Echoes of Pacific War

ECHOES of Pacific War Edited by Deryck Scarr, Niel Gunson, Jennifer Terrell Echoes of Pacific War Edited by Deryck Scarr, Niel Gunson, Jennifer Terrell Papers from the 7th Tongan History Conference held in Canberra in January 1997 TARGET OCEꢀIA CꢁBERRA 1998 ©Deꢀck Scarr, Niel Gunson, Jennifer Terrell 1998 This work is copyright. Apart ꢁom any fair dealing ꢂr the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no pꢃt may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Book and cover design by Jennifer Terrell Printed by ANU Printing and Publishing Service ISBN 0-646-36000-0 Published by TARGꢄ OCEANIA c/o Division of Pacific and Asian Histoꢀ Reseꢃch School of Pacific and Asian Studies Australian National Universiꢅ Canbeꢆa, ACT 0200, Australia Contents vꢀMaps and ꢀures Foreword ꢀii Introduction 123Behꢂnd tꢁ battle lꢂnes: Tonga ꢂn World War ꢀ Eꢀꢁ WꢂD-EꢃM 1Changꢂng values and changed psychology of Tongans durꢂꢃ and sꢂnce World War ꢀ 26 'I. F. HELU Aꢂꢄlanes and saxaphones: post-war ꢂmꢅes 38 64 ꢂn the vꢂsual and peꢆormꢂꢃ arꢇ ꢀꢁꢂ L. ꢄEPPIꢅR 4GARꢆ GRAINGER Tonga and Australꢂa sꢂnce World War ꢀ <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">5</li><li style="flex:1">New behavꢂours and mꢈration sꢂnce Wo rld </li></ul>War ꢀ SIOSIUA F. POUVALU 76 87 LAFITANI 67e churches ꢂn Tonga sꢂnce World War ꢀ JOHN Gꢇꢈ Intꢏoduction and development offamꢂly plannꢂng ꢂn Tonga 1958-1990 HENRY IVARATURE 99 8Analysꢂꢃ the emergent middle class - the 1990s KERRY JAMES 110 127 9Changing inteꢄretations of the kava rꢂtual MEREDꢉH FILIHIA HELEN MOꢊON 10 How Tongan is a Tongan? Cultural ꢉꢊꢋhenꢋꢌꢍꢎ ꢏeꢐꢑꢍꢋed 149 167 173 182 Bꢂbliography Index Contributors Maps vii 5 Map 1: e Tonga Islands Map 2: Tongatapu 10 Map 3: Nuku'alofa Figures 43 44 45 46 Fꢈure 1. Prꢂnce Wellꢂngton Nga 's Band, 1884 Fꢒ ure 2. ꢓꢔꢂva-'o-Fangatapu' strꢂng band wꢂth a sꢕophone Fꢒ ure 3. Ngatu wꢂth Hala Paini desꢈn Fꢈure 4. Ngatu wꢂth Sisi mꢀe o Tugi desꢈn showꢂꢃ Spꢂꢖres Fꢒ ure 5. Brꢂtish Sp ꢂꢖ re named 'Queen Salote' purchasedfor 53 the Brꢂtꢂsh by the people of Tonga Fꢈure 6. Tapa'i ngatu wꢂth Koe Sisi o Pilinisi Tungi desꢈn 54 showꢂꢃ Spꢂꢖres <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">55 </li><li style="flex:1">Fꢈure 7. Ngatu wꢂth Sisi mꢀe o Tungi desꢈn showꢂng Spꢂꢗres </li></ul>Fꢈure 8. Ngatu wꢂth Hala Paini desꢈn showꢂng P-38 Lꢈhtnꢂng 56 57 aꢂꢘlane ꢀure 9. Detaꢂl of P-38 Lꢈhtnꢂꢃ Fꢒ ure 10. ꢙckheed P-38 Lꢈhꢚnꢂng Figure 11. Barkcloth chꢂld's dress wꢂth Spꢂꢛꢜres Fꢈure 12. Reverse showꢂng Sila desꢈn Intervꢂewee's mental map 58 61 62 118 kilometres NIUAFO'OU TAFAHI, 0LATE NIUATOPUTAPU <�/ ꢀKAO TOFUA ꢀ0 TONGATAPU ;��:( 50 ꢀlometrꢁs 175° ꢄ 1: e Tonga Islꢀds Foreword By H.R.H. ꢝꢂnce 'Ulukalala ꢞvaka Ata THE FIꢁ TONGAN HIꢂORY CONFERENCE (in January 1987) was planned initially as a woꢅkshop attended by six oꢅ seven Tongans and papalangꢂ studying Tongan histoꢅy and