Guardian & Keeper of Samoan Indigenous Knowledge: Passing It On
Posted: November 15, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, education, Environment, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: black and white, character, clothing, Elliptical Format, Head of State of Samoa, Human Interest, king, King Malietoa Laupepe of Samoa, Lifeline Pasifika Conference, males, Malietoa Laupepe, Military Uniform, origins of samoan proverb explained, P 85121 NO NEG, P/MALIETOA/LAUPEPA, Pacific islands, People, polynesia, royalty, samoa, samoan indigenous knowledge, single, speeches by samoa head of state, su'e su'e manogi book by tui atua, traditional clothing, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi, Western Samoa, what you do in the name of hatred will not survive, what you do in the name of love will survive 3 Comments[picapp src=”a/a/5/5/King_Laupepa_1265.jpg?adImageId=7473364&imageId=3345035″ width=”407″ height=”560″ /]
circa 1895: King Malietoa Laupepe of Samoa ( – 1898) (Photo by Davis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
By Vienna Richards
After reading a speech by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi, given at the NZ Families Commission meeting earlier this month, I decided it was high time for his Highness’ works, and his writings, to be made more easily available to every Samoan, particularly the rising generation of young people searching to know.
So, every weekend, check into pacificEyeWitness.org to read and enjoy from the writings of one of Samoa’s last remaining scholars, historians, thought leaders and thinkers.
Tui Atua is, in fact, our present-day King of Samoa. And as one of Pacific pioneers in literature has pointed out, Tui Atua’s background, his upbringing, makes him unique in Samoan history:
….because he was, is, and continues to be a unique fusion of many traditions, historical circumstances, upbringing, education, and two languages. Because he is a master of Samoan and English he has been able to give us his vision in both languages. That…has also helped us understand…and allows people, who are not fluent in Samoan, to have access to his work.
Albert Wendt, 2008
Foreword
Su’esu’e Manogi In Search of Fragrance
Wendt notes an equally significant point that bears repeating:
Tui Atua is probably the last Tamaaiga to have had the classical upbringing of an aloalii in faaSamoa: his parents and aiga elders ensured that he was taught and raised by some of Samoa’s leading tuua, orators, poets, song makers, storytellers, historians, and keepers and guardians of ‘Samoan indigenous knowledge’.
He was also raised in an aiga which fought for Samoa’s independence: his grandfather Ta’isi Nelesoni was the leader of the Mau and suffered for it; his uncle Tamasese Lealofi III, was killed fighting for independence; his father and mother were leaders of the movement for self-government and independence and suffered for it. Tui Atua was raised and groomed for Tamaaiga status and national leadership. The new ingredients he has brought to that equation are his…knowledge of and learning of things Papalagi: history, politics, literature and art…and his love of the Samoan and English languages…
So, among my generation, Tui Atua is the most knowledgeable and passionate leader about “things Samoan.”
So while Tui Atua is living, we want to share his mind, and his wisdom with you. Without further ado, the following excerpt is a story from ancient history that explains the origins of a wise Samoan proverb used today:
E leai se gaumata’u, na o le gaualofa
What you do in the name of hatred will not survive
but what you do in the name of love will live forever.
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Title: To Be A Friend.
This point about the power of love as light and shield in times of darkness can be found in another story, a much older story in Samoan history, involving the people of Atua, a district area in Upolu, Samoa. The story involves a daughter who attempts to placate her father’s anger at her husband’s people, the people of Atua, by offering her life for theirs.
Tui Atua Fepuleai married the daughter of Tagaloa Funefeai, the most powerful chief in his day. In the reciprocal exchange of gifts at the nunu (a formal wedding ceremony usually the preserve of the highborn) the Tagaloa family were offended by what was perceived an insult regarding the main mat – ie faatupu (which is the principal gift by the bridal party). Offended the Tagaloa family left in a huff. Tagaloa Funefeai, once he had returned to the seat of his Malo, formally declared war on Atua.
When Tui Atua Fepuleai heard that Tagaloa Funefeai and his family were bent on war, he said to his new wife, “my people expected you to bring us shade (paolo), to provide us with protection; instead you bring us death, destruction and grief. Please go to your father, beyond the borders of Atua, to intervene and placate his wrath.”
His wife, whose name was Utufaasili, loved her husband dearly, responded with heavy heart, “I shall do as you say and cross the borders of Atua to intervene on your people’s behalf and plead with my father for mercy and grace. If I fail I will not return. I have no reason to live. I am with-child and would rather perish than bear the shame of destroying the inheritance of my husband and child.”
