WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of June 2001. This month has seen so many of our chapters celebrating the birthday of the school in their respective countries and states.

The THSESWS would also like to welcome Siaosi Moengangongo who has contacted us recently, informing us that he has been made the Executive Secretary of the Ex-student Council in Tonga. This means that he is willing to work together with us and to do the best he can in order to give the Council in Tonga and the chapters overseas a better communication channel. In the light of this, we would like to give Siaosi our full support in bridging the gap between the Council in Tonga and us overseas. Siaosi Moengangongo can be contacted using: moenga@kalianet.to Siaosi has specifically asked the THSESWS to post his email here so that overseas chapters can contact him. In fact, Siaosi would like to hear from all chapters.

We have witnessed the enthusiasms portrayed by the San Francisco Chapter. They have taken the lead in everything concerning the running of any Tonga High School Ex-students Association. They have also bombarded us with pictures of their ball and BBQ during the celebration of the birthday of the school. Well done San Francisco!

Finally, during this month our web site has shifted to yet another server farm. This has been part of a major upgrade behind the scene in order to give us better and faster access. Unfortunately, this has caused us more headaches than we would have anticipated. The problem was caused by the inability of the new server to recognise our domain IP. It took them a while to figure that out and at the same time the administrator of tongahighschool.com and I were screaming at the technicians working at the main control to pull their act together. Eventually they got it fixed but by then; we were both totally grey. As a result of this mishap, we lost some of our data from our forum and could not be retrieved. We will do our best to minimise the chances of such problems repeating in the future.

Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli M Hafoka & 'Amelia Piutau

NEWS FROM TONGA:

Compiled by Siaosi Moengangongo:

Well, I have been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the xths something very glorified to con me to do the job. I am handy because I have my own little office at home and I am retired from work. I understand that a newsletter will be going out soon with the outcome of the AGM 2001. The old Council was voted in with Bill Fukofuka being the president and the same office bearers. The only new member is Mele Taufa (nee Mataitonga) to replace Elizabeth Baker who is away on study leave. The complete list will be in the newsletter soon.

Since THS was burnt in October 2001, the Council froze all the various projects that were agreed to in Sydney. We have however respond to urgent requests from the school when each arose. Early in 2001, the Council and the NZ chapter bought text books for the school as these were burnt. The text books etc that were bought with the $5000.00 brought back from Sydney by the Council were all burnt too. In April, the school further asked the xths students to help in refurbishing a library as the old one was completely burnt too. We have thus sent out requests to the various chapters that we know of their contact; NZ, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco.

The objective of the book project was for each xstudent to donate a book. The Council was also aware of possible missing out on a vital reference and stockpiling of a particular book therefore encouraged money donation. Tonga has been fund raising with 2 successful bookathons. We have raised $20,000.00 which does not include the book donations already being received. The various chapters are being sent a booklist to buy. The value of the book list for each chapter is around $2500-3000.00. Furthermore, they are encouraged to see whether local organisations etc can donate any kinds of book.

The second part of the book drive is the $5000 pledged in Sydney in 2000. So far, only Tonga and New Zealand have coughed up their pledges. This is very much needed because there are essential equipment required by the library too such microfische reader, computers with cd rom drive, repair kits filing cupboard etc.

The book drive was launched in April by Hon Lupepau'u Tuita and was dedicated and handed over to the Minister of Education on the 4th June. However, the project is not complete and will continue on for the rest of the whole year.

A new chapter has been formed in Haapai with the Governor (another ex-student to make it to the top) being the Patron.

The next meeting of the Council will be in Vava'u on the 24th June during the SUTT annual conference. A dance will be held on the 23rd for the exstudents to meet socially as there will be many coming from overseas.

I will organise the e-mail addresses of those that I have got and send them on to you. But the news letter and the Chairman's and audited finacial report will be coming over later.

General information:

The Government is now committed to build a new school. At the mean time, 34 temporary classrooms are being built at the old Vaiola Hospital, near the Teacher Training College to house the students while the new buliding for the school is still at the designing phase. The plan for the new school is very exciting. It is a package that will reclaim the glamour that our school has since lost over a long period of time. Here are the details, the new school will comprise of 4 stories with the remnant of the old school being demolished to make way for the new one. Only the clock and the tower will remain and will be incorporated into the new school building. We are going to be very impatient here for it is still another 2 years down the track before we have the new buildings. Yes, we know that the Government does move at a snail pace but at least they are going to give us a better facility to take us into the future and beyond.

