Ta e Puaka

So I attended the Putu (funeral) for the Nobel in Makave. I’ve truly grow to enjoy putus. This one was similar to others I’ve seen except on a grander scale. Several differences were that the general public was not allowed in the home to kiss the body. I was okay with this aspect. Although this meant that I could also not see the Princess because she was also inside the home. I ate really well and took my mila mila (plastic bag) full of food home with me. I slept for a few hours and went back in the morning for the burial. Primary kids in their uniforms lined the whole walkway from the house to the church. A high school band lead the march followed by the whole police force (20 total) who carried the body on a platform. Then several Nobles followed by the family strolled by and the crowd gathered at the rear. The church service was nice and long. This was the first putu I attended where there was an actual service in a church. The burial was directly behind the church and I sat under a tent for that portion of the occasion. After the burial I thought we would all get a mila mila of food and head off home. I was mistaken.

There was a formal kava ceremony which I had never seen before. I have to say that I truly enjoyed this part of the day. Twenty men sat in a huge circle with about six feet between each of them. I’m not sure that I understand all of what was going on, but it was enjoyable just to see. My Nobel, Fakatoufifita, sat at the head of the circle while the man next to him directed the ceremony. The respected men yelled orders and five men entered the center of the circle and answered to the commands. It seemed like a well orchestrated performance. After 15 minutes the five men were ordered to pick up a large pig and bring it in front of Fakatoufifita. They sat there and chopped it into sections. I was standing outside the fence watching when I heard, “Pisi Koa mei Okoa – Peace Corps from Okoa” – ME!!! I looked around with not a clue what was going on. They told me to go to the edge of the circle and sit down. I was then told that my Nobel had requested that I “Ta e puaka – slap the pig.” I walked through the center of the circle towards the large hind portion of the pig. As directed, I gave the left butt cheek one good slap and then turned around and walked out. Two woman from my village had followed me and carried the hind and the heart of the pig, which was a gift to me from my Nobel. The ceremony continued with more distribution of meat and drinking of kava, but I didn’t see much of it because I was in such a state of excitement. It was all over by 2:00 in the afternoon.

I decided to have an umu (earth oven) for the youth. In trade for them working hard on preparing the Youth Vegetable Garden and planting seeds, they got to eat pig. I though it was a good trade.

During this past week the Governor of Vava’u (my island group) passed away. I’m not sure what is in the water these days, but it means I need to do more laundry because I’m out of black clothes.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Love,
Adrianne