Langi Kavaliku Explained

Langi Kavaliku
Office:Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga
Primeminister:Baron Vaea
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Term Start:22 August 1991
Term End:2000
Predecessor:Baron Vaea
Successor:Tevita Poasi Tupou
Office2:Minister of Education
Term Start2:1966
Term End2:2000
Primeminister2:Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake
Baron Vaea
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Successor2:Tutoatasi Fakafanua
Birth Date:1939
Death Date:3 December 2008

Senipisi Langi Kavaliku (1939 – 3 December 2008), styled The Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, was a Tongan scholar and politician. He served as a Cabinet Minister for 35 years, and was Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga in the 1990s. He was the first Tongan to obtain a master's degree and a PhD.[1] He was also the estate holder of the village of Ha'asini.

Early life

Hu'akavameiliku was educated at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, before obtaining a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge.[1] In 1966 he completed a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, with a thesis was on "Educational reorganization for national development in Tonga".[2]

Political career

Shortly after graduating he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio. In early 1968 he was appointed acting Minister of Finance while Mahe 'Uli'uli Tupouniua was seeking medical treatment in New Zealand.[3] In 1969 he was serving as Minister of Education and Works.[4] In 1969 he was granted the royal chiefly title of Hu'akavameiliku.[5] He served as pro-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from 1976 to 1981, and again from 2000 - 2006.[6]

He served as deputy prime minister for over 20 years.[7] He retired from politics in 2000.[8] Following the 2005 Tongan public service strike he was appointed to the National Committee for Political Reform which recommended a transition to democracy.[9]

Death

On 3 December 2008, he was killed in a car accident when his car struck a mound of rocks.[10]

Family

Sempisi Langi Kavaliku was born as the eldest son of the late Honourable Kavaliku (Sione Ma'afu Kavaliku) and Lady Ana Pulotu Kavaliku. Sempisi Langi was the eldest of 7 children which consisted of himself The Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, Hon. Fane Pulu Kavaliku Moala, Hon. Veisinia Fa Kavaliku Pasikala, Hon. Popi Kavaliku, Mele Tokilupe Kavaliku Talanoalelei, Funaki Kavaliku, Losaline Ngaluafe Kavaliku Finau, and Dawson Kavaliku.

Sempisi Langi Kavaliku was bestowed the Royal Chiefly title of Hu'akavameiliku by His Late Majesty King Tupou IV as the title was to be bestowed on his father Sione Ma'afu but refused it as he was already The Honourable Kavaliku, so the title was bestowed upon his heir thus Dr Sempisi Langi Kavaliku was styled The Honourable Hu'akavameiliku of Ha'asini.

Hon. Hu'akavameiliku married Lady Fuiva Kavaliku and had many children in their care.

His son Siaosi Sovaleni is the current Prime Minister of Tonga.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pasifika writings launched . Massey University . 12 March 2007 . 19 January 2022.
  2. Book: Educational reorganization for national development in Tonga . WorldCat . 225662813 . 19 January 2022.
  3. News: People . Pacific Islands Monthly . 39 . 3 . 117 . 1 March 1968 . 19 January 2022 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Ministers agree to build up and improve Pacific aviation . Pacific Islands Monthly . 40 . 10 . 157 . 1 October 1969 . 19 January 2022 . National Library of Australia.
  5. Web site: admin. 2021-01-27. Chiefly title Hu'akavameiliku bestowed on Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni. 2022-01-15. FĀNGONGO Media Watch. en.
  6. Web site: PRO-CHANCELLORS . University of the South Pacific . 19 January 2022.
  7. Web site: Latu. Kalino. 2014-11-30. Independents have the right to a place in the race for Tongan premiership. 2022-01-15. Kaniva Tonga Largest NZ-based Tongan news service. en-NZ.
  8. Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001: Tonga . James . Kerry . The Contemporary Pacific . 14 . 1 . 2002 . 236–237 . 10.1353/cp.2002.0013 .
  9. Web site: HALAPUA TO PRESENT TONGA REFORM PROPOSAL TO KING . Pacific Islands Report . 1 September 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210830000204/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2006/09/01/halapua-present-tonga-reform-proposal-king . 30 August 2021.
  10. Web site: 2008-12-07. Tonga loses leading scholar, Dr Langi Kavaliku. 2022-01-15. Matangitonga. en.