Utufaasili crossed the Atua borders and went to stay in Letogo, the village of her mother, just outside of Atua. Scouts were sent out to strategically placed points in Letogo to look-out for Tagaloa Funefeai and his war fleet.
Once the fleet was sighted, the lali drummers were to signal the people of Letogo of its approach. When the lali drums sounded, Utufaasili and her retinue were put out to sea in canoes known as soatau.
When they approached the foremost vessel in the vanguard of the fleet, an officer from within called out to Utufaasili’s party to identify themselves.
Utufaasili called back, “I am Utufaasili, daughter of Tagaloa, I want audience with my father”.
The officer called back, “Tagaloa is travelling in his flagship Pualele, which is at the very end of our fleet formation”.
Utufaasili and her retinue proceeded towards Pualele.
When they reached the flagship, another officer called out, “Who are you? What is your mission?”
Utufaasili called out again, “I am Utufaasili, daughter of Tagaloa, I want an audience with my father”.
When permission was granted, Utufaasili and her retinue boarded the flagship. One of her retinue laid out a special mat, known as the ie sina, literally ‘white mat’.
She walked across and knelt on the mat before her father. Her retinue then covered her with one of their finest mats.
This ritual act is the ifoga, performed when pleading for pardon because of grave wrong and performed with the knowledge that one may lose his/her life if the plea was not accepted.
Tagaloa commanded his escort to take away the fine mat covering Utufaasili.
Once that was done he asked her, “Why have you come like this”?
She replied, “I have come to plead for Atua and I offer my life for their redemption”.
He asked: “Why do you come instead of the people of Atua?”
She answered: “Because they fear you and it was decided that I would be a better emissary”.
Tagaloa then turned to the leaders of his war party and asked, “What do you say”?
They responded, “The die is cast!”
Tagaloa turned to Utufaasili and said: “You have heard the verdict”.
Weeping and touching her womb, she cried softly: “My father, look at me, I am with-child. If you destroy Atua you will destroy not only the inheritance of my husband but the inheritance of my child. On behalf of my unborn child, I call on you to please spare his people”.
Utufaasili then states the famous Samoan saying: e leai se gaumata’u, na o le gaualofa, meaning: what you do in the name of hatred will not survive, but what you do in the name of love will live forever.
Tagaloa Funefeai moved by his daughter’s words and willingness to sacrifice herself in protection of her husband’s inheritance and that of their unborn child then replied: “Notwithstanding my anger with Atua, I hear what you say and I will spare them”.
The one thing that redeems, eases and/or soothes hurt, anger, hate, pain or depression is the ability to find and believe in love, notwithstanding…
Excerpt: Keynote Address
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Head of State of Samoa
LifeLine Pasifika Conference, Apia, Samoa
16 August 2009
American Environmental Engineers Say Planning Saved Lives in Samoan Tsunami
Posted: November 6, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: AMERICAN SAMOA, Apia, assistance, capital, clothing, Community-based education, delivery, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, following, horizontal, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Manu’a Islands, National Science Foundation, natural disaster, Pacific Earthquake Research Center, PagoAmerican Geophysical Union Pago, Professor Costas Synolakis, Rose Atoll, samoa, strength, supplies, Swains Island, tools, tutuila, University of Southern California, Village, volunteer, weather 1 Comment[picapp src=”3/3/7/6/Further_Quake_Hits_c9ef.jpg?adImageId=7152082&imageId=6682429″ width=”500″ height=”329″ /]
USC News – University of Southern California
By Nancy Fullbright on November 4, 2009 7:55 AM
Community-based education and awareness programs minimized the death toll from the recent Samoan tsunami, though there are still ways to improve the warning and evacuation process, according to a team of researchers that traveled to Samoa last month.
Professor Costas Synolakis of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was a principal investigator on the team that visited the devastated islands and probed the strengths and weaknesses of the emergency response.
The team, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, collected data Oct. 4-11 to document the impacts of the 8.1 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami that occurred on Sept. 29. They examined flow depths, run-up heights, inundation distances, sediment depositions and damage patterns at various scales.
Nearly 190 people were killed in the tsunami, with the majority of deaths reported in Samoa, a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and Savai’i.
American Samoa, a territory of the United States southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa, is comprised of main island Tutuila, the Manu’a Islands, Rose Atoll and Swains Island. The Samoan government estimated the total damage from the tsunami at $147 million.
