolotonga fai ʻi he ʻataá. Naʻa nau vilitaki atu, ʻo nau fononga atu ki he fale malu ʻo e Siasí. Fakafokifā pē kuo ongo mai ʻa e longoaʻa ʻa ha fana ʻi mui ʻiate kinautolu. Naʻá nau nonga pē, ʻo hoko atu ʻenau lue he halá ʻo ʻilo ʻoku ʻikai ha taha ʻi he fale ʻo e Siasí. Naʻe ʻi ai ha tafaʻaki ʻe taha hono ngaahi holisí ne tau tonu ai e [ngaahi faná], ʻo holo ai e tafaʻaki ʻo e ʻapisiasí. Naʻe hangē naʻe feinga ha taha ke tafi ʻa e vevé, ka naʻe ʻikai fakaʻosi ʻene ngāué.

Naʻe vakaiʻi ʻe ʻOlokā mo hono ongo hoa ngāué ha niʻihi tokosiʻi ʻo e kāingalotu ʻo e Siasí ne nofo ofi maí pea nau fakakaukau ke nau foki ki he ʻapi fakamisioná. ʻI heʻenau ʻi he halá, naʻa nau ongoʻi naʻe ʻikai ke nau malu. Naʻe kei hoko atu pē ʻa e tau ʻi he ʻataá, pea kei hoko atu pē ʻa e pā takai ʻa e mahafú ʻiate kinautolú. Naʻe puna maʻulalo ʻa e ngaahi vakapuna taú ʻi ʻolunga he halá, pea hanga ʻe he ngaahi meʻafaná ʻo maumauʻi ha ngaahi fale motuʻa fakaʻofoʻofa mo ha ngaahi hala fakakavakava, ʻo fakamoveteʻi ʻa e makamaka mo e piliki ʻi he ʻataá.

ʻI he feinga ʻa ʻOlokā, Paula, mo Peatolo ke nau toitoí, naʻa nau moulu atu ki ha ngaahi fale ʻo hū ʻi lalo he ngaahi matapaá. ʻI he taimi ʻe taha, naʻa nau malu ʻi ha fuʻu ʻakau ne ʻikai hano lau, pea melo mo pikopiko hono ngaahi vaʻá. Ne faifai pea nau aʻu ki ha hala fakakavakava ne holo kae kei sai pē ha kiʻi konga siʻi. Naʻe ʻikai fakapapauʻi ʻe ʻOlokā te ne lava ʻo kolosi [he hala fakakavakavá].

Naʻe pehē ange ʻe hono ongo hoa ngāué, “Sisitā Peefi, ʻoua te ke ilifia.” Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi naʻa nau fakahoko e ngāue ʻa e ʻOtuá, pea naʻá ne maʻu ai ha loto-falala. ʻI heʻene falala kiate kinauá, naʻá ne piki ki ha pikiʻanga peá ne kolosi he hala fakakavakavá, naʻe fonu hono laumālié ʻi he loto-fakapapaú ʻi heʻenau foki ki ʻapí.5


ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ne hokó, naʻe tātaaitaha ke ʻalu ʻa ʻOlokā mo e kau faifekau kehe naʻe nofo ʻi he fale nofoʻanga ʻo e fāmili Langihainilikí ki tuʻa. Naʻe mafola ʻa e ngaahi talanoá kuo ʻosi kapa ʻe he kau sōtia Lūsiá ha ngaahi konga ʻo e koló, pea naʻe fakatokanga ʻa Peatolo ki he kau faifekaú fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi meʻa fakamamahi naʻe hoko ʻi tuʻá. Naʻe fie maʻu ke nau fai ʻa e meʻa kotoa pē ne malavá ke nau malu.

ʻI he lahi e moveuveu ʻi he ngaahi halá, naʻe kumi hūfanga ha Kāingalotu ʻe niʻihi ki he ʻapi fakamisioná. Naʻe aʻu mai ha fefine ʻe taha naʻe kei moʻutāfuʻua hili hono fanaʻi ʻa hono husepānití ʻi hono keté ʻo mālōlō ai. Naʻe tokoni ʻa Paula kia ʻOlokā mo ha niʻihi kehe ke teuteuʻi ha ngaahi loki naʻe liʻaki maʻa ha taha pē naʻe haʻu ʻo kumi tokoni meiate kinautolu.

ʻI he ʻaho Tokonaki, 28 ʻo ʻEpelelí, naʻe fakataha mai ʻa e Kāingalotu tokosiʻi ʻo ʻaukai mo lotu. ʻI heʻenau tūʻulutui ʻo lotua ha mālohi mo ha maluʻí, naʻe fakafonu ʻa ʻOlokā ʻe he loto-houngaʻiá ʻi hono haʻohaʻo takaiʻi ia ʻe ha Kāingalotu faivelenga lolotonga e taulōfuʻu ʻa e faingataʻá.

ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻosi ai ʻa e ʻaukaí, naʻe ʻi he ngaahi hala takatakai ʻo e ʻōfisi fakamisioná ʻa e kau sōtia Lūsiá. Naʻe kei hoko atu pē ʻa e taú ʻi Pealini, ka naʻe ʻosi ngāue ʻa e kongakau Lūsiá ke fakafoki mai ʻa e māú mo e ngaahi ngāue mahuʻingá ki he ngaahi feituʻu naʻe nofoʻi fakakautau ʻi he koló. Naʻe tokolahi ha kau sōtia naʻe ʻikai ke nau fakahohaʻasi ʻa e kau siviliane Siamané, ka naʻe ʻi ai ha kau sōtia ʻe niʻihi naʻa nau kaihaʻa mei he ngaahi falé mo ʻohofi e kakai fefine Siamané. Naʻe manavasiʻi ʻa ʻOlokā mo e kau faifekau kehé ki heʻenau malú, pea naʻe taufetongi ʻa e kau tangata ʻi he ʻōfisi fakamisioná ʻi hono leʻohi tokanga kinautolú.6

Pea, ʻi he ʻaho 2 ʻo Meé, naʻe ʻā hake ʻa ʻOlokā naʻe ngali kehe ʻa e lōngonoá. Ne ʻikai ha laku pomu he pō ko iá, pea naʻá ne mohe ʻo aʻu ki he pongipongí. Naʻe taonakita ʻa ʻAtolofi Hitilā ʻi ha ʻaho ʻe ua kimuʻa, pea naʻe fusi ʻe he kongakau Lūsiá ha fuka ʻo e hāmala-mo e-hele-tuʻusi ʻi he koló. Kuo ʻi he nima ʻo Lūsiá ʻa Pealini he taimí ni, pea maʻu ʻe he kongakau ʻa e Ngaahi Fonua Fakatahatahá ha ngaahi vahefonua ʻo Siamane he ʻaho kotoa pē, ne fakaʻau ke ʻosi ʻa e tau ʻi ʻIulopé.7

Naʻe feinga ʻa ʻOlokā ke hiki ʻene ngaahi fakakaukaú ʻi heʻene tohinoa ngāue fakafaifekaú. Naʻá ne tohi ʻo pehē, “MELINO! Ko e meʻa ia ʻoku lea ʻaki ʻe he tokotaha kotoa pē. ʻOku ʻikai ke u maʻu ha ngaahi ongo pau ʻi hoku lotó. Kuo mau fakakaukauloto ki ha meʻa ʻoku kehe ʻaupito fekauʻaki mo e foʻi lea ko e ʻmelinó’—hangē ko e fiefiá mo e fakafiefiá—ka ʻoku ʻikai hā mai ha faʻahinga meʻa pehē.”

Naʻá ne hoko atu ʻo pehē, “Ko ʻeni ʻoku ou tangutu toko taha ʻo mamaʻo mei hoku kāingá, ʻo ʻikai ke u ʻilo pe ko e hā e meʻa kuo hoko ki he toengá.” Ne tokolahi hono ngaahi ʻofaʻangá—ʻa Keahaati, hono tuongaʻane ko Siekifilí mo e tokotaha naʻá ne tuongaʻane ʻaki ko Ketí, ʻene ongo kuí mo e tokoua ʻene faʻeé ko Nita—naʻa nau mate. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne ʻilo pe ʻe anga fēfē haʻane fetuʻutaki ki heʻene ongomātuʻá, pea kuo fuoloa e taʻe-ongona ʻe ha taha ha meʻa mei hono tuongaʻane ko Henelií, peá ne fakakaukauloto pē ki he [tūkunga] kovi tahá.8

ʻI he Sāpate ko iá, naʻe toe fakataha mai ʻa e Kāingalotú ki ha fakataha lotu. Naʻe vahevahe ʻe he hoa ngāue fakafaifekau ʻo ʻOlokaá, Leniate Pesa, ha veesi mei he Tokāteline mo e Ngaahi Fuakavá. Naʻe fakamatala ai ki he loto-houngaʻia ʻi he taimi ʻo e faingataʻa fakamatelié:

Pea ko ia ia ʻokú ne tali ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kotoa pē ʻi he loto-fakafetaʻí ʻe ngaohi ia ke nāunauʻia; pea ʻe fakalahi atu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻo e māmaní kiate ia, ʻio ʻo liunga teau, ʻio, ʻo lahi ange.9


Naʻe fakafiefiaʻi ʻe he kau tau Fakatahatahá ʻa e “ʻAho Ikuna ʻi ʻIulopé” ʻi he ʻaho 8 ʻo Mē 1945. Naʻe fiefia ʻa Niila Mekisuele ʻi he ongoongó, ʻo hangē ko e kau sōtia ʻAmelika kehe ne nau tau ke puke e motu ʻo Siapani ko ʻOkinauá. Ka naʻe taʻofi ʻenau ngaahi fakafiefiá ʻe he tuʻunga moʻoni ʻo honau tūkungá. ʻI hono ʻohofi ʻe he kau pailate kamikasí ʻa e taulanga ʻOkinauá pea vela ʻa e ngaahi tafungofunga ʻo e motú, naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe he kongakau ʻAmeliká naʻe teʻeki ofiofia ke ʻosi honau fatongia ʻi he taú.