We will keep everyone updated on the latest development of the school as there appear to be some interests in participating on such an auspicious ocassion.

While I am typing this, I have just heard over the radio that the next AGM is scheduled to be convened in Auckland, NZ.

Regards
Siaosi Moengangongo

2002 CELEBRATION IN "THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD"

An insight to Auckland's preparation for 2002 ! - By Loseli

According to Dr. Linita Manu'atu and Tania Tonga'onevai, the Auckland chapter celebrated the birthday of the school in style. Hundreds of ex-students turned up to the occassion and it was a day that made every Tonga High School Ex-students proud. Tae Tu'inukuafe (Tae Moala)from the Wellington Chapter did the honour of blessing the school followed by so many Tongan Dances.

The Chapter of Auckland also held their AGM during the celebration. Featuring in the agenda of the AGM was Auckland's plans for next year's celebration. Those of you who don't live in either New Zealand or Australia would probably not understand that there is a fierce rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. This has stemmed from sports. New Zealand has for a long time dominated the rugby scene. Lately, Australia has taken the honours and unfortunately the New Zealanders do not take it quite well. Now, what is this got to do with Tonga High School? Well, this is where outsiders (people from other parts of the world) don't know. The first time ever for the celebration of the school's birthday to be held overseas was in Sydney. It was run entirely by the Sydney Chapter with a bit of help from other states in Australia. Sydney set the benchmark for celebrating the school's birthday of any Tongan school outside Tonga. Now, it is less than a year before the next celebration. This is where Auckland enters the equation. The people from across the Tasman are going to outdo their continental colleagues.

According to Dr. Linita Manu'atu, Auckland raised a large sum of money during their celebration which was in the vicinity of $10,000 to $12,000. For a small capital city compared to that of Australia and USA, this is a major feat in more reasons than one. The population of New Zealand is about 3-4 millions, this is about the size of the state of Victoria in Australia. The implications are, the size of the population does not really matter. What matters the most is the feeling of togetherness, coupled by a big heart, love and willingness to do what it takes to serve our school. Perhaps what we have seen so far is only a glimpse of what's to come. Already, the ex-students in Australia and especially that of Sydney are waiting nervously but with a lot of interest to see what Auckland warriors are going to do. However, things are a bit difficult to decipher because the Auckland organisers are very secretive and protective of their plans. Who would blame them? These are warriors who would go to great lengths in protecting their own interests and will fiercely defend their own territories; let alone any leakage of their combat plans.

New Zealand has always been a fascinating place for me. Since I entered Tonga High School, I always wanted to study in New Zealand. Circumstances denied me of that opportunity but New Zealand has remained a soft spot in my heart. Talking to New Zealanders is always an intriguing and somewhat interesting activity. You see, New Zealanders speak with a slightly different accent to that of Australians and it has always been a joke in both countries to make fun of each other's accent. This, of course has been done in great humour and in good intentions. All these, do nothing but to add more and more spice to the rivalry between these two countries. I just can't wait to see Auckland's grand plan for their celebration, but being an Australian - it would be easier for me to try and suck "blood" out of rocks than trying to infiltrate the Auckland Chapter's mindset. To me, this is a task which is near impossible! In deed, with all the rivalries between Australia and New Zealand - there can only be one conclusion; we will see a tremendous show by our Tasman neighbours in showing the world that Tonga High School is more than capable of doing better than anybody else in both inside and outside the classroom.

To our colleagues from the "Land of the long white Cloud", we wish you all the best time in planning, preparation and the final implementation of the show that you are working on. Remember, the whole world is watching you! Good Luck.

