Wallis Island
Encyclopedia
Wallis is an island
in the Pacific Ocean
belonging to the French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer
, or COM) of Wallis and Futuna
.
The island is a little Polynesian Kingdom, it is an aristocratic monarchy ruled by the noble families called the "Aliki" through the Customary system, the "Puleaga Hau o Lavelua". ("Lavelua and his Kingdom"). The power are shared between French Administration, Roman Catholic Church and Traditionnal System "Pule'aga Hau". The limits of each one are defined by the Territorial Statute of July 29th, 1961, traditionally called "Statut 61" ( Wallisian:Tohi Lao).
Uvea is located 240 km northeast of Futuna
and Alofi
islands. Together with some 15 smaller islands surrounding it, on its huge barrier reef
, it forms the Wallis archipelago. Wallis has a fertile volcanic soil and sufficient rainfall to allow subsistence farming.
Uvea sub-divides into 3 district (from north to south):
(1) formerly called Mua
from around the 13th to 16th century. By that time the influence of the Tui Tonga
had declined so much that Uvea became important in itself. Several current, high ranking Tonga
n titles, like Halaevalu, trace their descent from Uvea. A legendary large canoe, the Lomipeau was built on the island as a donation to the Tui Tonga. The big fortress of Talietumu
close to Lotoalahi in Mua was the last holdout of the Tongans until they were defeated. The ruins of the place are still a tourist attraction:
The island was renamed Wallis after a Cornish
navigator, Captain Samuel Wallis
, who discovered it while sailing the HMS Dolphin
on August 16, 1767, following his discovery of Tahiti
.
On 5 April 1842 the authorities of Wallis Island requested protection by France with a protectorate treaty signed in April 1887. After a referendum in 1959, Wallis became a French Overseas Territory in 1961.
, the other two being Alo
and Sigave
in the Hoorn Islands
(Futuna Islands). Its capital, Matāutu
, located on the east coast, is also the capital of the whole territory, Wallis and Futuna. The kingdom is divided into three districts, which are listed from north to south:
The King of Uvea is called the "Lavelua". As Lavelua, he lives in the royal palace called "SagatoSoane". (Official Residence of the King of Uvea). In front of the Palace is the SagatoSoane's Square. (Mala'e SagatoSoane)
The King appoints the ministers, who are among 6. Each Ministers hold a noble title (established under the reign of the Queen Amelia) who correspond to ancient great reigning lineage families. The King has to choose in one of each families and this choice is often contested by other family members. But they are obliged to respect.
By odre of precedence :
The Kalae Kivalu is the Chief of the Customary Council of Ministers and Prime Minister.
The King also appoints, on proposition of the populations three chief for each district. They are called Faipule, and are responsible of Chief of villages (Pule Kolo or Aliki Kaifenua or Matapule "Tongan style"). They can raise the duties of general interest, and are established or discharged during general assemblies of village (Fono Fakakolo) with usually take place on sunday after the morning mass in the "Falefono".
(or Wallisian) as their mother tongue.
At their arrival, Catholic Missionnaries were welcomed by the King Vaimua Lavelua then baptized "Soane-Patita Vaimua". Bishop Bataillon, become a very close relative of the Royal Families, as Private Councellar of the Queen Amelia, he established in 1847, the "Lano Seminary". (First Catholic Seminary of Oceania).
Lano celebrated 150 years in 1997, the Anniversary was also attended by the Samoan, His Eminence Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u, who studied there in the 40's, and big delegation from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New-Caledonia.
Wallis and Futuna was Established as Apostolic Vicariate in November 11th 1935 and promoted as Diocese June 21st 1966.
In Wallis, Culture is very important and is treasured by the inhabitants. Simple things such as traditional events like the kava ceremony, going to church, doing the plantation, knowing how to fish and other stuff are just important to the Wallisians. Even though western culture has spread around most of the world we live in today, tradition and culture are still strong as ever.
based Aircalin
. There is an Aircalin office in Matāutu in Hahake.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
belonging to the French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer
Collectivité d'outre-mer
The French overseas collectivities , like the French regions are first-order administrative divisions of France. The COMs include some former French overseas territories and other French overseas entities with a particular status, all of which became COMs by constitutional reform on 28 March...
, or COM) of Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast,...
.
