VOSA VEI IRA NA I TAUKEI KEI HAWAII
MAI MAUI, HAWAII
April 24, 1997
Vosa nei / Vola
RATU MANOA RASIGATALE
April 24, 1997
Vosa nei / Vola
RATU MANOA RASIGATALE
Taumada au via vakavinavinakataka vakalevu na veikidavaki vakavanua e vakayacori vei au e na mataka nikua.FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE TRADITIONAL WELCOME CEREMONY THAT I HAVE BEEN ACCORDED THIS AFTERNOON.
Oqo e se qai matai ni veikidavaki vaka Hawaii me caka vei au e na soso dina vaka Hawaii. Sa ka dokai na rakorako kei na totoka ni nomuni i vakarau.
Au na sega ni guilecava rawa! Vinaka vakalevu na nomuni taura matua toak na nomuni i tovo vakavanua.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY EXPERIENCE, THAT I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED IN THE HAWAIIAN WAY ON REAL HAWAIIAN SOIL. I AM GREATLY IMPRESSED BY THE CEREMONY. I SHALL ALWAYS TREASURE THIS MOMENT AND I MUST COMMEND YOU FOR HOLDING FIRMLY TO YOUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
Ni sa yaco yani na veisureti me`u gole mai kei na cecore ni veiqaravi vakavanua e vakayacori, sa dodonu kina me`u ìcabeî vakavanua kivek kemuni na kena i taukei dina ni vanua oqo.
BECAUSE OF THE INVITATION FOR ME TO COME, AND THIS IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY, IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND PROPER THAT I SHOULD ìCABEî IN THE FIJIAN TRADITIONAL WAY.
Koya gona au a tubera kina e dua na tabue. Na cabe sa i koya na kerekere me bau soli vakavanua vei au kei rau na noqu i toma na galala ni vanua me keitou bau wili tale ga vakataki kemuni e na vakatarai ni Tabu vakavanua e so e baleta na nomuni vanua.
THE ìCABEî IS A FUJIAN TRADITIONAL WAY OF ASKING FOR FREEDOM TO THE LAND AND TO BE ACCEPTED AS A BONAFIDE MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHY I PRESENTED A ìTABUAî ON MY OWL BEHALF AS WELL AS THAT OF MY PARTY.
Vinaka vakalevu na veiciqomi.
I MUST THEREFORE THANK YOU MOST SINCERELY FOR RECEIVING US.
Ni`u raiei kemuni vata kei au, e cici vakayawa sara noqu vakanananu ni sa i keda oqo e tiki ni 300 na milioni na i Taukei ni Veivanua e vuravura ka da tawana tu e 70 na matanitu e noda vuravura raraba.
LOOKING AT YOU AND ME, I AM REMINDED THAT WE ARE PART OF JUST 300 MILLION INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WORLD WIDE, LIVING IN 70 COUNTRIES. THIS IS A MINUTE FRACTION OF A TOTAL POPULATION OF THE WORLD (WHICH IS OVER 5 BILLION).
Au sa vakadeitaka e vu ni yaloqu ni da na sega ni rawa ni kawaboko. E da na bula. Na veikidavaki edaidai e i vakaraitaki ni bula kei na totoka e tu e na kemuni maliwa.
BUT I AM CONVINCED WE ARE NOT MARKED TO DIE. WE SHALL SURVIVE. YOUR WELCOME CEREMONY TODAY IS AN INDICATION TO ME THAT YOU ARE A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.
E kunei tale ga kina ni tiko na yavu e rawa ni ko ni vakayavu mai kina me vakaqaqacotaka me bula kina e na cagi ni veisau oqo.
IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THERE IS A FOUNDATION ON WHICH YOU CAN BUILD GREATER STRENGTH AND SURVIVAL SKILLS WHICH ARE REQUIRED IN A FAST-CHANGING WORLD.
E tu na noda i tovo ka da kila ga na kena i Taukei, na kena bibi kei na kena titobu.
OUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE UNIQUE AND HAVE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO US ALL.
Mai na nomuni veikidavaki edaidai, au vakila ni tiko dina na keda i sema vakavanua, na i taukei e Hawaii kei keimami na i taukei mai Viti.
