Nanumea

Located along one edge of the so-called Polynesian triangle, Nanumea lies just south of the Gilbert Islands, which are Micronesian in language and culture. Nanumea is a classic atoll, a series of low islets sitting on a coral reef shelf surrounding a lagoon. About 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide in overall size, the dry land area is about 3.9 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi). The two largest islets Nanumea and Lakena, which comprise 90% of the dry land area of the atoll.^[3]

Since the early 1990s, the use of nets and spearing has been prohibited in all parts of the lagoon and the Nanumea Conservation Area was established in 2006.^[4] The Nanumea Conservation Area covers about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) of the central lagoon and consists of about 10% of the reef area of the atoll, including marine habitats and 2 islets. A survey of the conservation zone was conducted in 2010.^[5][6]

The largest villages are Haumaefa with 187 people (2012) and Lolua with 187 people (2012).^[2] The junior school is Kaumaile Primary School. There are scattered households across the lagoon from Nanumea village at Matagi and on Motu Foliki, and on the southeastern tip of Lakena islet. Aside from Nanumea and Lakena there are three much smaller islets, Motu Foliki, Lafogaki and Te Afua-a-Taepoa spread around the encircling reef flat. There are 2 mangrove forests, a small patch to the south of Nanumea and another on the islet of Lakena.^[7]

The pulaka pits are located on Lakena,^[8] as the Nanumeans want the main island of Nanumea to remain mosquito free. Pulaka (swamp taro) is grown in large pits of composted soil below the water table.^[9]

In 2011, the kou leafworm (Ethmia nigroapicella) had a devastating impact on Nanumea by stripping the leaves of the Kanava trees (Cordia subcordata, beach cordia). The Kanava trees provide coastal protection, wind shelter, shade and are habitats for sea birds. The flowers of the Kanava are also locally prized.^[10]

In March 2015 Nanumea suffered damage to houses, crops and infrastructure as the result of storm surges caused by Cyclone Pam.^[11][12]

In 2016 the Tuvalu National Council for Women worked with the Green Climate Fund to enable women from the islands of Nanumea and Nanumaga to be part of talks about climate crisis. One of their key issues was the additional burden of social care that women take on in the aftermath of natural disasters.^[14]

The activities of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project on Nanumea are designed to reduce exposure to coastal erosion by providing a buffer during storms.^{[15] [16]}

Nanumeans are Polynesians. The Nanumean dialect of the Tuvaluan language is closely related to other west Polynesian languages, including the Tongan language, Tokelauan, Samoan, and the languages of the Polynesian outliers.^[17] Although the eight Tuvalu communities have distinctive accents and some distinctive vocabulary, the dialects of Tuvalu are mutually intelligible to Tuvalu speakers with the exception of the language of Nui atoll, whose inhabitants speak a dialect of the Gilbertese language (with the exception of small children, most Tuvaluans from Nui also speak Tuvaluan).^[17][18] With this exception, Tuvaluan is universally understood and spoken in Tuvalu. English is also spoken, especially in Tuvalu's capital, and is one of the official languages of the central government.^[17]

The rich mythical history of Nanumea describes a settlement led by an explorer/adventurer and warrior from the south named Tefolaha. Some accounts say Tefolaha and his crew came from Tonga, others name Samoa, but whether these names refer to today's Tonga and Samoa is not certain. Tefolaha, traditional accounts say, found the island of Nanumea populated by two women, Pai and Vau, whom it was believed had formed it from baskets of sand. Tefolaha wagered with them for the island and eventually won it through trickery, whereupon Pai and Vau departed.^[19] Tefolaha's sons and daughters are today the founding ancestors of leading families and the seven chiefly lineages of Nanumea. Today's population also traces descent from crew members who arrived with Tefolaha, and from later visitors from the far distant and more recent past. Nanumean traditions describe the islets, Motu Foliki, Lafogaki and Te Afua-a-Taepoa, as being formed when sand spilled from the baskets of two women, Pai and Vau, when they were forced off Nanumea by Tefolaha.^[20]

The legendary, miraculous spear Kaumaile came with the hero Tefolaha to Nanumea. He fought with a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) long weapon on the islands of Samoa and Tonga. As Tefolaha died, "Kaumaile" went to his heirs, then to his heirs and on and on - 23 generations. The wood from the spear was radiocarbon dated to 880 years BP or AD 1070.^[21] The wood is from the species Casuarina equisetifolia.^[22]

The first recorded sighting of Nanumea by Europeans was by Spanish naval officer Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa who sailed past it on 5 May 1781 with frigate La Princesa, when attempting a southern crossing of the Pacific from the Philippines to New Spain. He charted Nanumea as San Augustin.^[23][24] In 1809, Captain Patterson in the brig Elizabeth sighted Nanumea while passing through the northern Tuvalu waters on a trading voyage from Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia to China.^[23]

From 1879 to 1881 Alfred Restieaux was the resident trader on Nanumea.^[25][26] 19th century resident Palagi traders also included: Tom Day (c.1872),^[27] Edmund Duffy (from 1890-c.1895),^[28] and Jack Buckland (c.1895). The population of Nanumea from 1860 to 1900 is estimated to be between 500^[29] and 650 people.^[30]