The island is a little Polynesian Kingdom, it is an aristocratic monarchy ruled by the noble families called the "Aliki" through the Customary system, the "Puleaga Hau o Lavelua". ("Lavelua and his Kingdom"). The power are shared between French Administration, Roman Catholic Church and Traditionnal System "Pule'aga Hau". The limits of each one are defined by the Territorial Statute of July 29th, 1961, traditionally called "Statut 61" ( Wallisian:Tohi Lao).
Geography
The island has an area of 77,5 km² and a circumference of c. 50 km. Its highest point is Mount Lulu Fakahega (131 m). There are also a handful of large lakes, a sign of the island's volcanic origin, some of them almost perfect circles and with straight vertical walls, like Lalolalo, Lanu'tavake.Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna
Futuna is an island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna. It is one of the Hoorn Islands or Îles Horne, nearby Alofi being the other...
and Alofi
Alofi Island
Alofi is an island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna...
islands. Together with some 15 smaller islands surrounding it, on its huge barrier reef
Barrier reef
Barrier reef may refer to:*a kind of coral reef*the Great Barrier Reef in Australia*the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System*the Belize Barrier Reef*the New Caledonia Barrier Reef*Barrier Reef , an Australian television series...
, it forms the Wallis archipelago. Wallis has a fertile volcanic soil and sufficient rainfall to allow subsistence farming.
Uvea sub-divides into 3 district (from north to south):
 |
- HihifoHihifoHihifo is the main village on the island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.Hihifo is situated on the west side of Niuatoputapu and is the main centre for public and government facilities for the island residents, with a post office and police station.The other two villages on Niuatoputapu are Falehau and...
: 5 Villages : Vailala, Tufuone, Vaitupu, Malae, and Alele. - Hahake : 6 Villages : Liku, Aka'aka, Mata-Utu, Ahoa, Falaleu, and Ha'afuasia.
- Mu'aMu'aMua means first in many Polynesian languages and serves as name of several places.*Mu'a , the ancient capital of Tonga*Mu'a , a village on Niuafoou, Tonga...
: 10 Villages : Lavegahau, Tepa, Gahi, Ha’atofo, Mala’efo’ou, Kolopo, Halalo, Utufua, Vaimalau, and Teesi.
| District (meaning) | Capital | Area(km²) | PopulationCensus Census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common... 2003 |
Villages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hihifo (west) | Vaitupu | 23.4 | 2422 | 5 |
| Hahake (east) | Matāutu Mata-Utu Mata-Utu is the capital of the Wallis and Futuna Territory. It is located on the island of Wallis , in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. Its population is 1,191 .... |
27.8 | 3950 | 6 |
| Mu'a (first) | Mala'efo'ou (1) | 26.3 | 3699 | 10 |
| 'Uvea (Wallis) chiefdom | Matāutu Mata-Utu Mata-Utu is the capital of the Wallis and Futuna Territory. It is located on the island of Wallis , in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. Its population is 1,191 .... |
77.5 | 10071 | 21 |
(1) formerly called Mua
History
Archaeological excavations have identified sites on Wallis dating from circa 1400 AD. It was part of the Tongan maritime empireTu'i Tonga Empire
Some early European commentators have propagated the notion of a pre-historic "Tui Tonga Empire" or "Tongan Empire" in Oceania.This idea has long been a source of cultural pride among some Tongans even though it has been seriously challenged and generally discounted by modern archaeologists,...
from around the 13th to 16th century. By that time the influence of the Tui Tonga
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
had declined so much that Uvea became important in itself. Several current, high ranking Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n titles, like Halaevalu, trace their descent from Uvea. A legendary large canoe, the Lomipeau was built on the island as a donation to the Tui Tonga. The big fortress of Talietumu
Talietumu
Talietumu or more correctly Kolo Nui is an archaeological site in Wallis and Futuna in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean.-The site:...
close to Lotoalahi in Mua was the last holdout of the Tongans until they were defeated. The ruins of the place are still a tourist attraction:
The island was renamed Wallis after a Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
navigator, Captain Samuel Wallis
Samuel Wallis
Samuel Wallis was a Cornish navigator who circumnavigated the world.Wallis was born near Camelford, Cornwall. In 1766 he was given the command of HMS Dolphin to circumnavigate the world, accompanied by the Swallow under the command of Philip Carteret...