THE WELCOME YOU GAVE ME TODAY SUGGESTS TO ME THERE IS A SPECIAL LINK BETWEEN OUR TWO ETHNIC GROUPS. YOU THE HAWAIIAN AND WE THE FIJIANS.
E dua ni i kena vakaraitaki bula sara mada ga na yacaqu -- Manoa. Na vosa oqo e kunei ga mai Viti kei Hawaii. Sega ni dua tale na vanua e vuravura.
MY NAME, MANOA, IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THAT. THE WORD MANOA EXISTS IN BOTH OUR LANGUAGES. IT IS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
Na kena i balebale e tautauvata, a ya na yalo malua se rabai levu.
IT MEANS TAME OR VAST.
Na cava e kune ruarua ga kina e Viti kei Hawaii? Oqori e vakaraitaka tiko e dua na ka! Na veiwekani ni Vu vata!
WHY IS IT THAT THIS WORD IS ONLY FOUND IN HAWAII AND FIJI? IT MUST MEAN SOMETHING. IT MEANS THAT OUR ANCESTRAL GODS SPRANG FROM THE SAME SOURCE.
Au rogoca tale ga ni sa toso tiko na sasaga ni vakabulabulataki na nomuni i Tovo Vakavanua dina.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NOW A MOVEMENT TO REVIVE YOUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
Sa dua na vakasama raiyawa oqori!
THAT I BELIEVE IS A FARSIGHTED UNDERTAKING.
O Hawaii e tu na kena i tovo. Baleta ni o Hawaii e Hawaii!
HAWAII HAS A UNIQUE CHARACTER. ONLY HAWAII IS HAWAII.
Na cecere, na vakasasameni kei na kena maroroi e dua na i tovo vakavanua e vakatau ga vua na kena i taukei.
THE DIGNITY, THE MEANINGFULNESS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF A CULTURE DEPENDS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, ON THE MEMBERS OF THAT CULTURE. Ia na leqa ni dua na i tovo e na vakavu mai na lecaika.
BUT THE DEMISE OF A CULTURE IS SURELY THE RESULT OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
Baleta na lecaika e dau vuataka na veilecayaki.
THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING WILL CAUSE CONFUSION.
Na veilecayaki e vuataka na tiko yavavala.
AND CONFUSION WILL CAUSE DISTURBANCE.
Na tiko yavavala e vuataka na tatawasewase.
AND DISTURBANCE WILL CAUSE DISUNITY.
Na tatawasewase e vuataka na karusa ni vanua ka RUSA NA YAVU.
AND DISUNITY WILL CAUSE DISORDER AND LOSS OF IDENTITY.
Ni sa rusa na yavu sa dua na ka dredre me vakacokovatataki tale.
ONCE LOST, A CULTURAL IDENTITY IS VERY HARD TO REPLACE.
Na i tovo vakavanua e vaka e dua na tulituli buli vakamaqosa. Ni sa lutu ka kavoro, sa na dredre me vakasotari vata tale.
CULTURE IS LIKE POTTERY. IF IT IS DROPPED IT SHATTERS ... AND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE WHOLE AGAIN.
Sa dodonu vua na kena i taukei me taura liga i rua vakavinaka e veigauna kece me kua ni lutu. Kevaka e vinakati vaka kina.
IT IS IMPORTANT THEREFORE, TO HOLD THE POT FIRMLY, WITH BOTH HANDS. BUT WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT, REALLY DEPENDS ON YOU.
Au la`ki kauta vakayawa vaka oqo na noqu vosa baleta ni noda sota vakavanua oqo, au nuitaka ni na vakavurea e levu na ka vivinaka e na veivakatorocaketaki baleta na maroroi ni noda i tovo vakavanua, bula vakailavo kei na ka raraba tale e so.
MY PURPOSE IN BRINGING THIS OUT, IS HOPEFULLY TO ENCOURAGE US TO STRIVE FOR WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN IMPROVE OUR STANDARDS OF LIVING, ENHANCE OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY AND OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE.
Ke sega ni da rokovi keda mada ga, sa rawa ni mate na noda i tovo vakavanua.
TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THIS, WE MUST HAVE SELF RESPECT AND HUMBLE PRIDE IN OUR CULTURE.
O keda na i taukei ni veivanua e vuravura e da kawa ni veiuma tamata era a tawana taumada e vuga na veivanua e vuravura.
WE, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, WERE FIRST ARRIVALS WHEREVER WE ARE.
Sa dodonu mo kilai iko vakavinaka, vei na vanua o lako mai kina kei na cava o iko, me solia vei kemuni yadudua na MANA ni dua na uma tamata.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF WHO YOU ARE, YOUR ORIGINS AND YOUR TOTAL IDENTITY, AS THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MANA AS YOUR LIFE SOURCE.
Sa ka bibi me da tomana tiko ga na noda taleitaka, maroroya ka vakavutuniyautaka na noda i tovo me bula tiko ga kina e na cagi ni veisau e da sa tu kina e na gauna oqo.
IT IS A DIFFICULT TASK, THE PROTECTION AND STRENGTHENING OF OUR CULTURE, SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO SURVIVE AGAINST THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOWING WITH SUCH FORCE AROUND THE WORLD TODAY.
E levu na ka vivinaka e rawa ni de Vuli kina mai vei ira na tubuda ka sa noda i tavi na bula e na gauna oqo me da raica me vakavatukanataki me vaka na: --
ONE VALUABLE LESSON CAN BE LEARNED FROM OUR ANCESTORS. IT IS OUR DUTY, AS THEIR DESCENDANTS, TO SEE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THESE LESSONS CLEARLY.
Me da kila na gauna me da bureburetaki kina.
WE MUST KNOW HOW TO BE PRUDENT AND WISE WITH WHAT WE GIVE.
Na veika e rua oqori e vaka na i sele yame i rua. Ni da butuka cala e da na mavoa tale kina.
THIS LESSON IS LIKE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. A FALSE MOVE, AND YOU CAN BE HURT. E na rawa ni da walia na leqa oqori ke levu na noda dau dabe vata vakavuqa ka veitalanoa.
TO AVOID GETTING INTO TROUBLE THIS WAY, IT HELPS TO SIT DOWN WITH OTHERS, AS OPENLY AS POSSIBLE, TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN.
Ia me liu kina na veirokorokovi kei na veidokai. Nodra vakaliuci na noda turaga se i liuliu vakavanua.
BUT IN SUCH DISCUSSION, IT IS ESSENTIAL WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AND GIVE DUE REGARD TO THE ELDERS AND OUR LEADERS.
E dua gona na kena gaunisala keimami dau cakava mai Viti a ya na gunu yaqona vata. E yacana na VEITALANOA.
IN MY OWN CULTURE IN FIJI, WE HAVE A CUSTOM WHEREBY WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS, THAT IS HAVING YAQONA SESSIONS. THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SOCIALIZE AND TALK -- ITíS CALLED VEITALANOA.
E ke e dau vure kina na veirogorogoci, veirokorokovi, veivakaliuci kei na solesolevaki.
THIS IS WHERE ONE LEARNS TO SHOW RESPECT, TO LISTEN TO OTHERS AND ACQUIRE THE SPIRIT OF SHARING AND CARING.
E dau vakayagataki e na ka oqo e dua na gacagaca ni bula vakaitaukei, yacana na TANOA.
AT SUCH GATHERINGS, AN OBJECT OF GREAT CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR FIJIAN PEOPLE IS USED. AND THIS WE CALL TANOA.
Na tanoa ni yaqona au kauta tiko mai, au nuitaka ni na rawa tale ga ni bau vakaibalebale se bau dua tu na kena yaga me bula kina na i Tovo vakavanua ni nomuni vanua.
I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ALONG AS A GIFT AND HOPEFULLY IT WOULD HOLD SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU, THE WAY IT DOES FOR MY PEOPLE, IN STRENGTHENING OUR CULTURE AND ENHANCING OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY.
Na tanoa oqo a mokimokiti. Kena i balebale na ka e nomu e noqu tale ga.