Naʻe fakakaukau ʻa Niila, “Ko e tau moʻoní ʻeni.” Naʻe ʻikai fuʻu fakaʻofoʻofa fēfē ʻa e feituʻu ne hoko tonu ai e taú ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe ʻai ʻe he nusipepá mo e heleʻuhilá ke ne tui ki aí. Naʻá ne fakafonu ia ʻaki ha ongoʻi taʻe pau mo fakatupu puke.10

Naʻe vave e hoko ʻa e Tau ʻi ʻOkinauá ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi tau fītaʻa taha ʻi he Pasifikí. Naʻe tui ʻa e kau taki tau Siapaní ko e motú ko honau maluʻi fakaʻosi ia mei hano ʻohofi ʻe ʻAmelika ʻa e fonua lahi ʻo Siapaní, ko ia naʻa nau fakakaukau ai ke tuku atu honau mālohi fakakautau kotoa ke maluʻi ʻa ʻOkinaua.11

Naʻe vahe ʻa Niila mo e kau sōtia naʻe ʻi ai mo iá ke fetongi ha kau sōtia. ʻI he ʻaho 13 ʻo Meé, naʻá ne tohi ai ki ʻapi ki ʻIutā. Naʻe ʻikai fakangofua ke ne tala ki heʻene ongomātuʻá ʻa e fakaikiiki ʻo ʻene ngāué, ka naʻá ne fakapapauʻi ange kiate kinaua ʻokú ne moʻui lelei pē. Naʻá ne tohi ʻo pehē, “ʻOku ou toko taha pē ʻo ʻikai ha toe taha, tukukehe pē ʻa e Toko Tahá. ʻOku ou ʻiloʻi ʻokú Ne ʻiate au maʻu pē.”12

Naʻe kau ʻa Niila ʻi ha kau sōtia ne vahe ke nau laku pomuʻi ʻa e ngaahi feituʻu ʻo e filí ʻi loto fonuá. ʻI he taimi naʻá ne laka ʻotu taha atu ai mo hono kaungā sōtiá ki ha tafungofunga ne ui ko Flat Top, naʻe kamata ke fana mai kinautolu ʻe he kau Siapaní. Naʻe tō kotoa ʻa e kau tangatá ki he kelekelé pea nau tokoto kae ʻoua kuo nau ongoʻi naʻe malu. Pea tuʻu ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ki ʻolunga—tukukehe ha tangata lahi ko Patilisi, ʻa ia naʻe laka ʻi muʻa ʻia Niila.

Naʻe talaange ʻe Niila kiate ia, “Haʻu, tuʻu ki ʻolunga. Tau ʻalu ā.” ʻI he ʻikai ngaue e tangatá, naʻe toki fakatokangaʻi ʻe Niila kuó ne mate mei ha konga ukamea.13

ʻI heʻene ʻohovale mo manavaheé, naʻe laulau houa ʻa e puputuʻu ʻa Nīlá. Ko ʻene ofi ange ko ia ki he malaʻe taú, ko e lahi ange ia ʻa e ʻasi pakukā mo mate ʻa e fonuá. Naʻe mafola ʻa e ngaahi sino mate ʻo e kau sōtia Siapaní ʻi he kelekelé. Ne ʻosi fakatokanga kia Niila ʻe lava ke tau mainaʻi ʻa e feituʻú. Neongo kapau naʻe ʻikai pā ʻa e kelekele ʻi hono lalo vaʻé, ka naʻe ongona ʻa e fana laifoló ʻi hono funga ʻulú.