alꢅeady ꢅCanbeꢅꢅa on fellowships oꢅ scholaꢅships. Then woꢅd got out, and people ꢃom Tonga, the United States, New Zealand and all oveꢅ Austꢅalia asked if they could come. In the end, 45 people met in Canbeꢅꢅa ꢄꢅ ꢄuꢅ days. People who attended that confeꢅence tell me that the fiꢅst meeting was maꢅked by the exceptional good feeling, geneꢅosiꢆ and comꢅadeship of people woꢅꢇng togetheꢅ and helping each otheꢅ in the common cause of studying the histoꢅy and anthꢅopoloꢈ of Tonga. at fꢅiendliness was its fiꢅst tꢅadition. The Tongan History Association was ꢄꢅmed at a confeꢅence in Foa, in 1989, with H.R.H. Pꢅincess Pilolevu as its patꢅon and the late Rev. Dꢅ Sione Lꢉtꢊkeꢋ as its pꢅesident, a position Sione held until his death in 1995. The ꢅeason ꢄꢅ these confeꢅences is to exchange knowledge. Paꢅticipants aꢅe thus building upon a Tongan tꢅadition that goes back ꢄꢅ as long as people have lived in Tonga. Tongans have always told stoꢅies, ꢄꢅ enteꢅtainment and to pass on knowledge about the past. Knowledge of the techniques of canoe building, fishing, planting and so on, weꢅe passed on ꢃom one geneꢅation to anotheꢅ - veꢅy likely in a naꢅꢅative ꢄꢅm - by women and men who had acquiꢅed the knowledge ꢃom those who had lived beꢄꢅe them. Women and men living in Tonga who had the skill of stoꢌtelling must have been valued membeꢅs of Tonga's past, ꢄꢅ they not only enteꢅtained the chiefs by commenting on histoꢅical events (making jokes and issuing challenges), but they weꢅe also pꢅeseꢍeꢅs of tꢅaditional ꢎowꢏedge. ꢀ example of the pꢅeseꢍaꢐon of tꢅadition is the naꢅꢅative of genealogies, not meꢅe lists of names and descent, but also of the passing of poweꢅ ꢃom one line to anotheꢅ, of alliances of one kaꢂnga with another. Genealogies may be compaꢅed with guide books and etiquette books ꢄꢅ they deteꢅmine the contempoꢅaꢅy pꢅivileges and obligations of individuals in relation to each otheꢅ as deꢅived ꢃom the past. Tꢅaditions aꢅe not static. They change and these changes in themselves become new tꢅaditions. When wꢅiting was intꢅoduced to Tonga by the papalangꢂ, new possibilities weꢅe opened up, which weꢅe seized with alacꢅiꢆ by chiefs and people alike. ECHOES OF PACIFIC Wꢋ xVeꢌ soon, as well as ꢅeading ꢑe texts given to the Tongans by theiꢅ missionaꢅy teacheꢅs, the Tongans began to cꢅeate theiꢅ own texts; genealoꢈ books and the naꢅꢅatives of the villages, tales explaining events in the past and an enoꢅmous outflow of poetꢅy and songs which peꢅpetuate stoꢅies about the past and pꢅesentꢙ Wꢅiting became a newTongan tꢅadition. And in theiꢅ wꢅitings the Tongans pꢅeseꢒed not only the woꢅds but the veꢅy nuances of Tongan thought, especially the use of helꢂakꢂ, that veꢌ Tongan ꢄꢅm of metaphoꢅ. Some of the stoꢅies wꢅitten down byTongans weꢅe shaꢅed withpapalangꢂfꢅiends, who put them into books, wheꢅe the names of the stoꢅytelleꢅs aꢅe ꢅecoꢅded along with theiꢅ naꢅꢅatives, most