AS YOU CAN SEE A TANOA IS ROUND IN SHAPE. IT MEANS WHAT IS MINE IS YOURS. E vakayavana. E vakaraitaka tu ni vadei vinaka tu na yavana e na nona dela ni soso.
IT HAS LEGS. THIS SHOWS ITS FEET ARE FIRMLY PLANTED ON ITS HOME SOIL.
Na wai ni yaqona e i solisoli ni Kalou ni Yau se Kabula vei keda.
MIXED YAQONA IS A GIFT FROM THE GOD OF WEALTH OR MOTHER EARTH.
Na kena wa (sau) e wili vaka i ìvicovicoî ka semati rau na yalo ni vanua se vuda kei keda na bula tiko e dela i vuravura.
THE CORD (SAU) SERVES AS AN UMBILICAL CORD AND BINDS TOGETHER THE SPIRIT OF THE LAND AND OUR ANCESTORS WITH US, THE LIVING.
E nuitaki ni na sega ni cavuka. Oqo na vakabauta vaka-Viti!
FIJIAN PEOPLE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS CORD CAN NEVER BE BROKEN.
Sa ka bibi me da kila ni kevaka era a ìSega na VUDA eda na SEGAî ni bula tiko nikua ko i keda oqo. Kemuni vata kei au! Sa dodonu me da dau vakarokorokotaki ira.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WITHOUT OUR ANCESTORS, WE ARE NOTHING. YOU AND ME. WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, GIVE HONOUR TO THEIR MEMORY BY BEING TRUE TO THEIR SPIRIT.
Na gaunisala ni vakabauta oqo e na vagolea na noda vakanananu ki na yavu ni nodo veisaututaki, veirogorogoci kei na veimaliwai vinaka.
THIS SHOULD BE THE CORE OF OUR CULTURAL BELIEF, TO SUSTAIN US IN OUR SEARCH FOR PEACE, CO-OPERATION AND GOOD RELATIONS.
Au nuitaka tu ni i sema sa tauyavutaki nikua sa na vakaukauwataka na keda i vau.
I HOPE THAT THIS LINK ESTABLISHED BETWEEN YOU AND US WILL STRENGTHEN AND GAIN MOMENTUM.
Au raica ni dua na i sema vinaka a rau sa tauyavutaka na Turaga e rua, ko Mr. Mike Brooke (Kei rau sala vata tiko mai Viti), kei Mr. Kalani English e dua na Iewenivanua ga e Hana. Sa i koya e kauti keda vata mai.
ITíS A LINK FOR WHICH I MUST THANK MR. MIKE BROOK, WHO CAME WITH ME FROM FIJI, AND MR. KALANI ENGLISH, WHO IS FROM HANA. IT IS HE WHO HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.
Na nodrau saga me da mai veikilai ka da veiwasei oqo sa vakaraitaka tu e dua na matanisiga vou e na kena sagai na vakabulabulataki ni noda i tovo vakavanua kei na bula torocake vakailavo ni noda vanua -- Hawaii kei Viti.
THEIR EFFORT, I HOPE, WILL PAVE THE WAY TOWARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GREATER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN YOU AND OUR PEOPLE. AND WE ALSO HOPE IT WILL STIMULATE ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND CULTURAL GROWTH OF OUR PEOPLE IN BOTH HAWAII AND FIJI.
Au nuitaka tu ni na vuavuai vinaka na sasaga oqo me ra kalougata kina na noda kawa nimataka.
I HOPE WHAT WE SHARE TODAY WILL BENEFIT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
E na sega ni rawa na veika kece e vakayacori nikua, kevaka e sega na nomuni cakacaka vata ka lomavata me dulaki cake kina ki lagi na nomuni gagadre.
WITHOUT CO-OPERATION AND GOODWILL TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS OCCASION A MEMORABLE ONE.
Ke sega o Kemuni, e na sega na soqo nikua.
WITHOUT YOU, THIS EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
Vinaka vakalevu na veivakaitaukeitaki kei na veivakadeitaki.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR RECEIVING ME AND MAKING ME FEEL AT HOME IN YOUR BELOVED HAWAII.
Vinaka saka.
VINAKA VAKALEVU AND MAHALO NUI LOA.