The team’s survey data – especially critical in the immediate aftermath since perishable data would otherwise be lost forever – circled all of the main Samoan islands and spanned 350 kilometers from Ofu in the east to Savai’i in the west.
The team learned that the tsunami impact peaked at Poloa near Tutuila’s western tip and Lepa at Upola’s southeast coast. Maximum run-up heights reached 17 meters at Poloa, and inundation distances and damage were recorded at Pago Pago, more than 500 meters inland. The harbor at Pago Pago, normally well-protected from ordinary storm waves, is a classic tsunami trap vulnerable to long-period tsunami waves.
In addition, researchers noticed a marked difference between the evacuation process in Samoa and American Samoa. While most villagers in Samoa knew to rapidly evacuate after experiencing an earthquake, only a month earlier they had been told that cars could help with evacuations, a deadly directive since most roads run parallel to the beach.
“Many perished trapped inside cars waiting in congested small roads or in long lines behind vehicles stopped by landslides or debris on the road,” Synolakis said. “I have been on more than 20 tsunami field surveys, and in many ways, this was one of the most surprising in terms of how carnage varied over fairly short distances. This was also the first time we noted what we suspected: Misinformation kills.”
Editor’s Note: Commissioner of Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Seve Tony Hill, said they have never advised people to use a car when they see a wave coming. “That’s a no, no,” Seve told Samoan Observer. “Leave your car and run. That’s been our recommendation all the time.” Seve said he knows of:
• a girl who was killed in her car
• Tui Annandale who was killed reportedly pulled out of a car by the wave
• a palagi couple whose vehicle got hit by a wave and they got out and ran.
Seve said if people have warning of up to 15 minutes or knows from the length of a tremor something is coming, it might be better to use a vehicle to drive to safety. That is if they can drive at a safe speed – and pick up the elderly and children along the way. But “if you see a wave coming don’t get in your car. It’s a death trap,” he warned.
Emile Okal, a seismologist and professor of earth and planetary sciences at Northwestern University, conducted approximately 120 interviews with tsunami survivors in 70 different locations around Tutuila and Upolu. He found that most people were educated about tsunamis and knew how to react because of community-based educational programs, not ancestral stories.
“The last significant tsunami in Samoa occurred in 1917 and was very similar in seismology to the Sept. 29 tsunami. Surprisingly, no one I interviewed said they knew of family members being in a similar situation,” Okal said. “Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2007 Solomon Islands tsunami, there has been a concerted effort on the part of the local government in American Samoa to post signs and conduct evacuation drills in some Samoan communities. Many villages were completely destroyed, so I am impressed that the death toll was not larger. The bottom line is education worked.”
“In addition to timing – the fact that the tsunami struck in the daylight morning hours when most people were on their way to work or school – tsunami education, awareness and evacuation exercises really contained the death toll,” noted Hermann Fritz, one of the principal investigators and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “The technical solution doesn’t always work for coastlines near the epicenter with less than 30 minutes between earthquake and onslaught of the tsunami. Earthquakes with a duration of more than 30 seconds serve as a natural warning, resulting in a spontaneous self-evacuation.”
While Synolakis agreed that the death toll was probably minimized due to educational efforts, he said there is still a lot of progress that can be made. While working in the field on Oct. 7, the team experienced a real tsunami warning and witnessed firsthand the tremendous confusion and disorganization that followed.
“Although there are warning signs along the beaches in American Samoa, there is no information about where the evacuation routes are,” he said. “It’s also just as important to let people know when it’s safe to come back as it is to warn them. We definitely have our work cut out for us.”
The collected field data serves as benchmarking and validation of numerical tsunami models with wide-ranging applications that include forecasting, warning and sediment transport.
The researchers will present their findings at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco this December. Brief publications summarizing the immediate results will follow in research journals. This survey was partially supported by the Pacific Earthquake Research Center.
Photos: Villages of Lalomanu, Saleaaumua, Lepa After Earthquake & Tsunami
Posted: October 8, 2009 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tags: adult, Apia, assistance, capital, clothing, collection, delivery, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, family, following, hill, home, horizontal, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Lepa Aleipata Upolu Samoa, Lino Leifi, looking, men, natural disaster, People, photos of samoa tsunami, preparation, quake triggered a tsunami, remains, rubble, samoa, samoa tsunami, samoan village of lepa, shelter, shore, stand, strength, supplies, taking, tent, tools, tourist, Tourist Resort, Village, village of Lalomanu, village of Saleaaumua, volunteer, weather Leave a commentLALOMANU-Red Cross volunteers deliver aid supplies of clothing following the 8.3 magnitude strong earthquake which struck 200km from Samoa’s capital Apia on Tuesday, in the village of Lalomanu on October 1, 2009 in Apia, Samoa. The quake triggered a tsunami wave up to 1.5 metres across areas of the island, with the official death toll in Samoa standing at 149. A further quake measuring 6.3 struck today 85 kilometres south-east of Tonga, but no tsunami warning or additional casualties have been reported as yet.(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
To view the photos without the pictorial banner at the foot, simply click on the arrow on the right of the banner and it will recede to the left.
