Nanumea | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Nanumea atoll from space | |
.svg) Map of the atoll | |
  Nanumea Location inTuvalu | |
| Coordinates:05°39′55″S176°06′45″E / 5.66528°S 176.11250°E /-5.66528; 176.11250 | |
| Country | Tuvalu |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.87 km2 (1.49 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 610 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (410/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | ISO416TV-NMA |
| Website | http://www.nanumea.net/ |
Nanumea is the northwesternmostatoll in thePolynesiannation ofTuvalu,[1] a group of nine coralatolls andislands spread over about 400 miles (640 km) of thePacific Ocean just south of theequator and west of theInternational Date Line. Nanumea is 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi) with a population of 610 people (2022 census).[2]
Located along one edge of the so-calledPolynesian triangle, Nanumea lies just south of theGilbert Islands, which areMicronesian in language and culture. Nanumea is a classicatoll, a series of lowislets sitting on acoral reef shelf surrounding alagoon. About 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide in overall size, the dry land area is about 3.9 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi). The two largest islets Nanumea and Lakena, which comprise 90% of the dry land area of the atoll.[3]
Since the early 1990s, the use of nets and spearing has been prohibited in all parts of the lagoon and the Nanumea Conservation Area was established in 2006.[4] The Nanumea Conservation Area covers about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) of the central lagoon and consists of about 10% of the reef area of the atoll, including marine habitats and 2 islets. A survey of the conservation zone was conducted in 2010.[5][6]
The largest villages are Haumaefa with 187 people (2012) and Lolua with 187 people (2012).[2] The junior school is Kaumaile Primary School. There are scattered households across the lagoon from Nanumea village at Matagi and on Motu Foliki, and on the southeastern tip of Lakena islet. Aside from Nanumea andLakena there are three much smaller islets,Motu Foliki,Lafogaki andTe Afua-a-Taepoa spread around the encircling reef flat. There are 2 mangrove forests, a small patch to the south of Nanumea and another on the islet of Lakena.[7]
Thepulaka pits are located on Lakena,[8] as the Nanumeans want the main island of Nanumea to remainmosquito-free.Pulaka is grown in large pits of composted soil below the water table.[9]
In 2011, the kou leafworm (Ethmia nigroapicella) had a devastating impact on Nanumea by stripping the leaves of the Kanava trees (Cordia subcordata, beach cordia). The Kanava trees provide coastal protection, wind shelter, shade and are habitats for sea birds. The flowers of the Kanava are also locally prized.[10]
In March 2015 Nanumea suffered damage to houses, crops and infrastructure as the result of storm surges caused byCyclone Pam.[11][12]
| Climate data for Nanumea (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.1 (93.4) | 34.2 (93.6) | 39.2 (102.6) | 34.0 (93.2) | 33.6 (92.5) | 33.9 (93.0) | 33.6 (92.5) | 33.4 (92.1) | 33.7 (92.7) | 34.2 (93.6) | 35.5 (95.9) | 34.5 (94.1) | 39.2 (102.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.6 (88.9) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.6 (88.9) | 31.3 (88.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.5 (83.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.6 (78.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) | 22.0 (71.6) | 21.7 (71.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.8 (71.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 22.0 (71.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 22.7 (72.9) | 21.0 (69.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 288.3 (11.35) | 281.3 (11.07) | 272.7 (10.74) | 240.1 (9.45) | 211.1 (8.31) | 196.3 (7.73) | 172.2 (6.78) | 201.7 (7.94) | 151.8 (5.98) | 152.7 (6.01) | 158.1 (6.22) | 261.5 (10.30) | 2,587.8 (101.88) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 15.1 | 13.5 | 15.7 | 16.4 | 15.8 | 15.2 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 10.8 | 14.3 | 171.7 |
| Source:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[13] | |||||||||||||
In 2016 theTuvalu National Council for Women worked with theGreen Climate Fund to enable women from the islands of Nanumea andNanumaga to be part of talks aboutclimate crisis. One of their key issues was the additional burden of social care that women take on in the aftermath of natural disasters.[14]
The activities of theTuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project on Nanumea are designed to reduce exposure tocoastal erosion by providing a buffer during storms.[15][16]