Nanumea Post Office opened around 1919.^[31]

Donald Gilbert Kennedy, the resident District Officer in the administration of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1932 to 1938, describe the construction of paopao and of the variations of single-outrigger canoes that had been developed on Vaitupu and Nanumea.^[32]

During World War II the American forces built Nanumea Airfield and the people moved to live on Lakena.^[33] USS LST-203 was grounded on the reef at Nanumea on 2 October 1943 in order to land equipment. The rusting hull of the ship remains on the reef.^[34] The 'American Passage' was blasted through the reef by a Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), who were assisted by local divers. This passage improved access to Nanumea. B-24 Liberator aircraft of 30th Bombardment Group flew from Nanumea Airfield. After the war the airfield was dismantled and the land returned to its owners, however as the coral base was compacted to make the runway the land now provides poor ground for growing coconuts.^[33]

On Nanumea, tender boats, which go out to the inter-island ships, run through the 'American Passage' and offload passengers and cargo at a small wharf within the protected lagoon.^[35]

Nanumea's local government consists of a chiefly council (Falekaupule) representing the seven chiefly lines which trace descent from the founder, Tefolaha, or from other key settlers, and an elected high chief (Pulefenua). The island also elects and sends two representatives to the Tuvalu national parliament based in the capital, Funafuti.

While Nanumea atoll remains the homeland for all Nanumeans, there are increasingly large populations of Nanumean residents in the capital, Funafuti, in New Zealand (especially Auckland and Wellington), and in Australia and other Pacific locations. These expatriate populations are well-organized, have active elected leadership councils, and keep in close touch with doings in Nanumea itself.

Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu and Timi Melei were re-elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.^[36][37]

Nanumean identity and pride is demonstrated in many ways, from the distinctive intonation pattern and vocabulary of its version of Tuvaluan to celebrations including its unique Po o Tefolaha, part of a long holiday covering Christmas, New Year and some weeks beyond. These "Big Days" (Po Lahi) celebrations, marked with noon feasts in the island's community hall, the aahiga or maneapa,^[38] feature a marathon round of the competitive ball game Te ano, pitting the two village sides, Haumaefa and Lolua, against each other. On 8 January each year, the island's conversion to Christianity over a century ago is commemorated in the Po o Tefolaha, Tefolaha's Day. Po Lahi is celebrated in Nanumea itself and by many Nanumean communities overseas, including those in Funafuti, Fiji, Auckland, Wellington, Tarawa, Australia and other locations.

A widely recognized symbol of Nanumean identity and unity is the fighting spear, "Kaumaile."^[39][40] Said to have been brought with him by the island's founder, Tefolaha, Kaumaile was used to defeat invaders to Nanumea, most notably by Lapi to defeat a giant, Tuulaapoupou.^[41] Recent carbon dating tests have shown that the Kaumaile spear is over 800 years old.^[42]

Lady Naama Maheu Latasi (died 16 March 2012) was the first woman to be elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu, was elected from the constituency of Nanumea.^[43]

Maatia Toafa (born 1 May 1954) was the Prime Minister of Tuvalu 2004–2006 and represent Nanumea in the Parliament of Tuvalu from 2002 until the 2019 general election.^[44] He served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development in the Sopoaga Ministry (2013-2019).^[45]

Willy Telavi (born 28 January 1954) was first elected to parliament in 2006 and was appointed Home Affairs Minister in the Government of Apisai Ielemia. He was re-elected in 2010 and became the Prime Minister of Tuvalu on 24 December 2010. His term as prime minister ended on 2 August 2013.^[46] He resigned from Parliament in August 2014.^[47][48]

Chambers, Keith S. and Anne 2001 Unity of Heart: Culture and Change in a Polynesian Atoll Society. Prospect Hts, Illinois: Waveland Press (ISBN 1-57766-166-4)

Chambers, Anne 1984 Nanumea. (No. 6 in Atoll Economy: Social Change in Kiribati and Tuvalu.) Canberra: Australian National University, Development Studies Centre (ISBN 0-86784-457-4)

Chambers, Keith S. 1984 Heirs of Tefolaha: Tradition and Social Organization in Nanumea, a Polynesian Atoll Community. PhD Dissertation, Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley (pub. by University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Laracy, Hugh (editor) 1983 Tuvalu: a History. Suva: University of the South Pacific, Institute of Pacific Studies and Extension Services, and Funafuti: Ministry of Social Services. [21 chapters, maps, photos, appendices. Chapters written by Tuvaluan authors]

• TALES FROM NANUMEA: PAI & VAU, animation by George Siosi Samuels, Cultural Animator
• TALES FROM NANUMEA: THE DEFEAT OF TULAAPOUPOU, animation by George Siosi Samuels, Cultural Animator
• Nanumea.Net—A Website for the People of Nanumea
• Images and further information on the Kaumaile spear from Nanumea.net
• TuvaluIslands.com