NEWS FROM SAN FRANCISCO

Malo e lelei pea malo mu'a 'etau toe lava. Koe'uhi koe hoko 'ae 'aho hotau 'apiako 'ihe mahina ni, 'oku hoko ma'u ai pe 'ae mahina ko eni ko Sune koha taimi makehe mo fakafiefia kiate kitautolu kau ako tutuku, pea pehee foki kihe ako lolotonga. 'Oku 'iai 'ae tui moe 'amanaki na'e lava lelei 'ae ngaahi polokalama fakamanatu 'aho kotoa pe 'ae ngaahi tukui vahenga kotoa pe, pea 'oku 'iai 'ae faka'amu 'e lava ke a'utaki mai ha ngaahi ongoongo moha fakaikiiki 'o 'enau ngaahi polokalama na'e fakahoko.

Ka tau vakai ange he mu'a kihe tamaiki 'oe Hala Fakakavakava Koula mei loto 'Amelika lahi, 'ae vahenga San Francisco mo 'enau katoanga fakamanatu 'aho na'e fakahoko. Koe'uhi koha ngaahi 'uhinga lelei 'aupito mo fakapotopoto, ne matolo mai ai ki mu'a 'o pau ai ke fakahoko 'ae fakamanatu 'aho 'ae vahenga ni 'ihe 'aho Falaite moe Tokonaki ko hono 25 moe 26 'oe mahina ko eni ko Me. Koe fakamanatu 'aho ko eni na'e fakahoko 'aki ia ha fu'u hulohula (Ball) faka ngalongata'a 'ihe po Falaite he hotele Park Plaza 'i Burlingame, pea toki ta tuku 'aki leva ha fu'u papakiu fakavale'anga 'ihe 'aho Tokonaki 'i Tau'akipulu, Hillsborough.

Na'e hanga foki 'ehe vahenga San Francisco 'o fakaafe'i mai 'ae ngaahi vahenga 'oe ngaahi siteiti kehe 'i 'Amelika ni, 'o hange koe vahenga Salt Lake City, Seattle, Alaska, Reno, Sacramento, L.A pea pehe foki ki Hawaii, pea koia ne 'iai ha kau ako tutuku meiha ngaahi vahenga kehe ne nau lava mai ki San Francisco. Koe kau fakaafe leva eni ne lava mai. Mei Los Angeles ko Mataele Mangisi mo hono hoa, pea pehee kia Lucy Ramsey mo hono hoa. Mei Sacramento ko Tainamu-'a-paea ......! Pea mei Reno leva ko Viniola Finau mo hono hoa pea pehee foki kia Falanisesi (Maka) Pateta. Na'e 'iai pe foki ha kau ako tutuku ne nau lolotonga 'a'ahi pe malolo mai meihe ngaahi fonua kehe kihe Bay Area fe'unga moe fakamanatu 'aho ni, pea ne nau lava ange mo kinautolu kiai, 'o hange koia ko Viliami Tupou mo Takitoa Taumoepeau mei Tonga pea pehee foki kia Fifita Makasini mei Sydney, 'Aositelelia.

Kaikehe na'e me'a fakalangilangi 'ihe hulohula 'ae 'Eiki Tokoni Palemia moe Minisita Lao 'o Tonga, Tevita Tupou pea pehe foki ki hono hoa Saane Tufui Tupou. Na'e me'a ai pe foki moe Konisela Seniale Tonga, Tevita Kolokihakaufisi mo hono hoa, pehe foki kihe Tokoni Konisela, Tania Tupou, kae 'uma'a 'a Leafa Tuita Taumoepeau koe 'Ofisa Fale'i 'ae Kautaha. Na'e tokolahi 'aupito 'ae kau ako tutuku ne lava ange kihe hulohula kae pehee pe foki kiho tau kainga Tonga ne lava ange koe fie poupou pe. Na'e faka'ofo'ofa mo hulu 'a noa e me'a tokoni ne teuteu pea 'ikai foki ha toe lau kovi ia kihe ngaahi fasi! Ka ko hono fungani 'oe fu'u po hulohula ni, 'ae ha masani moe hoihoifua 'ae kau ako tutuku 'o hangee pe koia 'oku tau mata'ia 'ihe ngaahi ta koia 'oku ha atu 'ihe'etau ki'i peesi ni. Kaikehe a foki kau ako tutuku, ne toki aofangatuku'aki e fu'u po hulohula ni ha fo'i tau'olunga tootoomai 'ae kau 'ofisa fefine he Komiti 'one fakanonga'aki e ngaahi loto ne kei hoha'a!!! 'Ihe 'aho Tokonaki leva, ne fakahoko ai 'ae papakiu ki Tau'akipulu kihe 'api nofo'anga 'oe Konisela Seniale, Tevita Kolokihakaufisi. Na'e toe 'amu ange 'ae fakalata ia 'oe papakiu. Koe fakalata ka koha fakalata. Ka koe konga mahu'inga 'oe polokalama ko eni 'ihe Tokonaki 'a hono fakahoko 'ae Fakataha Lahi Fakata'u 'ae Kautaha. Koe kongokonga lalahi leva eni 'oe Fakataha.