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LALOMANU – A man survey the debris at the beach in Lalomanu, Samoa. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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LEPA – Locals sit among the debris on the beach in Lepa. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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LALOMANU – A man looks over the debris on the beach of Lalomanu, Samoa. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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LALOMANU – A man looks at a book as he stands amongst the devastation in Lalomanu, Samoa.
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Archives to March 2010 - PEW 
World-Famous, Royalty & Celebs Line Up for Maori Hongi From Tiger Woods, Tua, Elle, Tom Cruise to Prince William
Posted: December 20, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, education, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, South Pacific Region, US & Foreign Affairs | Tags: 73499499, 73578769, 74656082, adults only, airport, Anne, APEC, appointed, army, Arrival, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Athletics Australia Telstra A-series National Championships, attending, auckland, Auckland District Health, Auckland International Airport, Auckland Starship, Austalian, Belgium Hongi, belgium royal famly, Bestof, Bestof2007, Bill Clinton, boxing, Burnham, Business, camp, Caucasian Appearance, Celebrities, ceremony, Childres, Christchurch, class, clothing, Clover Park Middle School, club, Club Soccer, color image, Community, competition, Competitive Sport, corps, Crown Prince, custom, Dalai Lama, David Beckham, David Tua, day, Defense Minister, dick hubbard, Diplomacy, Earl Of Wessex, Elle MacPherson Hongi, EOS1DMkII-253407, fighting, film, Film Set, flying, Former, friendship, general, Geographical Locations, George Purvis, Gerrard Albert, giving, Glenys Turu, golf, golf tournament, Governing Board, government, government building, greeting, group, Haane Manahi, handshake, Headshot, Heavyweight, Highness, Highness Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Hilton, hold, Hollywood - California, home, Hongi, hongis, honor, horizontal, hospital, Human Interest, Human Nose, Hyundai, indicating, Isaac Davis, Jerry Mateparae, John Retimama, Juan Carlos I, July05, Kapa Haka, kaumatua, Kerry Predergast, Kuia Mereiwa Broughton, Kukupa Tirikatene, Lieutenant, Lincoln Savage, looking, Los Angeles Galaxy, Manukau City Super Special Stage, maori, Mark Burton, marketing, military, Military Uniform, model, Motorized Sport, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, navy, new zealand, New Zealand Corps, nose, Numa Otuvai, nurse, off road, official, Ohinemutu, only men, otara, outdoors, Palmerston, Palmerston location, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu Beach Golf, party, People, Performance, Petter Solberg, photography, Pipitea Marae, playing, Political Rally, Politics, President Of The USA, Press Conference, prince, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, Prince Philippe of Belgium, Prince William, princess, Princess Anne, profile, Propecia, Queen Sofia of Spain, Rangitihi Tahuparae, receiving, Rehua Maori, religion, Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York, riger, Rose Tahuparae, rotorua, Royal Person, royalty, rubbing, rubbing noses, samoa, scene, senior adult, sensation, Series, share, side view, Sir Howard Morrison, Sir Hugh Kawharu, soccer, Social Grace, spain, sport, standing, star, Start, success, superhero, Symon Knuckey, Tamahou Ripia, Te Arana Wihongi, Te Mataarae, Te Papiouru Marae, Te Roopu Kapahaka O Waitaira, tgg0611, tiger, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods Hongis, Tom Cruise, topics, Topix, Traditional Culture, Trentham Military Camp, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, two, Two People, usa, Vector Arena, vertical, visit, Waist Up, warriors, Wednesday 15, welcome, wellington, Wellington Airport, Wellington Hongi, woods, york | Leave a commentAfter supermodel Tyra Banks visited New Zealand, and received a traditional Maori hongi, we went in search of other celebs and world-famous people, as well as homegrown varieties, who have also received a hongi in front of the media’s lenses.