Naʻe tuʻu ʻa Niila ʻi ha feituʻu ne keli ke nau toitoi aí, pea hili ha ngaahi ʻaho ʻo e taufaná, ne hanga ʻe ha ʻuha lahi ʻo liliu ʻa e funga fonua pakukaá ke pelepela. Naʻe fonu pelepela e luo toitoiʻanga ʻo Nīlá, ʻo ʻikai meimei lava ke mālōlō ʻi heʻene feinga ke mohe tuʻu peé. Naʻe ʻikai lava ʻe he meʻakai fakakautaú ke taʻofi e fiekaiá, pea naʻe ʻomi e vai naʻá ne maʻú ʻi ha ngaahi tangikē lita ʻe hongofulu-mā-hiva pea ifo ʻo hangē ha loló. Naʻe tokolahi ha kau tangata ne inu kofi ke fakapuliki e kovi ʻa e vaí, ka naʻe fie talangofua ʻa Niila ki he Lea ʻo e Potó pea ʻikai ke ne tali ia. Naʻá ne fai hono lelei tahá ke tānaki e vai ʻuhá, pea ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho Sāpaté, naʻá ne fakaʻaongaʻi ʻa e vai naʻá ne fakahaofí mo ha pisikete mei heʻene meʻakai fakakautaú ki he sākalamēnití.14

ʻI ha pō ʻe taha ʻi he konga kimui ʻo Meé, naʻe pā ha foʻi pomu ʻe tolu ʻo ofi ki he feituʻu naʻe ʻi ai ʻa Niila ke fana pomu mei aí. Naʻe aʻu ki he taimi ko iá, kuo teʻeki ke maʻu ʻe he kau Siapaní ʻa e feituʻu ne ʻi ai ʻene patuní. Ka ko ʻeni naʻe hangē naʻe fakafuofuaʻi ʻe he kau tangata faná hono tuʻuʻangá pea naʻa nau fakaofi ange. ʻI he taimi naʻe pā ai e pomú ʻo ofi angé, naʻe manavasiʻi ʻa Niila naʻa tō mai e [pomu] hokó ʻi he feituʻu naʻe fakataumuʻa ki aí.

ʻI heʻene puna mei he luo toitoiʻangá, naʻá ne toitoi ʻi ha kiʻi tafungofunga. ʻI heʻene fakatokangaʻi naʻe kei ʻi ha tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmakí, naʻá ne toe foki fakavavevave ki he luó ke tatali pe ko e hā ʻe hoko maí.

Naʻe tūʻulutui ʻa Niila ʻi he pelepelá mo e fakapoʻulí ʻo kamata ke lotu. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi naʻe ʻikai totonu ke ne maʻu ha faʻahinga ʻofa makehe mei he ʻOtuá, pea kuo mate ha kau tangata angatonu tokolahi hili ʻenau fai ha ngaahi lotu fakamātoato lolotonga e taú. Ka, naʻá ne kei tautapa pē ki he ʻEikí ke fakahaofi ʻene moʻuí, ʻo palōmesi te ne līʻoa ia ki he ngāue ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻo kapau ʻe hao. Naʻe ʻi hono kató ha tatau ʻo hono tāpuaki fakapēteliaké, pea naʻá ne fakakaukau ki ha palōmesi naʻe ʻi aí.

Naʻe pehē ʻe he tāpuakí, “ʻOku ou talaʻofa ke fakahaofi koe mei he mālohi ʻo e tokotaha fakaʻauhá ke ʻoua naʻa nounou hoʻo moʻuí, pea ke ʻoua naʻa taʻofi hoʻo fakahoko ʻa e ngāue kotoa pē naʻe foaki kiate koe ʻi he maama fakalaumālié.”

Naʻe fakaʻosi ʻe Niila ʻene lotú peá ne hanga hake ki he langí ʻi he poʻulí. Kuo tuku ʻa e ngaahi pā fakamanavaheé, pea ne lōngonoa ʻa e meʻa kotoa pē. ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻikai hoko atu ai ʻa e ngaahi faná, naʻá ne ongoʻi ʻi hono laumālié kuo fakahaofi ʻe he ʻEikí ʻene moʻuí.15

Ne ʻikai fuoloa mei ai, kuo fai ʻe Niila ha ngaahi tohi ki hono fāmilí. Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻOku ou fuʻu ʻofa atu kiate kimoutolu, ko e taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻoku ou fie tangi. Ko e meʻa pē ke u faí ko ʻeku moʻui taau mo hoku tāpuaki fakapēteliaké, hoʻomou ngaahi lotú, pea mo ʻeku tui fakalotú. Ka ʻoku ongo fakamafasia ʻa e loto ʻo ha tangata koeʻuhí ko e taimí mo e ngāue fakakautaú.”

Naʻá ne tohi ʻo pehē, “Te u lava pē ke pehē naʻe ʻi ai e ngaahi taimi ne fakahaofi au ʻe he ʻOtuá mei he maté. ʻOku ʻi ai haʻaku fakamoʻoni he ʻikai lava ʻe ha taha ʻo fakaʻauha.”16


ʻI ʻIulopé, naʻe ʻosi e taú kia ʻAna Vilami mo ha Kāingalotu Hōlani kehe. ʻI he ʻaho naʻe tukulolo ai ʻa Siamané, naʻá ne kau fakataha mo ʻene fānaú mo honau ngaahi kaungāmeʻá mo e kaungāʻapí ʻi he loto koló ke hiva mo hulohula. Naʻa nau tafu ha fuʻu afi lahi ʻo e naunau naʻe tautau ʻi honau ngaahi matapā sioʻatá ke fakapoʻulí, ʻo mamata fiefia ʻi he vela ko ia ʻa e ngaahi fakamanatu ʻo e ngaahi ʻaho fakapoʻulí ʻi he afí.

