Lafala a name to celebrate
By Shona Pitt

Birthday girl Lafala(centre) with her Turepu Aunts. Left to right:
Vaine, Tuaine, Pati and Sara.

What’s in a name? Plenty if it happens to be Lafala. A surprise party was held at the Café Salsa on Wednesday for Lafala Turepu who turned 21 at the weekend.
The soft celebration was organised by her father Kiriau Turepu’s sisters in honour of the young lady who carries the name of their mother. Present at the function were immediate family and family from the seven lines of Ngati Maoate.
Janette Browne spoke on behalf of the aunts, Tuaine, Pati, Sara and Vaine, and explained the specialness of the occasion.
The name Lafala originally came from a Samoa Royal family. During the warring days the King who had three children entrusted his only daughter to Matatia Tamarua who was a Cook Islands Pastor working in Samoa. Tamarua brought the Princess to live in safety in the Cook Islands. The Princess Lafala was raised in Matavera.
Lafala’s brother was eventually sent to escort the princess home. Lafala returned to the Cook Islands several times and eventually settled here.
21-year-old Lafala Turepu carries the name of her ancestor and her paternal grandmother.
Browne said that it was over doughnuts and tea that the aunts decided to host a cocktail party to celebrate the coming of age of their niece who carries their mother’s name. There are five children in their family who carry the name Lafala.
For the Turepu sisters Lafala is a special name in their life and with three of them over the age of 70 they felt that during their lifetime they would not witness another Lafala turn 21.
Browne spoke of the importance of the name and how the children should not forget that the name points to their roots. She said that it was the desire of the family for the name to continue, and praised the sisters who had the foresight to gather the family together for the special occasion.
“The journey began with the name Lafala, the Princess who was brought here from Samoa, and that is why we are here today because of the importance of the name she (Lafala Turepu) carries and the pride of these women to know that the Turepu, Ngati Moate name continues.”

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