Here’s what we found from the past and the present:
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In happier days? NEW ZEALAND, 8th January 2002: Golfing sensation Tiger Woods hongis (traditional Maori greeting) with Kuia Mereiwa Broughton during an official Maori welcome (Powhiri) at Wellington airport, after Woods flew into New Zealand to play in the Telstra Hyundai New Zealand Open Golf Tournament at the Paraparaumu Beach Golf club. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images).
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(same event) Tiger Woods rubs noses with Glenys Turu as he arrives at Wellington airport for the New Zealand Open Golf tournament. (Photo by The Dominion/Getty Images)
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 29, 2007: David Beckham of the LA Galaxy receives a Hongi (Maori Greeting) from a member of a Maori welcoming Kapa Haka group as he arrives at Wellington airport in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images).
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 29, 2007: An interesting photo this one. David Beckham of the LA Galaxy gives Mayor of Wellington Kerry Predergast a Hongi (Maori greeting) as he arrives at Wellington Airport in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 16, 2000: World heavyweight boxing contender David Tua is welcomed home with a Hongi by Kylie Kemp from Clover Park Middle School in Otara, on his arrival at Auckland International Airport, Thursday night. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
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HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – SEPTEMBER 03, 2009: Sugar Ray Leonard exchanges a Hongi, the traditional Maori greeting, with John Haunui after being welcomed to SKYCITY on September 3, 2009 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images).
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Sugar Ray Leonard exchanges a Hongi, the traditional Maori greeting, with Pahu Muru of Turangawaiwai.
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APRIL 15, 2004: World rally champion Petter Solberg (Norway) Hongis (traditional Maori greeting) with a warrior, Wednesday 15, at the ceremonial start to the Propecia 2004 Rally Of New Zealand, at the Manukau City Super Special Stage. The event is a round of the World Rally championship. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images).
We Can Only Imagine What These Warriors Are Thinking
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – SEPTEMBER 29,: Austalian super model Elle MacPherson Hongi’s (traditional Maori welcome) with Lincoln Savage from the Te Mataarae o Rehua Maori culture group from Rotorua upon her arrival at Auckland International Airport.MacPherson is in New Zealand for several days on a promotional visit. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
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Mission Impossible?
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NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 11, 2003: Hollywood super star Tom Cruise performs a hongi (traditional Maori welcome) with Wahine (Maori woman) Alice Pomare, during a Powhiri prior to a press conference for the ‘Last Samurai’ movie. Cruise flew into New Zealand last Monday and will begin filming on location in various parts of the Taranaki province in the North Island of New Zealand.FOTROPRESS. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 17: The Dalai Lama (R) is welcomed with a Hongi (a Maori greeting with a press of the nose) by Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard at the Vector Arena on June 17, 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, spiritual leader to millions of Buddhists around the world, is in New Zealand on a three day visit to give public talks and public teachings. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images).
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 27, 2002: The Dalai Lama at the Pipitea Marae in Wellington Hongi’s (Traditional Maori Welcome by touching of noses) Symon Knuckey of the Te Roopu Kapahaka O Waitaira as friends look on. The Dalai Lama arrived in Wellington, today, Monday and is on a brief tour of New Zealand. (Photo by Robert Patterson/Getty Images).
Like Mother, Like Son Beautiful
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NEW ZEALAND – JULY 05, 2005: His Royal Highness Prince William is greeted by Auckland District Health Board member John Retimama with a Hongi (pressing of noses) on the Princes’ official visit to Auckland Starship children’s hospital, Tuesday. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images).
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Princess Diana (1961 – 1997) receives a traditional Maori nose-rubbing greeting, or Hongi, during a visit to the Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae in Gisborne, New Zealand, 24th April 1983. The princess is wearing a blue silk suit by Catherine Walker. (Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images).
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NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 07, 2005: His Royal Highness Prince Charles hongis (traditional maori welcome) with Lieutenant Tamahou Ripia on the Royal New Zealand Navy on his arrival at Government House, Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, March 07, 2005. Prince Charles is making a five day visit to New Zealand. (Photo by Ross Setford/Getty Images)
Royalty Every Which Way
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ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 17, 2007: Prince Andrew, Duke of York (R) hongis with Sir Howard Morrison (L) as he attends a ceremony to honour the gallantry of Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi, at Te Papiouru Marae, Ohinemutu on the third day of his seven day visit to New Zealand, on March 17, 2007 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Manahi was not awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions at Takrouna Ridge in North Africa in 1943 during World War II, despite recommendations that his gallantry warranted the highest award for valour. This year, the government, working with Te Arawa, the Manahi VC Committee, and Buckingham Palace, announced that it would hold a special ceremony to recognise Lance Sergeant Manahi?s deeds, and The Queen expressed her admiration for his bravery The presence of the Duke at the ceremony reflects her wish to be personally associated with the initiatives to recognise his gallantry. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 16, 2007: Prince Andrew, Duke of York receives a Hongi (Maori greeting) from WO 1st class George Purvis during a visit to the Trentham Military Camp on the second day of his seven day visit to New Zealand, on March 16, 2007 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images).
