This reunion story of siblings took place more than 50 years ago and was certainly an emotional experience, Tears flowed freely as Fred Elbourne and sister, La’a Sun, met for the first time after 63 years as reported in The Fiji Times of September 11, 1991.
La’a Sun (nee Elbourne) lives in Noumea and is married to New Caledonian member of Parliament, Taofi fenua Atalemo Aliki Fakatauato.
She arrived in Fiji to meet her brothers, Simon and Fred Elbourne and their families.
Speaking to The Fiji Times at Simon’s Lautoka home, Fred Elbourne said his sister had gone to Wallis Island when she was about seven years old in 1923.
Mrs Fakatauato, 70, speaks only French and Wallisian so her brother interpreted for her.
Mrs Fakatauuto went with her mother (a French woman) to Wallis Island where she grew up, did her schooling and established herself as a prominent businesswoman.
She married in 1951 and now runs a boutique in Paris, France, which is looked after by her son and daughter.
She is also in the hotel industry in Noumea and manages a boutique there.
When Mrs Fakatauato left Fiji, the largest building in Suva was the Sacred Heart Cathedral at that time.
She was surprised by the amount of modernisation and industrialisation which has taken place in Fiji.
Mrs Fakatauato is the eldest in the family and she has six brothers.
Mr Elbourne, who is a former member of Parliament, said there had been no correspondence between the two until about 18 months ago when their brother, Simon saw Mrs Fakatauato in New Caledonia.
When she met him, she expressed her wish to visit Fiji and her relatives here.
Mrs Fakatauato, who has nine children and 48 grandchildren visited with one of her granddaughters, Elizabeth Vaitanaki, 14.
A family gathering was held to farewell Mrs Fakatauato.