Welding...what is that?

Here are some pics. of the holes in the back and sides of the Princess Ashika ferry that sunk with Makis brother on it. These photos taken just weeks before the accident. Here's a welder welding concrete to cover the holes. Bless him. How thoughtful! Huh?
What is that? I can understand why everyone is so angry about the whole thing. If families would have known this they would've never gone on that ferry....EVER! So sad and disappointing. What happened to Honesty and Integrity? It's always about the money. These poor people have no money they are poor. What a tragedy! Enough of my soapbox.
Just wanted to share!

Hooray we did it!

Princess Ashika Fundraiser

August 22, 2009

What a delight this was....I must say I've not

participated in an all nighter in many, many years.

It was worth it!

Here are some pics. to explain our day of fundraising for Limoni and his family..... what a turnout! It was so awesome! Thanks to all who participated, and helped in so many ways. I can't express my gratitude enough! Thank you!

Maki left this afternoon to leave fpr Tonga for 4 weeks. I was lonely before he even left. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself and 4 kiddos for that long. I'm so grateful to Maki for his moral support, and his help in all of this.

We raised $4200-$4500 in 1 day for this cause, I went to Walmart tonight to send over $3200 US Dollars and guess how many Pa'anga (Tonga mula) that was?

Drum Roll Please!
$6200 pa'anga!

Isn't that awesome?!

I'm so tickled!

Thank you again!

May God bless you all and to this I say to you and to ALL of my family, I LOVE YOU!!!

Take care for now.

--Tiff

The Final Count is out.....

Op. Ashika names 70 missing passengers and crew

20 Aug 2009, 21:00
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:

THERE were 128 persons on board the Princess Ashika when it left Nuku'alofa on its August 5 voyage, Operation Ashika confirmed on August 19. These have been established as:54 rescued2 bodies recovered72 confirmed names of missing persons (68 passengers and 4 crew).The names of the missing passengers and crew are:S/No, Surname, First Name, Gender, Age, Address 1. Aho, Sione Tali-kihe-Matoni, m, 29, Fasi 2. Aisea, Eva, m, 24, Popua 3. Aisea, Lisiate, Tovo, m, 26, Uiha 4. Alimoni Lima, f, 25, Anana 5. Alimoni, Mele, (Lima's sister), f, 22, Anana 6. Elone, Sione Valele, m, 43, Fasi 7. Elone, Sione Veuveuso, m, 34, Fasi 8. Fa'asolo, Sitiueti, m, 40, Fungamisi Vv 9. Falemei, Kepueli, m, 19, Houmakelikao 10. Fa'uhiva, Etuate, m, 21, Haveluloto 11. Fe'ao, Siuta Nikolasi Senituli, m, 23, Ha'ato'u 12. Fetu'u, Anitelu Uali, m, 23, Makaunga 13. Filiai, Liliani, f, 53, Mangia Vv 14. Finau, Ela, f, 33, Tofoa 15. Finau, Ioane, m, (c) 3, Tofoa 16. Finau, Paea-'i-Latai, f, 32, Ha'afeva/Tofoa 17. Hala Tahila, (nee Tauki'uvea), f, 41, Tatakamotonga 18. He, Tevita Vailahi Atu, m, 60+ Kotu 19. Hikila, Loseli Tupou m 35 Ma'ufanga 20. Kanongata'a, Barsin 'Ela, f, (c) 9, Fotuha'a 21 91 Kanongata'a, Paea 'i Faua, f, 39, Fotuha'a 22 96 Kaufusi, Salesi Havili m 26, Ha'ateiho 23. Kauhala, Fe'ofa'aki, f, (c), 6, Pahu 24. Kauhala, Hikifo'ou, f, (c) 3, Pahu 25. Kauhala, Manu Losaline Kaniata, f, 34, Pahu 26. Kauhala, Manukeu, m, 36, Pahu 27. Kofutu'a, Pelenaise 'Ioane, f, 56, Anana/'Uiha, Hp 28. Lavaka, Lavinia, f, 60, Ha'afeva 29. Lavalu, Ahokava, m, 20, Folaha 30. Lavemai, Simaima, f, 41, Mataika Vv 31. Lavulavu, James Newton, m, (c) 4, Talau, Vv 32. Loto'ahea, Taipe, m, 56, Feletoa Vv 33. Lutui, Simaima Taukifaleniu, f, 45, Uiha 34. Mafi, Sekona, m (c), 1, Matuku Hp/ Ha'ateiho 35. Mafi, Tatisi (nee Pole), f, 25, Ha'ateiho 36. Mahe, Fetaulaki, m, 24, Talihau Vv 37. Mahe, Filimone Moniti, m (c) 2, Talihau Vv 38. Mailangi, Atelete, f, 63, Feletoa Vv 39. Mailangi, Paula, m, 25 ,Feletoa Vv 40. Mailangi, Tapuaki, f, 28, Feletoa Vv 41. Mavae, Manase, m, 38, Tu'anuku, Vv /Vaini 42. Moala, Katilimoni Finau, m, 47, Kapa Vv (Maki's brother) 43. Ngahe, Esafe Kilikiti, m, 51, Tefisi Vv 44. Oto'ota, Melaia, f, 23, Holeva 45. Palanite, Mele Mateitalo, f, 31, Longomapu Vv 46. Pole, Senileva Taufa f 52 Ha'ateiho 47. Po'uha, Piutau m 31 Ha'afeva 48. Puleheloto, Sisiliah Rachelmana, f, 24, Niue 49. Samisoni, Kolianita, f, 60, Lotofoa Hp 50. Samisoni, Maamafo'ou, f, 30, Lotofoa Hp 51. Samisoni, Mele 'Ofeina, f, 19, Lotofoa Hp 52. Samisoni, Tukupa-kihe-'Eiki he Maamafo'ou Jr, f, 7, Lotofoa Hp 53. Talakai, Mele Kato Kakala, f, 46, Puke 54. Talakai, Mele Kato Kakala Jr f (c) 2 Puke 55. Talakai, To-e-pou-'i-Pouono f (c) 5 Puke 56. Taufahema, Siosifa, m, 28, Nautoka 57. Ta'ufo'ou, Fifita, f ,77, Kotu, Hp 58. Ta'ufo'ou, Meki,�m, (c) 2 ,Fo'ui 59. Tava, Malakai, m, 34, Popua 60. Tukitoa, Lio, m, 44, Feletoa Vv 61. Tukuafu, Poasi, m, 21, Fasi 62. Umeda, Hiroshi, m, 70, Japan 63. Uvea, Tevita Pola, m, (c) 9, Ha'afeva 64. Vaitohi, Tupola, m, 14, Kotu Hp 65. Vaka, Mosese (aka Kelly Valu), m, (c) 5, Kolonga 66. Valu, Christy, f, 28, Kolonga 67. Vave, Neti, m, 30, Nautoka 68. Langanke, Christian, m, 28, German 69. Gmeinder, Diana, f, 28, German 70. Henry, Pauline, f, France. The two deceased recovered were identified as:McMillan, Daniel m, BritainMahe, Vaefetu'u f, 22, Kolofo'ou.