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ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 17, 2007: Prince Andrew, Duke of York (R) hongis with a local Kaumatua as he attends a ceremony to honour the gallantry of Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi, at Te Papiouru Marae, Ohinemutu on the third day of his seven day visit to New Zealand, on March 17, 2007 in Rotorua, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
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PALMERSTON NORTH, NEW ZEALAND – SEPTEMBER 29, 2005: Prince Andrew, Duke of York (R), gets a Maori greeting (Hongi) from the Minister of Defence Hon. Mark Burton during a Powhiri (welcome) and reviewing the parade at Linton Army base September 29, 2005 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The Duke of York is in Palmerston North as part of a 5 day visit to New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)
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Prince Andrew, Duke of York, gets a Maori greeting (Hongi) from Major General Jerry Mateparae of the armed forces during a Powhiri (welcome) and reviewing of the parade at Linton Army base September 29, 2005 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 04, 2009: HRH, The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward is given a Hongi (Maori greeting) by Tawai Frost during a welcome at Sacred Heart College on November 4, 2009 Wellington, New Zealand. HRH, The Earl of Wessex Prince Edward is in New Zealand to discuss the future direction of The Duke of Edinburgh Award program. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images).
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CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 17, 2008: HRH Princess Anne, Princess Royal receives a Hongi (Maori Greeting) from Sgt. Isaac Davis during a visit to the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals and Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps at Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – DECEMBER 03, 2009: (L-R) His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Samoa’s recently appointed Head of State receives a Hongi (Maori greeting) from Rangitihi Tahuparae during a Maori welcome ceremony at Government House on December 3, 2008 in Wellington, New Zealand. Tuiatua, who became Samoan Head of State in June, is on a week long visit to New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images).
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Her Highness Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese receives a Hongi (Maori Greeting) from Sergeant Aaron Taikato during a Maori welcome ceremony at Government House on December 3, 2008 in Wellington, New Zealand. Tamasese’s husband His Highness Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who became Samoan Head of State in June, is on a week long visit to New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 23, 2009: HRH King Juan Carlos of Spain (L) shares a traditional Maori greeting of a hongi with Maori elder Gerrard Albert (R) during a visit to New Zealand on June 23, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.
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HRH Queen Sofia of Spain (L) shares a traditional Maori greeting of a hongi with Maori elder Rose Tahuparae (R) during a visit to New Zealand on June 23, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand. The Royal couple are undertaking two days of official engagements in New Zealand before heading to Australia on Wednesday. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
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HRH Queen Sofia of Spain (L) shares a traditional Maori greeting of a hongi with Maori elder Gerrard Albert (R).
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HRH King Juan Carlos (R) shares a traditional Maori greeting of a hongi with Kukupa Tirikatene (L) at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa during a visit to New Zealand on June 23, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 23, 2002: HRH Princess Mathilde Hongi’s (Traditional Maori welcome by touching of noses) with a member of the Maori welcome party during the welcoming ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel, Saturday. Prince Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium and Princess Mathilde are on a four day visit to New Zealand. (Photo by Dean Purcell/Getty Images).
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HRH Prince Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium Hongi’s (Traditional Maori welcome by touching of noses) with Sir Hugh Kawharu during the welcoming ceremony.
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HRH Prince Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium Hongi’s (Traditional Maori welcome by touching of noses) with Maori welcome party member Te Arana Wihongi during the welcoming ceremony.
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We know Clinton isn’t royalty. But what the heck. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – SEPTEMBER 11, 1999: The President of the United States, Bill Clinton hongi’s with Georgina Te Heuheu after his arrival in New Zealand for the APEC conference, Saturday. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
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OFFICIALLY Pavarotti may not be royalty but his voice certainly was and is. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 17, 1999: Luciano Pavarotti and preformer Ricky Northcroft hongi during a welcoming celemony for Pavarotti at the Sheraton Hotel, Wednesday. (Photo by Sav Schulman/Getty Images)