THE traditional seating of the Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau and Tui Lau, known as the ‘kubu lolo’ or ‘bure lolo’ was built by the Lemaki clan from Kabara in Lau.
They built the Kubu Lolo in Tubou Village on Lakeba while another family.built the one in Narocivo in Nayau.
Setareki Sowane of Tubou village told the media that the Lemaki Clan held the traditional role of the ‘mataisau’ or traditional Carpenters of the Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau and Tui Lau.
“The women have also come in to decorate the bure and the gifts sent in from different villages and islands in Lau have been used to decorate the bure,” he said.
“It means that we value this chiefly ceremony and we value our high chief.”
History says that theLemaki vlan were known as the ‘aiga e le’ in ancient Samoa.
It means family of the sea and known for its Naval prowess.
“That region is the home of the Sa Malietoa which traces its lineage back to Malietoa Savea, who ended the Tongan domination of Samoa in 1400 AD,” according to a research on the website.
“That name Malietoa was bestowed on Savea by the Tu’i Tonga Talakaifaiki as his warriors retreated from the beaches of Mulifanua, “Mālie toa, mālie tau” (“Great warrior, bravely you have fought”) after that battle, leaving Samoa and returning to Tonga. “Our tufunga folau trusted no one with the vessel maintenance of the of war vessels but the Lemaki on Manono.”
The Pacific Ocean, it added was an unforgiving place to go messing around in with a dodgy boat, especially if you are thousands of miles away from home.
“Your vessel is your life.
The clan first came to Lau to do work for the Tui Kanokupolu and that was in the late 1700’s at the time of the 14th Tui Kanokupolu, Tupou Tuku’ aho.
“In those days the Vesi in Kabara was used to build the ocean going vessels of the region (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa).
“When Roko Malani saw their work he asked the Tui Kanokupolu that the Lemaki Clan stay and be his Tufunga fou Vaka.”
According to villagers of Narocivo on Nayau and Tubou in Lakeba, the work of the Lemaki clan is considered sacred.
Bete ni vanua on Narocivo Taniela Qalobula Cagilabakomeli said the Lemaki clan were uniquely gifted for their work.
“They also build the sacred.platform for the Turaga na Tui Nayau and do very well with it,” he said.
History also stated that in the olden days they only unseathed their tools when the yaqona for the task that the Tui Nayau required was presented. “Sacred buildings were built by them in accordance with a strict lunar cycle and ancestral blueprint which required the Yalofi’s prior approval before the first post was laid.”