Naʻe fakakaukau ʻa ʻAna, “Mālō, mālō ʻe ʻEiki. Kuó Ke angalelei kiate kimautolu.”

ʻI he ʻosi ko ʻeni ʻa e fekeʻikeʻí, naʻe tokolahi ha kakai naʻe fakatauʻatāinaʻi kinautolu mei he ngaahi ʻapitanga pōpulá mo e ngaahi fale fakapōpulá. Naʻe fetohiʻaki ʻa ʻAna mo hono husepānití lolotonga hono tuku pōpula iá, pea naʻe ʻi ai e ʻuhinga ke pehē naʻá ne kei malu pē. Ka naʻá ne ʻiloʻi he ʻikai ke ne lava ʻo fakafiefiaʻi moʻoni ʻa e ʻosi ʻa e taú kae ʻoua kuo ʻi ʻapi ʻa Pita.

ʻI ha efiafi Sāpate he konga kimuʻa ʻo Suné, naʻe sio atu ʻa ʻAna ki tuʻa he matapā sioʻatá ʻoku tuʻu ha loli fakakautau ʻi muʻa ʻi hono ʻapí. Naʻe ava hake ha matapā ʻo e lolí pea hū mai ʻa Pita ki tuʻa. Pau pē naʻe sio mai foki mo e kaungāʻapi ʻo ʻAná, he naʻa nau lele mai ki hono matapā ʻi muʻá. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne fie fakaava ia ki ha kakai tokolahi, ko ia naʻá ne tatali ke hū mai ʻa Pita ʻiate ia pē. Pea ʻi heʻene hū mai he matapaá, naʻá ne talitali fiefia ia.

Ne ʻikai fuoloa kuo fokotuʻu ʻe he kaungāʻapi ʻo e fāmili Vilamí ha ngaahi fuka ʻi he halá ke fakafiefiaʻi e foki hao mai ʻa Pitá. Naʻe sio ʻa e foha taʻu hongofulu mā ua ʻo ʻAna mo Pita ko Hiipá ki he ngaahi fuká peá ne lele ki fale. Naʻá ne kaila, “Kuo foki mai ki ʻapi ʻa ʻeku tangataʻeikí!”

ʻI he tō mai ʻa e fakapoʻulí, naʻe tutu ʻe ʻAna ha foʻi teʻelango naʻá ne fakahaofi ki he pō ʻe foki mai ai ʻa Pitá. Naʻe tangutu ʻa e fāmili Vilamí ʻi he maama takemokemó, ʻo fakafanongo ki he fakamatala ʻa Pita ki hono fakatauʻatāinaʻi iá.17

ʻI he ngaahi māhina kimuʻá, ʻi he taimi naʻe tekeʻi ai ʻe he kongakau Lūsiá ʻa e kau Siamané mei ʻIukuleiní, naʻe ʻave leva ʻa Pita mo e kau pōpula kehe ʻo e Stalag 371 ki ha pilīsone foʻou, ʻi he fakatokelau ʻo Pealiní. Naʻe ʻuli, momoko, pea lahi e fanga ʻinisēkité. Naʻe fonu ʻa e langí ʻi he ngaahi vakapuna ʻa e kau tau ʻa e Ngaahi Fonua Fakatahatahá, pea naʻe liliu e langí ʻo lanu kulokula ʻo hangē ha totó mei he ngaahi afi ne vela ʻi he kotoa ʻo e koló.

ʻI ha ʻaho ʻe taha ʻi ʻEpeleli, naʻe kaikaila atu ha pōpula ki ha niʻihi ʻo e kau sōtia Lūsiá ʻi heʻenau fakalaka hake ʻi he fale fakapōpulá ʻi ha fuʻu tangikē tau lahi. Naʻe tuʻu ʻa e kau sōtiá, fakatafoki mai ʻa e tangikē taú pea nau tuiʻi atu e ʻā uaea talatalá, ʻo fakatauʻatāinaʻi ʻa Pita mo hono kaungā pōpulá. Kimuʻa pea nau māvaé, naʻe foaki ʻe Pita ha tāpuaki lakanga fakataulaʻeiki kiate kinautolu kotoa naʻa nau fie maʻu iá. Naʻe foki ki ʻapi ha niʻihi ʻo e kau pōpula naʻa nau ako mo ia kau ki he ongoongoleleí ʻo kau ki he Siasí.18