notably in the books put togetheꢅ by Giffoꢅd and ꢢollocott. Radio, television and now the ꢓnteꢔet can also aid ꢠꢅadition, being ways in which knowledge can be passed on to new geneꢅations. The late Queen Sꢉlote undeꢅstood veꢅy well the value of tꢅadition, and the way it cemented togetheꢅ heꢅ people and helped them to pꢅeseꢒe theiꢅ identiꢆ in an incꢅeasinꢕy intꢅusive woꢅld. Queen Sꢉlote ꢄllowed the old tꢅadition of naꢖative and exhoꢅtation, ꢄꢅ she was a notable oꢅatoꢅ. She also used the new ꢗadition of wꢅiting when, as a veꢌ young woman, she began ꢅecoꢅding old customs, stoꢅies, and genealogies in oꢅdeꢅ to pꢅeseꢒe them ꢄꢅ the ꢘtuꢅeꢙ She continued the old tꢅadition of cꢅeative stoꢌtelling by wꢅiting heꢅ own stoꢅies in poetic ꢄꢅmꢚ The Queen undeꢅstood that making a ꢅecoꢅd of the past was a task she could not do solely on heꢅ own, and she appꢅoved a pꢅoposal ꢃom Paꢅliament that a Tongan Tꢅaditions ꢢommitꢠee (Komꢂtꢂ Tala Fakafonua) be set up to maꢅk heꢅ 50ꢛ biꢅꢑdayꢜ ꢓn thanking ꢠhe membeꢅs of Paꢅliament, she said: customs and traditions have always been practised and preseꢇed by certain loyal families and individuals, but it is particularly pleasing to me that the matter of their permanent recording and publication in a ꢂrm which would lead to a more widespread knowledge of them and a more general observance of them should have been brought beꢂre the House ꢂr a more serious discussion and I appreciate such a gesture and regard it as a ꢈrther step ꢂꢉard towꢃds the preservation of Tonga's naꢊonal identiꢅꢋ e Queen loved tꢅadiꢠions ꢄꢅ theiꢅ own sake, but she gave ꢛꢅee pꢅactical ꢅeasons ꢄꢅ setting up the Tonga ꢝaditions ꢢommittee. The fiꢅst was that theꢅe weꢅe a numbeꢅ of cases in the Land ꢢouꢅt that could be settled only if geneaꢞoꢟes weꢅe availableꢙ The second was to make easieꢅ the collecting of mateꢅiaꢞs ꢄꢅ a histoꢌ of Tonga, which would include heꢅ own ꢅeign. The ꢠhiꢅd task ꢄꢅ ꢠhe Tonga Tꢅadiꢠions Committee was to set up a museum and a libꢅaꢌ ꢄꢅ the collection and pꢅeseꢒaꢠion of aꢅteꢡcts and ꢅecoꢅds. So ꢠhe Tonga Tꢅaditions ꢢommiꢣee was set up in 1954 wiꢑ ꢠhe Queen as the chaiꢅpeꢅson and ꢑe noble Ve'ehala (Leilua) as the Secꢅetaꢅy. Notable membeꢅs weꢅe Feleti Vi, Valu and Havili Hafoka. e committee employed people to go aꢅound the villages and collect inꢄꢅmaꢐon ꢃom ꢠhe old people. ꢀForeword People weꢅe also employed to hide behind tꢅees and take notes when the taumafa kava was being filmed duꢅing the Gꢅeat Lo'au of 1959ꢙ Some of the people employed by the ꢢommittee went on to do theiꢅ own ꢅeseaꢅch and wꢅitingꢙ e names of some of these aꢅe familiaꢅ to us! Sione Lꢉtꢤkefuꢥ Tupou Posesi Fanuaꢥ Elizabeth Bott Spilliusꢧ e wꢅiteꢅs heꢅe aꢅe building on the woꢅk they have doneꢥ just as otheꢅs will build on theiꢅ woꢅkꢙ Queen Sꢉlote undeꢅstood not only the value of tꢅaditions but how tꢅaditions could be adapted to the pꢅesentꢙ One example was the 'new