LE PAOPAO
by Taiai Pisa
Le Paopao is about a narrative from my father`s childhood.
My grandfather Mauava Pisa is a fisherman and so one still night with a beautiful full moon my father explains, he went out Lama (night fishing) with my father and his sister, Aunty Solomua. My aunt being the taupou sat in the front of the paopao wearing a new light cream cardy and humming her songs quietly while Pa was below the deep ocean fishing with my father holding the lamp above.
About an hour in ... the story goes ... the neighboring paopaos warned of an almost like a school of sword fish swimming nearby. My Pa dove deep pulling on the rope indicating to my father hold the lamp still.
While he was balancing the lamp, oar and asking his sister to sit still and further inside le paopao, there was a big splash!
And then, his sisters voice screaming and calling his name, "Auoi Vela ua ou lavea!" (Help me Vela im hurt) before he could move towards her she fell backwards into le paopao and right at his feet.
My father held the lamp high and saw within le paopao red all over her cardy. he threw down the lamp and moved towards her and try to hold her up but as he moved his weight around in Le Paopao, my Pa beneath the water pulled on the rope indicating there is no light.
That night A young man was sobbing uncontrollable holding his bloodied dead sister in one arm and in the other was the lamp for Pa shocked not knowing what to do.
This light or piece is dedicated and tributed to my father for his courage and his bravery that night! He called for help to his mother Tufue who was at land. But it was too late. It appears a swordfish got her right through the heart.
This story is within our family and its one he shares with us and the grandchildren oft!
#LePaopao #RILaunty
My grandfather Mauava Pisa is a fisherman and so one still night with a beautiful full moon my father explains, he went out Lama (night fishing) with my father and his sister, Aunty Solomua. My aunt being the taupou sat in the front of the paopao wearing a new light cream cardy and humming her songs quietly while Pa was below the deep ocean fishing with my father holding the lamp above.
About an hour in ... the story goes ... the neighboring paopaos warned of an almost like a school of sword fish swimming nearby. My Pa dove deep pulling on the rope indicating to my father hold the lamp still.
While he was balancing the lamp, oar and asking his sister to sit still and further inside le paopao, there was a big splash!
And then, his sisters voice screaming and calling his name, "Auoi Vela ua ou lavea!" (Help me Vela im hurt) before he could move towards her she fell backwards into le paopao and right at his feet.
My father held the lamp high and saw within le paopao red all over her cardy. he threw down the lamp and moved towards her and try to hold her up but as he moved his weight around in Le Paopao, my Pa beneath the water pulled on the rope indicating there is no light.
That night A young man was sobbing uncontrollable holding his bloodied dead sister in one arm and in the other was the lamp for Pa shocked not knowing what to do.
This light or piece is dedicated and tributed to my father for his courage and his bravery that night! He called for help to his mother Tufue who was at land. But it was too late. It appears a swordfish got her right through the heart.
This story is within our family and its one he shares with us and the grandchildren oft!
#LePaopao #RILaunty