ʻI heʻene fakataha ko ʻeni mo hono fāmilí, naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Pita kuó ne maʻu ha konga ʻo hēvani. Naʻe hangē kuó ne toe fakataha mo e ngaahi ʻofaʻanga ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻo e veilí, pea naʻá ne fiefia ʻi he ngaahi haʻi toputapu naʻá ne haʻi fakataha kinautolu ki ʻitānití.19


ʻI he ʻuluaki uike ʻo ʻAokosi 1945, naʻe ʻi he ʻOtu Filipainí ʻa Niila Mekisuele, ʻo teuteu ki hano ʻohofi ʻo e fonua lahi ʻo Siapaní ʻi he konga kimui ʻo e faʻahitaʻu fakatōlau ko iá. Naʻe kapa ʻe he ʻIunaiteti Siteití ʻa ʻOkinaua ʻi Sune, pea neongo naʻe laka hake ʻi he kau sōtia ʻAmelika ʻe toko fitu afé kuo maté, ka naʻe tokolahi fau ha kau sōtia Siapani ne mole ʻenau moʻuí. Kuo laka hake ʻi he toko taha kilú ʻenau kau sōtiá mo e lauimano ʻo ʻenau kau siviliane kuo pekia ʻi he taú.20

ʻI ha tohi ʻa Niila ki hono fāmilí, naʻá ne faitohi fakamātoato, kuo mole ʻa ʻene loto-toʻa kimuʻá. Ko e meʻa naʻá ne fie maʻu tahá ke tuku ʻa e taú. Naʻá ne fakamatala fekauʻaki mo e taú ʻo pehē, “ʻOku ou maʻu ha holi lahi ke fakaʻauha ʻa e meʻa ko ʻeni ʻokú ne fakatupu e faʻahinga mamahi peheé.” Naʻá ne tui ʻe lava ke ʻomi ʻe he pōpoaki ʻa Sīsū Kalaisí ha melino ʻoku tuʻuloá, pea naʻá ne fakaʻamu ke vahevahe ia mo e niʻihi kehé. Naʻá ne tohi ʻo pehē, “Ko ha faingamālie ia ʻoku ou fie maʻu ʻo lahi ange ʻi ha toe taimi kimuʻa.”21

Hili ʻene mavahe mei he laine muʻá, naʻe kamata ke kau atu ʻa Niila ki ha ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻa ha kau tangata ngāue fakakautau ʻo e Siasí mei ha ngaahi ʻiuniti kehekehe. Lolotonga ʻene kei ʻi ʻOkinauá, naʻá ne fiefia ʻi heʻene fakakaukau atu ki he faifai pea toe moihū fakataha mo e kāingalotu kehe ʻo e Siasí. Ka ʻi he faifai peá ne maʻu ha faingamālie ke kau atu ki ha fakatahá, naʻá ne fakatokangaʻi naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai e kau tangata naʻá ne ʻamanaki ʻe sio ki aí. Naʻe fai ʻe he faifekau fakakautaú, ko ha mēmipa ʻo e Siasí ko Laimani Pēliti, ha lea fakanonga, ka naʻe siofi ʻe Niila ʻa e matapaá ʻi he taimi kotoa pē, ʻo tatali ke sio ki ha hū mai ai hono ngaahi kaungāmeʻá. Naʻe ʻi ai ha niʻihi naʻe ʻikai pē [ke nau hū mai].22

Lolotonga e taimi ko ʻení, naʻe ʻilo ai ʻe Niila kuo pekia ʻa Palesiteni Hiipa J. Kalānite. ʻI he taʻu ʻe nima talu mei heʻene pā kalavá, ne fakataha maʻu pē ʻa Palesiteni Kalānite mo hono ongo tokoní pea kuo tuʻo lahi ʻene lea ʻi he konifelenisi lahí.23 Ka naʻe ʻikai pē ke ne sai lelei, pea ʻi he ʻaho 14 ʻo Mē 1945, naʻá ne pekia ai ʻi hono taʻu valungofulu mā valú koeʻuhi ko e tuʻu e tā hono mafú. Kuo hoko ʻeni ʻa Siaosi ʻAlipate Sāmita ko e palesiteni ʻo e Siasí.24

ʻI he konga kimuʻa ʻo ʻAokosí, naʻe ʻilo ai ʻe Niila mo e toenga ʻo e kau sōtia ʻi Filipainí naʻe fakatō ʻe ha vakapuna ʻAmelika ha foʻi pomu ʻātomi ʻi he kolo Siapani ko Hilosimá ʻi ha tuʻutuʻuni fakahangatonu mei he palesiteni ʻo e ʻIunaiteti Siteití. Hili ha ʻaho ʻe tolu mei ai, naʻe fakatō ʻe ha vakapuna ʻe taha ha foʻi pomu meimei tatau ʻi he kolo ko Nakasakí.