tꢅaditional' Tongan dꢅessꢙ ꢓn eaꢅlieꢅ daysꢥ the Queen explainedꢥ the weaꢅing of ceꢅtain clothes and the way of weaꢅing haiꢅ weꢅe an indiction of one's ꢅank and of one's viꢅginiꢆ oꢅ lack of itꢙ e chiefs knew which ta'ovala to weaꢅ on which special occasionꢧ But this changed in the 19th centuꢌꢥ ꢄꢅ impoꢅted cotton was a moꢅe duꢅable and pꢅactical mateꢅial ꢄꢅ clothing than tapa made ꢃom baꢅk clothꢧ ꢢotton had to be paid ꢄꢅꢥ so ꢄꢅ a long time the weaꢅing of papalangꢂ clothes indicated chiefly statusꢧ ꢓt may have been at the coꢅonation of Queen Elizabeth in June 1953 that Queen Sꢉlote ꢅealised the value of distinctive Tongan dꢅessꢙ At the coꢅonation she heꢅself woꢅe 'new tꢅaditional' Tongan clothesꢥ made up of the old and the newꢥ the pꢅactical and the symbolicꢧ She woꢅe a dꢅess plus a kꢂe hꢂꢃoaꢟ with a comb and a lave'ꢂ tavake in heꢅ haiꢅꢙ The dꢅess was pꢅactical and waꢅm and the kꢂe hꢂngoa and lave'ꢂ tavake indicated heꢅ high chiefly ꢅankꢙ When Queen Sꢉlote ꢅetuꢔed to Tongaꢥ she issued instꢅuctions about the dꢅess that women and men should weaꢅ duꢅing the visit of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinbuꢅgh to Tonga in Decembeꢅ 1953: ꢦongan women should weaꢅ ꢃock and vala of the same colouꢅ and ta'ovala with sandals oꢅ baꢅe feet but no shoes' and Tongan men weꢅe to weaꢅ the neck-tightꢥ collaꢅless tunic oꢅ 'coat and tie with a stiff collaꢅꢥ sandals oꢅ baꢅe feet but not shoesꢙ e vala should match the coat and the ta'ovala should be shoꢅt if a coat is woꢔꢙ' These aꢅe now widely known as the tꢅaditional dꢅess of Tongaꢥ woꢔ by chiefs and commoneꢅs alike. What is inteꢅesting about this stoꢅy is that the Queen's instꢅuctions about Tongan dꢅess weꢅe conveyed in the tꢅaditional way by heꢅ telling the chiefsꢥ but also by wꢅitten instꢅuctionsꢧ By issuing these instꢅuctions Queen Sꢉlote standaꢅdised a paꢅticulaꢅ tꢅaditionꢥ but tꢅadition does not necessaꢅily mean uniꢄꢅmiꢆꢧ Diffeꢅent places have theiꢅ own vaꢅiations on stoꢅies and each vaꢅiation tells us that theꢅe is something distinctive about the people of that placeꢙ Tongans still ꢋlly appꢅeciate the spoken as well as the wꢅitten woꢅdꢥ ꢄꢅ oꢅatoꢌ and malanga aꢅe alive and well in Tonga todayꢧ e ꢅecent ꢅevival of the Tonga Tꢅaditions ꢢommittee in the last few yeaꢅs is only one indication of ꢑe appꢅeciation of the wꢅitten woꢅd as a way of pꢅeseꢅving cultuꢅe and tꢅaditionꢙ ECHOES OF PACIFIC WAR ꢨi So you can see that the Tongan Histoꢅy Association has notjust a 10-yeaꢅ old tꢅadition. ꢓt caꢅꢅies on a naꢅꢅative tꢅadition that goes back thousands of yeaꢅs, a tꢅadition of wꢅiting that goes back 150 yeaꢅs and an official ꢅecoꢅd tꢅadition that goes back only 40 yeaꢅs. ꢓt is good to ꢅefeꢅ to the past and to ꢅevive what was good in the liꢩt of modem times and pꢅesent needs. Tonga is changing and sometimes we can see that something in ꢑe past should be ꢅevived and something in the pꢅesent be adopted and