Collections of poetry:

1. You the Choice of My Parents (1974) (reprinted several times)
2. Langakali (1981)
3. Hingano (1987)
4. Kakala (1993)
5. Songs of Love (1999)

Available from the Pacific Studies Program, PIAS - DG, University of the South Pacific, Suva. Or the USP Book Centre, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.

Frequently asked student questions

1. Family background and education
   Born and raised in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Eldest of four children: one sister and two brothers.
• Education
  Primary education - Free Wesleyan primary school, Nuku'alofa.
  Secondary education - Tonga High School, Epsom Girls' Grammar School, Auckland, NZ
  BA in Geography - Auckland University
  Teaching Diploma -Auckland Secondary Teachers' College
  MA in International Education - University of California at Santa Barbara
  PhD in Education - the University of the South Pacific.


• Employment
  Taught high school in Tonga; worked as a research assistant in the Geography Remote Sensing Program at the University of California at Santa Barbara; joined USP in 1974 as lecturer in Geography and Sociology. Has held administrative posts at USP including Director of the Institute of Education, Head of the School of Humanities and Pro Vice Chancellor.


• Family (art) history
  Maternal grandparents and great grandparents were Methodist missionaries (mother born in Western Solomons). One maternal uncle is a poet, choreographer, opera singer, and dancer; maternal aunt was a master dancer and taught dance; both brothers are dancers and teach dance; young brother is also a musician and (choir and band) music teacher; paternal grandfather was a song-writer. Several cousins, nieces and nephews are talented Tongan dancers.


2. Who inspired you to write?
• No one. I started writing for my school magazine because the English teacher told us to write something. First published piece (prose) was when I was 16yrs (Form 5). Published a poem (Farewell to my School) in the Epsom Girls School Magazine but it was not until the publication of my first collection - You the Choice of My Parents that I began to think of myself as a poet (1974).


3. Did you get any support from anyone?
• Yes - many different people. My English teacher at first; then the USP Centre Director, Tonga when I attended creative writing classes she conducted when I was a teacher at Tonga High School; later, the South Pacific Creative Arts Society, based in Fiji, especially people like Albert Wendt and Marjorie Crocombe and Howard van Trease. And of course my husband was always supportive and is my biggest fan.


4. How did people react to your writing?
• Mainly positively but there were a few who did not like some of the poems because they saw them as being too critical of Tonga, e.g. Civil Servants.


5. How do you select your themes?
• I don't consciously do this. It depends on what or who inspires me at a particular point in time.


6. How often do you write?
• As often as I get inspired and can find a quiet place to be on my own, without disturbance.


7. Does one need formal training to be a poet?
• I don't think so but it helps to know something about basic features of poetry e.g. rhythm, symbolism, imagery, use of metaphors, and in Tongan poetry, 'heliaki' or being subtle (indirect).


8. Who is your favourite poet?
• I don't have any. I read everyone's especially my friends'.


9. What is your favourite poem from your own writing?
   • Again I don't have any, but I am happy with You the Choice of My parents, Langakali and Poetry
   
   
10. What advice would you give to those who want to write poetry?
• Read poetic writing; experience different places and peoples; dream; and be honest with yourself.