, who discovered it while sailing the HMS Dolphin
HMS Dolphin (1751)
HMS Dolphin was a 24-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1751, she was used as a survey ship from 1764 and made two circumnavigations of the world under the successive commands of John Byron and Samuel Wallis. She was the first ship to circumnavigate the world twice...
on August 16, 1767, following his discovery of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
.
 |
On 5 April 1842 the authorities of Wallis Island requested protection by France with a protectorate treaty signed in April 1887. After a referendum in 1959, Wallis became a French Overseas Territory in 1961.
Administration and Institutions
Uvea (Wallis) is one of the three traditional kingdoms of Wallis and FutunaWallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast,...
, the other two being Alo
Alo (Wallis and Futuna)
Alo is one of three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
and Sigave
Sigave
Sigavé is one of the three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
in the Hoorn Islands
Hoorn Islands
The Hoorn Islands are one of the two island groups of which the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna is geographically composed. The aggregate area is 115 km², and the population 4873 .Geographically, there are two islands:*Futuna Island The Hoorn Islands (also Futuna Islands) are...
(Futuna Islands). Its capital, Matāutu
Mata-Utu
Mata-Utu is the capital of the Wallis and Futuna Territory. It is located on the island of Wallis , in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. Its population is 1,191 ....
, located on the east coast, is also the capital of the whole territory, Wallis and Futuna. The kingdom is divided into three districts, which are listed from north to south:
The King of Uvea is called the "Lavelua". As Lavelua, he lives in the royal palace called "SagatoSoane". (Official Residence of the King of Uvea). In front of the Palace is the SagatoSoane's Square. (Mala'e SagatoSoane)
The King appoints the ministers, who are among 6. Each Ministers hold a noble title (established under the reign of the Queen Amelia) who correspond to ancient great reigning lineage families. The King has to choose in one of each families and this choice is often contested by other family members. But they are obliged to respect.
By odre of precedence :
- Kalae Kivalu (District of Hahake)
- Mahe Fotu'aika (District of Mua)
- Ulu'imonua (District of Hihifo)
- Kulitea (District of Hihifo)
- Muko'ifenua (District of Mua)
- Fotu'atamai (District of Hahake)
The Kalae Kivalu is the Chief of the Customary Council of Ministers and Prime Minister.
The King also appoints, on proposition of the populations three chief for each district. They are called Faipule, and are responsible of Chief of villages (Pule Kolo or Aliki Kaifenua or Matapule "Tongan style"). They can raise the duties of general interest, and are established or discharged during general assemblies of village (Fono Fakakolo) with usually take place on sunday after the morning mass in the "Falefono".
Demographics
The population of the island was 10,071 in 2003 (67% of the territory's population). Most of the inhabitants speak UveanFakauvea
Wallisian or Uvean is the Polynesian language spoken on Wallis Island . The language is also known as East Uvean to distinguish it from the related West Uvean spoken on the outlier island of Ouvéa...
(or Wallisian) as their mother tongue.
Culture and Religion
Religion ("Lotu") and Culture ("Aga'ifenua") are very close in Wallis. Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Roman Catholic Feasts. Each Village has its own Patron Saint. Each District has its Great Church. (the Chief Cathedral is Cathedral of Mata-Utu). Almost all the people are Roman Catholic ("Lotu Katolika"), and there are numerous religious buildings on the island.At their arrival, Catholic Missionnaries were welcomed by the King Vaimua Lavelua then baptized "Soane-Patita Vaimua". Bishop Bataillon, become a very close relative of the Royal Families, as Private Councellar of the Queen Amelia, he established in 1847, the "Lano Seminary". (First Catholic Seminary of Oceania).
Lano celebrated 150 years in 1997, the Anniversary was also attended by the Samoan, His Eminence Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u, who studied there in the 40's, and big delegation from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New-Caledonia.
Wallis and Futuna was Established as Apostolic Vicariate in November 11th 1935 and promoted as Diocese June 21st 1966.
In Wallis, Culture is very important and is treasured by the inhabitants. Simple things such as traditional events like the kava ceremony, going to church, doing the plantation, knowing how to fish and other stuff are just important to the Wallisians. Even though western culture has spread around most of the world we live in today, tradition and culture are still strong as ever.
Transportation
The only commercial flights that go to Wallis are operated by the New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
based Aircalin
Aircalin
Société Aircalin, also known as Air Calédonie International, is the international airline of New Caledonia. It operates scheduled services to 10 regional destinations, including Japan. Its main base is La Tontouta International Airport...
. There is an Aircalin office in Matāutu in Hahake.