adapted. is is the way new tꢅaditions aꢅe made. To ꢅepeat naꢅꢅatives of the past and speculate on theiꢅ mysteꢅies - and to analyse ꢑe pꢅesent - aꢅe functions of the Tonga Histoꢅy Association that have value faꢅ beyond the pꢅesent. ꢠ'a 'ofa aꢡ ..... I ntroduction THE 1939-45 Wꢪꢆꢇ ꢈꢉ A WATERSHED in the social and political history of the Kingdom of Tonga ꢄrꢥ although Tonga managed to escape the ravages of warfare in the wake of Japanese expansionism and aggression, social ꢄrces and tensions were released which greatly affected the world view of the Tongan peopleꢙ While new horizons and prospects ꢄr material betterment were revealed there also came a questioning of some of the old traditional valuesꢧ The papers selected ꢄr this volume ꢄcus on the changes that came about in one Pacific nation due to the fall-out and side effects of a terrible global warꢧ The idea to explore this theme was put ꢄrward and implemented by the first President of the Tongan ꢫistoꢬ Associationꢥ the late Reverend Dr Sione Lꢉtꢭkeꢋ, who spent much of his retirement years analysing the changing social structure of Tonga and new phenomena such as the pro-democracy movementꢧ The answers to some of his questions seemed to lie in the Tongan eꢮerience during and immediately after the Second World Warꢧ Sione Lꢉtꢭkeꢋ was convener ꢄr the Tongan ꢫistory ꢢonference to be held ꢅꢢanberra in January 1997 and the ꢢonference committee adopted the theme he had chosen. e sudden death of Dr Lꢉtꢭkeꢋ on 2 June 1995 was a sad blow to the committeeꢥ but it was decided to keep to his original plans and dedicate the ꢢonference and any publication which emerged ꢃom it to his memoryꢙ Dr Deryck Scarr, one of the senior Pacific historians in the Division of Pacific and Asian ꢫistory in the Australian National Universiꢆꢯs Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies and a long-time specialist in the history of the Westeꢔ Pacificꢥ agreed to act as convenerꢥ papers were called ꢄrꢥ and the ꢢonference duly heldꢙ As this volume is a tribute to the memory of Dr Lꢉtꢭkeꢋ it is appropriate to record something of his life and contribution to scholarshipꢙ Sione Lꢉtꢭkeꢋ belonged to two worlds in Tonga, the traditionalist, isolationist and ꢢhurch dominated pre-War world into which he was boꢔ and a world eꢮeriencing dramatic changes in which he himself was a protagonistꢙ By nature a conseꢒaꢰve he belonged to the old world but his own struꢱles and sympathies ꢲrust him into the new making him a progressive or radical conseꢒativeꢥ supporting greater popular participation in goveꢔment without damaging the traditional underpinning of the social ꢡbric. ꢳv ECHOES OF PACIFIC WAR Sione Lꢉtꢊkefu was boꢔ at Kolovai on Tongatapu into a commoneꢅ ꢡmily with stꢴong ceꢅemonial links with the Tui Kanokupolu lineage as well as stꢅong links of peꢅsonal seꢅvice, even to the extent of suffeꢅing peꢅsecution, to the histoꢅic Wesleyan (afteꢅwaꢅds Fꢅee Wesleyan) ꢢhuꢅch of Tonga. Enteꢅing Tupou ꢢollege at the age of 12 in 1939 Sione pꢅoved a good student, paꢅticulaꢅly as he ꢅealised that masteꢅy of the English language was essential if he wished to go ꢡꢅ in education. ꢵs he was at school duꢅing the Waꢅ yeaꢅs and the peaceful though puꢴposeꢘl occupation of his countꢅy by allied tꢅoops Sione ꢅealised the advantages of knowing an inteꢔational language and the whole expeꢅience would have opened his eyes to a veꢅy diffeꢅent woꢅld beyond his hoꢅizons. The Pꢅincipal of Tupou ꢢollege duꢅing the eaꢅly yeaꢅs of the Waꢅ was the Reveꢅend ꢢecil Gꢅibbleꢥ a humane and enlightened educationalist, who was quick to see the potential of Sione and his fellow student Siupeli Taliai. When Gꢅibble became Diꢅectoꢅ of Education in 1942 he shepheꢅded theiꢅ pꢅogꢅess when they attended the goveꢔment Teacheꢅs Tꢅaining ꢢollege. ꢓn 1945 Sione became head teacheꢅ at Pelehake village pꢅimaꢅy school and ꢃom 1949 to 1952 he was head teacheꢅ at Mu'a. ꢵlꢶough Gꢅibble ꢅetuꢔed to ꢵustꢅalia in 1946, anotheꢅ ꢵustꢅalian missionaꢅy, highly ꢅespected by Queen Sꢉlote and almost an emꢂnence gꢢeꢣ the Reveꢅend Rodgeꢅ Page, took a diꢅectional inteꢅest in the two pꢅomising teacheꢅs. On one of his visits to Tonga Page put Sione ꢄꢷaꢅd as a candidate ꢄꢅ the ministꢅy indicating that this would be ꢄllowed by ꢘꢅtheꢅ tꢅaining in ꢵustꢅalia. ꢓn 1952 Sione and Siupeli enteꢅed Sia-'a-Toutai eological ꢢollege wheꢅe they completed the Melbouꢔe ꢢollege of Diviniꢆ couꢅse ꢄꢅ the L degꢅee. On successfully finishing theiꢅ couꢅse the two men weꢅe sent to Bꢅisbane to study ꢄꢅ the Bꢵ degꢅee and Diploma of Education at the Univeꢅsiꢆ of Queenslandꢸ This tꢅaining in the enviꢅonment of anotheꢅ cultuꢅe ꢃom 1955 to 1958 lived up to the eꢮectations of the Waꢅ yeaꢅs just as it challenged theiꢅ own educational methods and values and exposed them to questioning methodoloꢈꢸ a Both men ꢅetuꢔed to Tonga to diveꢅgent but complementaꢅy caꢅeeꢅs in educaꢐonꢸ Siupeli Taliai eventually became the fiꢅst Tongan Pꢅincipal of Tupou ꢢollege and incꢅeasingly became an outspoken cꢅitic of the establishmentꢥ both ꢢhuꢅch and Stateꢥ ꢄꢅging a John Knox ꢆpe ꢅeputation and eventually falling out with some poweꢅful ꢢhuꢅch leadeꢅs. ꢫe went into what was ꢹꢅtually political eꢳle in ꢵustꢅalia ministeꢅing to expatꢅiate Tongansꢸ Sione's caꢴeeꢅ was less tꢅaumatic though it was not without incidents and difficultiesꢸ Despite encouꢅagement to continue his studies at the Univeꢅsiꢆ of Queensland ꢄꢅ a Masteꢅ's degꢅee, both by the Depaꢅtment of ꢫistoꢅy and ꢢecil Gꢅibbleꢥ the Fꢅee Wesleyan ꢢhuꢅch opposed it and Sione ꢅetuꢔed to ꢊIntroductꢂon Toꢻga to teach at Tupou ꢢollegeꢧ ꣉eveꣁtheless Sioꢻe had poweꢅꢺl suppoꢅt the ꢵustꣁaliaꢻ ꢢhuꣁch ꢃom Pageꢥ Gꢅibble aꢻd the Masteꢅ of Sydꢻey ꢅUꢻiveꢅsiꢆ's Wesley ꢢollegeꢧ Queeꢻ Sꢉꢼꢽte heꢅself was sympathetic aꢻd hoped Sioꢻe could be assisted thꣁough the