ʻI he taimi naʻe fanongo ai ʻa Niila fekauʻaki mo e laku pomú, naʻá ne fonu ʻi he ʻamanaki fiefia he ʻikai fie maʻu ia mo hono kaungā sōtiá ke nau toe ʻohofi e fonua lahi ʻo Siapaní. Naʻá ne toki fakatokangaʻi kimui ange ʻa e tuʻunga siokita ʻo ʻene fakakaukaú. Ne laka hake he kakai ʻe toko lau kilu, ko e tokolahi tahá ko e kau siviliane Siapani, ne nau mate ʻi he pomú.25

Hili e tukulolo ʻa Siapani ʻi he ʻaho 2 ʻo Sepitema 1945, naʻe fakaʻōfisiale ʻa e ʻosi ʻa e tau lahi ʻa māmaní. Ka naʻe kei ʻalu pē ʻa Niila ki Siapani, ko ha mēmipa ʻo e kau tau Fakatahataha kuo ikuná. Lolotonga iá, naʻe fakatokangaʻi ʻe hono kau takí ʻa hono ngaahi talēniti tohí pea ʻoange kiate ia ha ngāue makehe ke ne faʻu ha ngaahi tohi fakafiemālie mo e fiekaungāmamahi ki he ngaahi fāmili ʻo e kau sōtia kuo pekiá.

Naʻe tohi ʻe Niila ki hono fāmilí ʻo pehē, “ʻOku faingataʻa ke fakakaukau atu ha taha ki he ngaahi faingataʻá, tautautefito ki he taimi ʻokú ke fai ai ha ngaahi tohi fiekaungāmamahi ki he niʻihi loto-mamahi ho ngaahi kaungāmeʻá.” Neongo naʻá ne ongoʻi lāngilangiʻia ʻi he fatongiá, ka naʻe ʻikai ke ne fiefia ai.26

Kuo fehangahangai ʻeni ʻa Niila mo e meimei toko taha miliona ʻo e Kāingalotu ʻo e Siasí he funga ʻo e māmaní mo ha kahaʻu foʻou ʻi heʻenau feinga ke maʻu ha mahino ki he founga ke nau toe langa ai hili haʻanau aʻusia ha mamahi lahi, liʻekina, mo lōmekina ʻe ha mole lahi fau. ʻI he lea fakaʻosi ʻa Palesiteni Kalānite ki he kakaí, ʻa ia ne lau leʻolahi ʻe heʻene sekelitalí ʻi he konifelenisi lahi ʻo ʻEpeleli 1945, naʻá ne ʻoange ki he Kāingalotú ha ngaahi lea fakafiemālie mo ha fakakaukau.

Naʻá ne pehē, “Kuo hoko mai ki hotau ngaahi ʻapí ʻa e mamahí. ʻOfa ke fakamālohia kitautolu ʻaki ʻa e mahino ko ia ʻoku ʻikai ʻuhinga hono tāpuakiʻi kitautolú te tau hao maʻu pē mei he ngaahi taʻefiemālie mo e ngaahi faingataʻa ʻo e moʻuí.”

Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻE fanongo mo tali ʻe he ʻEikí ʻa e ngaahi lotu ʻoku tau fai kiate Iá mo foaki mai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻoku tau lotuá ʻo kapau ko e lelei taha ia kiate kitautolú. He ʻikai ke Ne teitei liʻaki pe kuó Ne liʻaki kinautolu ko ē ʻoku tauhi kiate Ia ʻaki ʻa e loto-moʻoní, ka kuo pau ke tau mateuteu maʻu pē ke pehē ʻʻE Tamai, ke fai pē Ho finangaló.ʼ”27

  1. Vakai, Kershaw, The End, 129–34, 155–61, 167–82; mo e Weinberg, World at Arms, 765–71.

  2. Minert, In Harm’s Way, 17, 20–21, 25, 27–33; Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 107, 110; Meyer, Interview [2016], 16.

  3. Meyer, Interview [2016], 8–13; Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 108; Kershaw, The End, 172–76; Minert, In Harm’s Way, 328.

  4. Mawdsley, World War II, 403; Weinberg, World at Arms, 819–24; Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 105, 110–12; Meyer, Interview [2016], 15; Mātiu 18:20.

  5. Minert, In Harm’s Way, 44–45, 52; Meyer, Interview [2016], 4, 15–17; Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 112, 187–88.