1. Na'e fakahoko 'ae fili 'oe kau 'ofisa kihe ngaahi lakanga 'oe Komiti, pea na'e anga pehe ni leva 'ae fili lakanga.

   Palesiteni	- Ma'ata Faiva'ilo Misinale
   Tokoni Palesiteni	- 'Epalahame Palu
   Sekelitali	- 'Amelia M.P Piutau
   Tauhi Pa'anga	- Monika Lui Talanoa
   Talekita 'Ekitiviti	- 'Ana Moa
   Tokoni Sekelitali	- Tinamoni Kavakiholeva
   Tokoni Tauhi Pa'anga	- Malia S. Mailangi
   Tokoni Talekita 'Ekitiviti	- 'Ana Tufui

   Pea kei hoko pe foki 'a Leafa Tuita Taumoepeau koe 'Ofisa Fale'i (Advisor) 'ae Kautaha. Koe ni'ihi leva eni 'oe kongokonga lalahi 'oe ngaahi me'a ne lave kiai mo ale'ai 'ehe Fakataha.
2. Konisitutone(By-Laws). 'Oku faka'osi'osi eni e ngaue 'ae Komiti ki hono fa'ufa'u 'oha Konisitutone (By-Laws) 'ae Kautaha pea pehee ki hono lesisita koia ke hoko koe 'Non Profit Organization' 'ihe siteiti 'o Kalefonia. 'Oka lava lelei 'ae ngaue ko eni, 'e hoko ia koha lavame'a mahu'inga kihe Komiti pea moe Kautaha fakalukufua foki.
3. Hingoa. Koe hingoa faka 'ofisiale 'oe Kautaha 'aia 'oku lesisita'aki koe Tonga High School Alumni-S.F Chapter.
4. Logo. Na'e faka'ali'ali ai foki kihe Fakataha 'ae 'Logo' 'e ngaue'aki 'ehe Kautaha. Koe 'logo' 'oku ha ai e sila e 'apiako 'ihe funga Hala Fakakavakava Koula (Golden Bridge) 'i San Francisco. Na'e tali lelei 'ehe Fakataha ke hoko 'ae 'logo' ko eni koe faka'ilonga ia 'oe Kautaha. Koe 'logo' foki na'e 'design' ia 'ehe Webmaster 'o 'etau website, Loseli M. Hafoka.
5. Totongi Lesisita(Membership fees). Na'e loto taha 'ae Fakataha ke totongi 'ehe tokotaha kotoa pe 'ae $20, koe lesisita pe 'membership fee' kihe ta'u.
6. Fiema'u Tohi Laipeli. Na'e fakahoko foki 'ehe Palesiteni kihe Fakataha 'ae fakatangi tohi laipeli koia 'oku fiema'u mai meihe ako lolotonga. Koia na'e tu'utu'uni 'ehe Fakataha ke fai ha koniseti feinga pa'anga ke tokoni kihe feinga tohi ko eni. Koe fakaikiiki 'oe koniseti 'o hange koe taimi moe feitu'u ke fakahoko ai ke ngaue kiai 'ae Komiti pea ke toki fanongonongo kihe toenga 'oe kautaha. Na'e mahino 'aupito 'ihe Fakataha 'ae fie poupou moe fietokoni 'ae kau ako tutuku kihe fakatangi tohi ko eni 'oku fai mei Tonga. Pea 'ihe'ene tu'u koia 'ihe taimi ni, koe ngaue (project) lahi ia 'ae Kautaha 'oku nau hanganaki atu kiai. Te mau toe fakahoko atu pe 'ihe ngaahi 'newsletter' ka hoko mai 'ae tukunga 'oe ngaahi teuteu moe feinga pa'anga ko 'eni 'e fai kihe kumi tohi laipeli. Koia mou toutou vakai mai pe 'etau ngaahi 'newsletter' kiha ngaahi fakaikiiki 'a mui ange.
7. Fakamalo. Na'e faka'osi'aki 'ae Fakataha Lahi Fakata'u ni ha lea fakamalo na'e fakahoko 'ehe Palesiteni, Ma'ata Faiva'ilo Misinale, kihe kainga 'a'ahi moe fakaafe kotoa pe ne lava ange, kihe kau ako tutuku, pea kihe'ene komiti foki kae 'uma'a 'ae Konisela Seniale Tevita Kolokihakaufisi mo hono tokoni, Tania Tupou 'ihe ngaahi tokoni moe poupou kuo nau fai ma'ae Kautaha 'o lava ke nau ikuna'i 'ae ta'u ngaue 2000-2001. Ne toe fili pe foki 'a Ma'ata pea moe kongalahi 'o 'ene kau 'ofisa 'ihe Komiti motu'a ke nau toe hoko atu pe 'ae faifatongia 'ihe Komiti Ngaue mo Fale'i kihe ta'u fakangaue 2001-2002, pea 'oku 'iai 'ae faka'amu ke kei hokohoko atu 'ae lele'i matangi 'ae faifatongia 'oku fai.