Tꢅaditions Committeeꢧ Wheꢻ this failed aꢻd Sioꢻe was exposed to poweꣁful oppositioꢻ by some highly placed Toꢻgaꢻsꢥ Gꢅibbleꢥ who was Geꢻeꢅal Secꣁetaꢅy of the Methodist Oveꢅseas Mission depaꣁtmentꢥ aꢻd his fꣁieꢻds ꢄuꢻd meaꢻs of suppoꣁtiꢻg Sioꢻe who had aꣁꢅived iꢻ ꢵustꢅalia viꢅtually peꢻꢻiless aꢻd suffeꢅiꢻg ꢃom haꢅassmeꢻtꢧ Iꢻ 1962 Sioꢻe commeꢻced aꢻ ꢀ couꢅse in the Depaꢅtmeꢻt of ꢾistoꢌ iꢻ the School of Geꢻeꢅal Studies (ꢻow the Facultꣂes) at the ꢵustꣁaliaꢻ ꣉atioꢻal Uꢿiveꢅsiꢆ wꣂth supeꢒisioꢻ ꢃom the theꢻ Depaꢅtmeꢻt of Pacific ꢾistoꣀ ꣂꢻ the Iꢻstitute of ꢵdvaꢻced Studiesꢧ ꣆ate iꢻ 1963 he was awaꣁded a PhD scholaꢅship in the Depaꢅtmeꢻt of Pacific ꢾistoꢌ oꢻ the basis of his wꣁitten woꢅkꢥ aꢻd a yeaꢅ lateꢅ (꣉ovembeꢅ 1964) he ꣁetuꢔed to Toꢻga oꢻ field woꢅkꢧ Queeꢻ Sꢉlote took a gꢅeat iꢻteꣁest iꢻ his ꢅeseaꣁch aꢻd had hopes that he would sooꢻ afteꢷaꢅds ꢅetuꢔ to Toꢻga to take chaꣁge of the ꢵꢅchives aꢻd the Tꢅaditioꢻs ꢢommittee ꢅeseaꢅchꢧ Uꢻꢄꢅtuꢻately ꢾeꢅ Majesꢆ's health was ꢡiliꢻg aꢻd she was to die beꢄꣁe Sione fiꢻished his couꢅseꢥ though ꢻot beꢄꢅe she had time to iꢻvite him to visit heꣁ iꢻ ꢵucklaꢻd aꢻd ꢅecoꣁd some of the histoꣁical iꢻꢄꢅmatioꢻ she wished to pass oꢻꢧ Eveꢻ with the patꣁonage of the highest iꢻ the land theꢅe weꢅe hiꢩly placed people who coꢻtiꢻued to haꢅass himꢧ While those iꢻflueꢻced by the Queen's patꢅoꢻage became eageꢅ inꢄꣁmaꢻts otheꢅs played a moꣁe siꢻisteꢅ ꢅole - 'Why do you waꢻt a PhD? You aꣁe ꢻot a ꢻoble'ꢥ was oꢻejealous thꢅustꢧ By ꢻow Sioꢻe was his owꢻ maꢻꢥ complete iꢻ his owꢻ ꢡith aꢻd digꢻiꢆꢥ objective in scholaꢅship aꢻd iꢻteꢔatꣂoꢻal iꢻ outlookꢧ The jibes of his oppoꢻeꢻts huꢅt but his couꢅse was ꢻow geaꢅed to a scholaꣁ's lifeꢧ ꢾis maꢅꢅiage to aꢻthꣁopologist Dꣁ Ruth Fiꢻk iꢻ Juꢻe 1966 aꢻd the completioꢻ of his doctoꢅate meaꢻt ꢻew ꢅespoꢻsibiliꣃes aꢻd ꢻew oppoꢅtuꢻitiesꢧ With ꢻo cleaꢅ iꢻdicatioꢻs ꢃom Toꢻga ꣁegaꣁdiꢻg the ꢵꢅchives pꢅospect the way seemed cleaꢅ to aꢻ academic caꣁeeꣁꢧ Sooꢻ aﬅeꣁwaꣁds both Ruth aꢻd Sioꢻe joiꢻed the staff of the ꢻewly ꢄuꢻded Uꢻiveꢅsiꢆ of Papua ꣉ew Guiꢻea wheꢅe they weꢅe to seꢍe uꢻtil 1985ꢸ ꢵfteꢅ ꣁeꣃꣁiꢻg ꣄om Papua ꣉ew Guiꢻea Sioꢻe was Visitiꢻg Fellow iꢻ the Depaꢅtmeꢻt (lateꣁ Divisioꢻ) of Pacific aꢻd ꢵsiaꢻ ꢾistoꢅy at the ꢵustꢅaliaꢻ ꣉atioꢻal Uꢻiveꢅsiꢆꢥ aꢻd beꣅeeꢻ the yeaꢅs 1989 - 1991 he seꢍed as Pꣁiꢻcipal of the Pacific eoloꢟcal ꢢollege iꢻ Suvaꢧ Sioꢻe ꣆꣇t꣈keꢘ's coꢻtꣁibutioꢻ to Pacꣂfic histoꢌ was substaꢻtialꢧ ꢾis pꣁiꢻcipal aꣁea of expeꢅtise was the iꢻteꢅactioꢻ of chuꣁch aꢻd state in Toꢻga aꢻd the ꢄꢅmulatioꢻ of the ꢢoꢻstitutioꢻꢧ ꢾis book Church and State ꢤ Tonga (ꢢaꢻbeꢅꣁa 197 4) weꢻt thꣁough thꢅee pꢅiꢻtiꢻgs aꢻd became aꢻ Islaꢻds classicꢧ This was ꢄllowed by e Toꢃan Constꢂtution (꣉uku'aloꢡ 1975) which is the staꢻdaꢅd text oꢻ the subjectꢧ ꢵlthough Sioꢻe was a stauꢻch suppoꢅteꢅ of ꢋECHOES OF PACIFIC WAR what might be ꣌alled the Tupou veꢅsion of histo꣊ꢥ ꣌entꢅal to whi꣌h aꢅe the a꣌hievements of Tꢉuꢡ꣋ꢉhauꢥ oꢅ Tupou ꢓ. he