Sangone by Fatu ’a Kuini Sālote Tupou III

Ne’ine’i hako mei he Tonga Tapa ē ’uhila mei Lulunga Na’e mana ē Feinga-kotone Fake hake ē ’uno ’o Sangone. Lafaipana e pe’i ke mohe ā Kae tuku mai a hota faiva Keu lau fola haka he ’aho ni Ke me’ite ai e mu’a Taloni. Holo pē ’a e nofo ’a mu’a ni Moha sola ’oku taka i Pangai Kau fola si’i Hau-’o-Momo He koe takafi ’etau nofo. He ma’imoa fai ’i Heketa Na’e ’aokai mei Ha’amea ’Isa ’lsa na’e fena pē ka ko Nua Penepena ē ngatu vai fā kula. ’E Fasi’apule ha’u ke ta Ō Tala ho ’Uhinga kihe ’Afio Ke ha e finangalo na’e toi ’O sivi e ’ofa ’oku mo’oni Na’e aikona pe ’o ’omai He na’e ’ikai fa’a hua ’aki ’E Ula mo Leka poto ’i he lau Hono ’ikai ke mālie kia au Ho’o tala ’ae vaha mama’o Kuo vaofi ho tau ’aho Kakala tala kakala mo’oni ’Oku faifio ’o toki manongi. Kisukava e mei Ha’amoa Na’e tali hapo e me’a katoa Kisu ē fūfū mo kokohu ’Ae kau pongia ’i vao ’Ae lou tāngia mo koki Pea moe kapakau tatangi Kau ai ngulungulu mo tokoto Moe vahe taumafa ’oe fono. Pea toki ’ilo ai e koloa Ko e kanokato e tala ’o Tonga Talu ai pē hono fakaili Koe fakama’u ’o Hou’eiki. ’Oku ’ilo eha taha kuo anga ’Ae ola ’o Tangoipomana Pahia ’oho he vaha mohe He kalia na’e tau ki ’One Faka lele kihe Makahokovalu Paki mangamanga ’i he Siangahu. ’Ika moana si’ene fotu Fakahakehake i Fonuamotu Lolongo ma’anu ’i Hakau-tapu No’o ’i Havelu moe koka tapu Koe ola e ’oku ou lau Fafanga ia ’oe fetau Tau tui falahola ’ene hopo He kuo kakai e vaha’akolo.

Sangone Queen Sālote, translated by Adrienne Kaeppler

Little wonder that strong winds blew from the south And lightning flashed from the northeast; There was thunder at Feingakotone At the raising of the shell of Sangone. Lafaipana, go on with your sleep, Leave our performance to me. I will recite with movements this day That I please the Throne. You in front be content to remain as you are. Any strangers mingling in Pangai, Let me spread the dear Hau-o-Momo, This, the cover of our life. It was done at Heketa; It was asked from Ha’amea; Yes, though sprouted still Nua, Even after mixing with the lime of fa kula. Fasi’apule, come let us go Tell your genealogy to the King, Thus revealing the hidden desire. Examine the compassion that is real; It was carried in the ta’ovala and brought, For it was not mentionable by name. Ulamoleka, clever at speaking, It is most enjoyable to me How you talk about distant places. Our lives have been brought close together— Famous kakala, true kakala [flowers] Intermixed become fragrant. An enigmatic kava request from Samoa Was granted immediately and entirely: Wish for "strike and fume" And [plural] "fainted in the bush" And the "leaves’ high-pitched cry" And the "winged whirring" [sound made by wings] And also "grunt and lie down" And the distribution of the fono [food served with kava]. And then the treasure was known, The essence of Tongan traditions; It has ever since been preserved As the binding force of the chiefs. It is known only by a person of experience, The result of Tangoipomana. Worn out by overnight sailing provisions— The vessel that landed at ’One, Run to the Makahokovalu. Break off the forked branch at Siangahu. The emerging of the deep-sea fish Started up from Fonuamotu, Silently floated at Hakau-tapu, Tied at Havelu to the sacred koka tree. This is the outcome of which I speak And the reason for my witty speech. Let us string the mature falahola. There are many people at vaha’akolo.