  6. Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 188–91; Birth, Mission Journal, Apr. 21, 1945; Minert, In Harm’s Way, 70; Large, Berlin, 374–76; Moorhouse, Berlin at War, 375–79; vakai foki, Naimark, Russians in Germany, 10–17, 20–21, 78–85, 92–93, 100–101. Tefito: Fasting (ʻAukai)

  7. Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 191; Weinberg, World at Arms, 825; Overy, Third Reich, 359–65; Antill, Berlin 1945, 80–81; Large, Berlin, 364.

  8. Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 108, 117–18, 191. Naʻe liliu ha konga ʻo e leá ke lava ʻo lau; ko e maʻuʻanga fakamatala totonú ʻoku pehē “Naʻe ʻikai ke u maʻu ha faʻahinga ongo pau ʻi hoku lotó. Naʻa mau fakakaukauloto ki ha meʻa naʻe kehe ʻaupito ʻene fekauʻaki mo e foʻi lea melinó—hangē ko e fiefiá mo e fakafiefiá, ka naʻe ʻikai ha meʻa pehē ia ʻe mahino mai.”

  9. Meyer and Galli, Under a Leafless Tree, 114, 194–95; Tokāteline mo e Ngaahi Fuakava 78:19.

  10. Overy, Third Reich, 365; Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 10. Ne fakatonutonu e konga leá ke lava ʻo lau; naʻe ʻi he tohi totonú ʻa e “ko e tau moʻoní ʻeni.” Tefito: World War II (Tau Lahi ʻa Māmani Hono II)

  11. Spector, Eagle against the Sun, 532–40; Costello, Pacific War, 554–61; Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 103–5.

  12. Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 10; Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 102, 105.

  13. Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 10–11; Maxwell, Oral History Interview [1976–77], 117; Hafen, Moʻui ʻa e Ākongá, 106–7.

  14. Maxwell, Oral History Interview [1976–77], 117; Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 11–12; Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 107–9, 112; Freeman and Wright, Saints at War,358.

  15. Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 109–10; Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 10, 12; Maxwell, Dictation, 3. Tefito: Ngaahi Tāpuaki Fakapēteliaké

  16. Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 112; Neal A. Maxwell kia Clarence Maxwell mo Emma Ash Maxwell, June 1, [1945], Neal A. Maxwell World War II Correspondence, CHL.

  17. Wachsmann, Nazi Concentration Camps, 595–97; Bischof and Stelzl-Marx, “Lives behind Barbed Wire,” 330–31, 338–39; Vlam, Our Lives, 107, 109.

  18. Vlam, Our Lives, 105, 108; Vlam, History of Grace Alida Hermine Vlam, 9, 11; Gordon B. Hinckley, “War Prisoner Teaches Truth to Officers,” Deseret News, Mar. 30, 1949, Church section, 14.

  19. Vlam, Our Lives,107.

  20. Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 13; Spector, Eagle against the Sun, 540; Mawdsley, World War II, 412; Weinberg, World at Arms,882. Tefito: Philippines (ʻOtu Filipainí)

  21. Hafen, Disciple’s Life,114.

  22. Maxwell, Oral History Interview [1999–2000], 31; Maxwell, Personal History, box 1, folder 3, 13. Tefito: Servicemember Branches (Ngaahi Kolo ʻo e Mēmipa Tokoni ʻa e Siasí)

  23. Vakai, Heber J. Grant kia Francesca Hawes, Dec. 6, 1944, Letterpress Copybook, volume 83, 271, Heber J. Grant Collection, CHL; Heber J. Grant to M. J. Abbey, Jan. 22, 1945, First Presidency General Correspondence Files, CHL; Clark, Diary, Feb. 4 and 25, 1945; Mar. 11, 1945; Heber J. Grant, in One Hundred Eleventh Semi-annual Conference, 95–97, 130–34; One Hundred Twelfth Annual Conference, 2–11, 97; One Hundred Fourteenth Annual Conference, 3–12; mo e One Hundred Fifteenth Annual Conference, 4–10.

  24. Death Certificate for Heber J. Grant, May 14, 1945, Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah State Archives and Records Service, Salt Lake City. Ongo Tefitó: Hiipa J. Kalānite; George Albert Smith (Siaosi ʻAlipate Sāmita)

  25. Costello, Pacific War, 589–93; Spector, Eagle against the Sun, 554–56; Maxwell, Oral History Interview [1999–2000], 30–31; Hafen, Disciple’s Life,118.

  26. Spector, Eagle against the Sun, 559–60; Hafen, Disciple’s Life, 117–18. Naʻe fakatonutonu e konga leá ke lava ʻo lau; naʻe liliu e “kuo tautau” ʻi he fakamatala totonú ki he “ʻoku tautau.” Tefito: World War I (Tau Lahi ʻa Māmani Hono I)

  27. J. Reuben Clark Jr., Heber J. Grant, ʻi he One Hundred Fifteenth Annual Conference, 3–4, 6–7.