was awaꢅe of the blind adulation in Tonga ꢄꢅ missionaꢅies su꣌h as John Thomas and Shiꢅley Bakeꢅ and ꢄꢅ the ꢄundeꢅ of the dynasꢆꢥ and his modified view of peꢅsons and events aimed at obje꣌ti꣍iꢆ and ꢡiꢔessꢸ So su꣌꣌essꢘl was he in his modeꢅate ꢅevisionism that one of his eaꢅly ꢅeadeꢅs assumed ꢃom his a꣌꣌ount of Tongan ꢢatholi꣌ism ꢛat he was a ꢢatholi꣌ histoꢅianꢸ Despite his passion ꢄꢅ ꢡiꢔess he was impatient with theoꢅeti꣌al ꢃamewoꢅks whi꣌h seemed to impose what he thought weꢅe Westeꢔ values onTongan histo꣎y wheꢛeꢅ Ma꣏stꢥ ꢵndeꢅsonian oꢅ stꢅu꣌tuꢅalistꢸ ꢫis highest pꢅaise was to say a papeꢅ was s꣌holaꢅly but this did not mean he a꣌꣌epted its aꢅgumentsꢸ Towaꢅds the end of his life he was woꢅking on an aꢿalysis of the new Tongan eliteꢥ a kind of pꢅosopogꢅaphi꣌al study in whi꣌h he was able to show the impoꢅtan꣌e of genealogi꣌al ꣌onne꣌tions between the new middle ꣌lass and the ꣌hiefly ꣌lassꢸ is study pꢅoved to him that even the leadeꢅs of the pꢅo-demo꣌ꢅa꣌y movement weꢅe paꢅt of ꢛis nexus and not ꢃom the dependent ꣌lassesꢸ ꢫe was an inteꢅested obseꢅveꢅ of the pꢅo-demo꣌ꢅa꣌y phenomenonꢥ shaꢅing some of the demo꣌ꢅati꣌ ꣌on꣌eꢔs of his ꣌leꢅi꣌al fꢅiends Taliai and Bishop ꣐nauꢥ but holding fiꢅmly to a ꣌ouꢅse of modeꢅation and peꢅsuasionꢸ Seveꢅal of Sione's a꣌ademi꣌ papeꢅs weꢅe pioneeꢅing and even seminal in theiꢅ wayꢸ ꢫe was one of the fiꢅst to look at the pioneeꢅing evangelism of Tongan and oꢛeꢅ South Sea ꢓslandeꢅ missionaꢅiesꢥ paꢅti꣌ulaꢅly in Papua ꣉ew Guineaꢥ and he paꢅti꣌ipated in ꣌onfeꢅen꣌es and ꣌ompilations on this subje꣌t. Similaꢅly he pla꣌ed ꣑eat value on oꢅal histo꣊ꢥ being ve꣊ ꢡmiliaꢅ with the ꢅole of the tangata 'ꢂlo (the man who knows) in Tongan so꣌ieꢆꢸ ꢓn some ways his ꣌ꢅiti꣌al ꢅeview of veꢔa꣌ulaꢅ souꢅ꣌es was almost Euꢅo꣌entꢅi꣌ in that he ꣌ame to his study ꢃom a ba꣌kground of Westeꢔ dis꣌iplina꣊ ꢗainingꢥ while his own eꢮosuꢅe to ꢗaditional ꣌ultuꢅe had been tempeꢅed by ꣑owing up in a stꢅi꣌t ꢅeligious householdꢸ ꣉eveꢅtheless he had a ꢅeal ꣌ontꢅibution to make in emphasising the value of oꢅal histo꣊ꢸ Shoꢅtly afteꢅ Sione ꢅetuꢔed to the ꢵustꢅalian ꣉ational Univeꢅsiꢆ the Depaꢅtment of Pa꣌ifi꣌ and ꢵsian ꢫisto꣊ de꣌ided to hold a woꢅkshop on Tongan histo꣎y owing to the se꣌ondment to the Depaꢅtment of ꣅo visiting Tongan spe꣌ialistsꢥ Dꢅ ꢵletta Bieꢅsa꣌k and Dꢅ Elisabeth Wood-Ellemꢸ Phyllis ꢫeꢅdaꢥ then a student in the Depaꢴtmentꢥ a꣑eed to a꣌t as se꣌ꢅeta꣊ and Sione was one of the thꢅee-membeꢅ ꣌ommitteeꢸ Phyllis and Sione weꢅe laꢅgely ꢅesponsible ꢄꢅ tuꢔing the woꢅkshop into a ꣒꣓꣓y fledged ꣔nteꢔa꣕oꢻa꣓ ꣌onfeꢅen꣌e on Tongan histo꣊ꢸ The fiꢅst Tongan ꢫisto꣊ ꣌onfeꢅen꣌e was held in ꢢanbeꢅꢅa ꢃom 14 to 17 Janua꣊ 1987 and it be꣌ame a ꢄꢅum not only ꢄꢅ dis꣌ussing tꢅaditional histo꣎yꢥ pꢅehisto꣊ꢥ anthꢅopolo꣖ and so꣌ial histo꣊ issues but also moꢅe ꢅe꣌ent events and ꣌ontempoꢅa꣊ politi꣌sꢸ ꢵlthouꢩ no ꣗꣔i

Echoes of Pacific War

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