Nanumeans are Polynesians. TheNanumean dialect of theTuvaluan language is closely related to other west Polynesian languages, including the Tongan language,Tokelauan,Samoan, and the languages of thePolynesian outliers.[17] Although the eight Tuvalu communities have distinctive accents and some distinctive vocabulary, the dialects of Tuvalu are mutually intelligible to Tuvalu speakers with the exception of the language ofNui atoll, whose inhabitants speak a dialect of theGilbertese language (with the exception of small children, most Tuvaluans from Nui also speak Tuvaluan).[17][18] With this exception, Tuvaluan is universally understood and spoken in Tuvalu.English is also spoken, especially in Tuvalu's capital, and is one of theofficial languages of the central government.[17]
Themythical history of Nanumea describes a settlement led by an explorer/adventurer and warrior from the south namedTefolaha. Some accounts say Tefolaha and his crew came fromTonga, others nameSamoa, but whether these names refer to today's Tonga and Samoa is not certain. Tefolaha, traditional accounts say, found the island of Nanumea populated by two women, Pai and Vau, whom it was believed had formed it from baskets of sand. Tefolaha wagered with them for the island and eventually won it through trickery, whereupon Pai and Vau departed.[19] Tefolaha's sons and daughters are today the founding ancestors of leading families and the seven chiefly lineages of Nanumea. Today's population also traces descent from crew members who arrived with Tefolaha, and from later visitors from the far distant and more recent past. Nanumean traditions describe the islets,Motu Foliki,Lafogaki andTe Afua-a-Taepoa, as being formed when sand spilled from the baskets of two women, Pai and Vau, when they were forced off Nanumea by Tefolaha. After a careless fisherman accidentally tossed a fish hook into the eye of Lupo, a Tongan prince, the Tongans would send a raid party, led by a giant, to Nanumea. One of Tefolaha's descendants, Lapi would use theKaumaile to slay the giant Tuulapoupou on Nanumea's southwestern reef flat. While doing this, Lapi had to call the spirit of Tefolaha for help, via saying the phrase, "Tefolaha tou hoa!"[20]
The legendary, miraculous spearKaumaile came with the hero Tefolaha to Nanumea. He fought with a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) long weapon on the islands of Samoa and Tonga. As Tefolaha died, "Kaumaile" went to his heirs, then to his heirs and on and on - 23 generations. The wood from the spear was radiocarbon dated to 880 years BP or AD 1070.[21] The wood is from the speciesCasuarina equisetifolia.[22]
The first recorded sighting of Nanumea by Europeans was by Spanish naval officerFrancisco Mourelle de la Rúa who sailed past it on 5 May 1781 with frigateLa Princesa, when attempting a southern crossing of the Pacific from the Philippines toNew Spain. He charted Nanumea asSan Augustin.[23][24] In 1809, Captain Patterson in the brigElizabeth sighted Nanumea while passing through the northern Tuvalu waters on a trading voyage from Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia to China.[23]
From 1879 to 1881Alfred Restieaux was the resident trader on Nanumea.[25][26] 19th century residentPalagi traders also included: Tom Day (c.1872),[27] Edmund Duffy (from 1890-c.1895),[28] andJack Buckland (c.1895). The population of Nanumea from 1860 to 1900 is estimated to be between 500[29] and 650 people.[30]
Nanumea Post Office opened around 1919.[31]
Donald Gilbert Kennedy, the resident District Officer in the administration of theGilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1932 to 1938, describe the construction ofpaopao and of the variations of single-outrigger canoes that had been developed onVaitupu and Nanumea.[32]
During World War II the American forces builtNanumea Airfield and the people moved to live onLakena.[33]USS LST-203 was grounded on the reef at Nanumea on 2 October 1943 in order to land equipment. As of 1975, the rusting hull of the ship remains on the reef.[34] The 'American Passage' was blasted through the reef by a Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), who were assisted by local divers. This passage improved access to Nanumea.B-24 Liberator aircraft of30th Bombardment Group flew fromNanumea Airfield. After the war the airfield was dismantled and the land returned to its owners, however as the coral base was compacted to make the runway the land now provides poor ground for growing coconuts.[33]
On Nanumea, tender boats, which go out to the inter-island ships, run through the 'American Passage' and offload passengers and cargo at a small wharf within the protected lagoon.[35]
Nanumea's local government consists of a chiefly council (Falekaupule) representing the seven chiefly lines which trace descent from the founder, Tefolaha, or from other key settlers, and an elected high chief (Pulefenua). The island also elects and sends two representatives to the Tuvalu nationalparliament based in the capital,Funafuti.
