SIUELI ‘OE PASIFIKI: JEWEL OF THE PACIFIC – A SUNG POETRY OF PRAISE AND RIVALRY

Authors

Pā‘utu-‘O-Vava‘u-Lahi, Adriana Māhanga Lear, University of Wollongong
Sione Lavenita Vaka, Auckland University of Technology
Maui-TāVā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. Kaʻili, Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi
Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, Vavaʻu Academy for Critical Inquiry and Applied Research

Abstract

We examine “Siueli ‘oe Pasifiki” “Jewel of the Pacific,” as a great work of art and literature in poetry of viki/sani praise and fetau rivalry, by Queen Sālote, concerning the mediation of human meanings in language through sustained symmetry and harmony in the production of beauty, which, in turn, results in warmth and fieriness in the creation of climatic elation. The mediation of human meanings is achieved by the artistic and literary device heliaki, defined as “metaphorically saying one thing but historically meaning another,” as in her treatment of siueli jewel, as a heliaki metaphor, for Tonga. Queen Sālote’s affective and effective use of the three types of heliaki, namely, heliaki fakafetongiaki qualitative epiphoric heliaki, heliaki fakafekauaki associative metaphoric heliaki, and heliaki fakafefonuaki constitutive metonymic heliaki, in the treatment of her subject matter in the creative process is critiqued for both its beauty or quality and its utility or functionality.

Recommended Citation

Lear, Pā‘utu-‘O-Vava‘u-Lahi, Adriana Māhanga; Vaka, Sione Lavenita; Kaʻili, Maui-TāVā-He-Akó, Tēvita O.; and Māhina, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino (2021) "SIUELI ‘OE PASIFIKI: JEWEL OF THE PACIFIC – A SUNG POETRY OF PRAISE AND RIVALRY," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 44: No. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol44/iss1/7