'Ihe lava lelei 'ae Fakataha ne hoko atu leva kihe ma'u me'a tokoni pea pehee foki kihe ngaahi fakafiefia, pea toki matuku pe 'ihe ta 'ae papahia. Koe ki'i ongoongo nounou ia felave'i moe fakamanatu'aho 'ae vahenga San Francisco. Koe 'uluaki fakataha 'ae Komiti Fo'ou 'e fai ia 'ihe 'aho 7 'o Siulai, pea ke nau sio ai mo palani kihe fakaikiiki 'oe koniseti feinga pa'anga kihe tohi laipeli. Koia tau mavae kava pe he….ka tau toki hoko atu.

Faka'apa'apa atu,
'Amelia M.P Piutau (Sekelitali)

NEWS FROM SALT LAKE CITY

Koe ki'i ongoongo eni ne a'utaki tomui mai mei Salt Lake City, Utah fekau'aki mo 'enau polokalama fakamanatu 'aho na'e fai.

Na'a nau fakamanatu 'e kinautolu e 'aho 'oe ako 'ihe efiafi Tokonaki 2 'o Sune. Na'e kamata 'aki ha malanga fakamanatu 'aia na'e fakahoko ia 'e Viliami Afeaki. Pea 'osi koia pea hoko atu ai pe kihe'enau ma'u me'atokoni moe ngaahi 'ekitiviti, pea faka'osi 'aki 'a e fu'u hulohula toho.

Ne pehe foki 'e Lupe Prescott na'e tokolahi 'aupito 'a e kau kolisi tutuku nenau lava ange pea ne fakamafana 'aupito 'enau fakamanatu'aho, pea 'oku nau hanganaki atu kiha toe ngaahi fakataha pehe ni moha fakasosiale lahi ange kihe kaha'u.

NEWS FROM MELBOURNE

Unfortunately our chapter is probably the most busiest chapter. We don't seem to have time for anything else but work. However, we celebrated the school's birthday at Rev. Kioa's residence and was attended by a number of our members.

We took this opportuninty to run our AGM as well. As appeared on our forum prior to the loss of data, Melbourne has taken a new direction in regards to running of its chapter. It was decided that Melbourne Chapter would no longer require a President. Instead, the chapter would now have three secretaries. The three secretaries are Loseli Hafoka(publication), Finau Vi Palu(public admin) and Lavinia Pongi(organisation). This is of course a new model that we have proposed, discussed and implemented. The three secretaries are backed by a working committee. Our chapter has been stagnant for a while and we all came to the conclusion that we needed a new direction. Changing our office bearers was one of the facets of steering our chapter in the right direction.

Loseli Hafoka

Until next time, take care!

WEBMASTER 

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Copyright ©: 2001   Loseli Ma'ukie Hafoka.