While Nanumea atoll remains the homeland for all Nanumeans, there are increasingly large populations of Nanumean residents in the capital, Funafuti, in New Zealand (especiallyAuckland andWellington), and inAustralia and otherPacific locations. Theseexpatriate populations are well-organized, have active elected leadership councils, and keep in close touch with doings in Nanumea itself.
Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu andTimi Melei were re-elected to parliament at the2024 general election.[36][37]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu | 490 | 36.49 | |
| Nonpartisan | Timi Melei | 296 | 22.04 | |
| Nonpartisan | Temetiu Maliga | 249 | 18.54 | |
| Nonpartisan | Satini Manuella | 178 | 13.25 | |
| Nonpartisan | Falasese Tupou | 130 | 9.68 | |
Nanumean identity and pride is demonstrated in many ways, from the distinctive intonation pattern and vocabulary of its version of Tuvaluan to celebrations including its uniquePo o Tefolaha, part of a long holiday covering Christmas, New Year and some weeks beyond. These "Big Days" (Po Lahi) celebrations, marked with noon feasts in the island's community hall, theaahiga ormaneapa,[38] feature a marathon round of the competitive ball gameTe ano, pitting the two village sides, Haumaefa and Lolua, against each other. On 8 January each year, the island's conversion to Christianity over a century ago is commemorated inTe Po o Tefolaha,Tefolaha's Day.Po Lahi is celebrated in Nanumea itself and by many Nanumean communities overseas, including those in Funafuti, Fiji, Auckland, Wellington, Tarawa, Australia and other locations.
A widely recognized symbol of Nanumean identity and unity is the fighting spear, "Kaumaile."[39][40] Said to have been brought with him by the island's founder, Tefolaha, Kaumaile was used to defeat invaders to Nanumea, most notably by Lapi to defeat a giant, Tuulaapoupou.[41] Recent carbon dating tests have shown that the Kaumaile spear is over 800 years old.[42]
LadyNaama Maheu Latasi (died 16 March 2012) was the first woman to be elected to theParliament of Tuvalu, was elected from the constituency of Nanumea.[43]
Maatia Toafa (born 1 May 1954) was thePrime Minister of Tuvalu 2004–2006 and represent Nanumea in theParliament of Tuvalu from 2002 until the 2019 general election.[44] He served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development in theSopoaga Ministry (2013-2019).[45]
Willy Telavi (born 28 January 1954) was first elected to parliament in 2006 and was appointed Home Affairs Minister in the Government ofApisai Ielemia. He was re-elected in 2010 and became thePrime Minister of Tuvalu on 24 December 2010. His term as prime minister ended on 2 August 2013.[46] He resigned from Parliament in August 2014.[47][48]
Chambers, Keith S. and Anne2001Unity of Heart: Culture and Change in a Polynesian Atoll Society.Prospect Hts, Illinois: Waveland Press (ISBN 1-57766-166-4)
Chambers, Anne1984Nanumea. (No. 6 in Atoll Economy: Social Change in Kiribati and Tuvalu.)Canberra: Australian National University, Development Studies Centre (ISBN 0-86784-457-4)
Chambers, Keith S.1984Heirs of Tefolaha: Tradition and Social Organization in Nanumea, a Polynesian Atoll Community.PhD Dissertation, Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley (pub. by University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Laracy, Hugh (editor)1983Tuvalu: a History. Suva: University of the South Pacific, Institute of Pacific Studies and Extension Services, and Funafuti: Ministry of Social Services. [21 chapters, maps, photos, appendices. Chapters written by Tuvaluan authors]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)| Islands |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Atolls | ||
| Islets of Funafuti | ||
| Islets of Nanumea | ||
| Islets of Nui | ||
| Islets of Nukufetau | ||
| Islets of Vaitupu | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