Off to Kapa. Vava'u!!!!

Crown Prince holds Memorial Service
20 Aug 2009, 22:15
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:By Linny Folau

Relatives hold pictures of the Kauhala family of four who were lost at seaCROWN Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka and Crown Princess Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho joined bereaved families for a Memorial Service in remembrance of the Ashika victims this morning at the Sa Paula Free Wesleyan Church at Pea, Tongatapu. The church was filled with grieving families and before service began the Crown Prince personally met and hugged surviving crew members, and afterwards hugged and kissed family members.
Surviving crew members meet the Crown Prince and Princess
Sa Paula Free Wesleyan Church at Pea, Tongatapu, August 20, 2009The President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev Dr 'Ahio, led the memorial service, attended by the Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Dr Viliami Tangi, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians. During the service Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka delivered a heartfelt message, remembering those whose lives were lost on the Princess Ashika."At the same time we celebrate those who were saved, not all was lost," he said. "Memories are all we have of those loved ones and perhaps these memories show the fragility of life and that we should always treat those close to us as if we would never see them again."
End of operations The Crown Prince added that today's service also marked the completion of the search and rescue operation and he wished that God will give families the peace and strength during this difficult time and extended his condolences and sympathies to all.The Crown Prince commended the joint efforts of all aspects of Tongan society, the people, police, defence services and the New Zealand and Australian Navies who came together and helped each other in this time of crisis.


Well it has officially hit me. While reading this news my heart is full of gratitude of those who did all they could in this search, but my heart is aching with sadness that no bodies were recovered.
Maki will be leaving Sunday evening to head over to his birthplace Kapa, Vava'u for the memorial service and 10 day wake for his brother and best friend Katilimoni Finau Moala. He will spend the next month there doing funeral stuff and enjoying being with his family, along with taking care of some other business. He's looking forward to going but is also very nervous. It'll be great for him to go. I sure wish the kids and I were going. It's going to be an interesting time without having him here.

Well it is Thursday and we're down to two days until the MAIN EVENT, our Fundraiser. THANK YOU to everyone who has been so kind and generous in taking part in this wonderful cause. I pray that we can make enough money to help those who are in need. I'm grateful to have known Limoni. What a wonderful man he was. We will miss him and look forward to the day when we will see him again. May God continue to shine upon all of you. I'm grateful to you once again and thank you.
-Tiff

Reality has sunken in.....

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/outerislands/20090819_ashika_rov_navy_images.shtml


Well, we were hoping that we'd have some better news today. It looks like NZ has called off the search. Take a look at the link above and you will see the pictures that the ROV has taken of the Princess Ashika on the bottom of the sea. Hello Reality!

We understand that going down that deep would be putting others lives in danger which of course we don't want, with the images that we put in our heads it seems easy to just go down and get the bodies. Once looking at these images on the screen 360 ft. down it really isn't that easy.

Now the memorial services begin.....so we now are in a crunch for time.

Please help us at our Fundraiser Garage Sale. We're down to 3 days!! 3 days!! We've gotten some really nice things from people. We're hoping for a huge success. Thanks for all of those who have already helped in so many ways. I couldn't have done this without any of you!

Take care!

--Tiff

An ODE to our loved ones...our lives have been changed forever.

ODE to the Princess Ashika

A ship set sail On its usual course

Towards the setting sun

Its passengers stood

Upon the deck

And waved their last farewell

As evening drew

And night unveiled

Its clouds of darkness strew

A fitting frame

Of bordering came

For a tragedy no one knew

The seas in tempest

Rose and curled

Its waves They grew in size

The shipIts precious cargo tossed

Was thrown from side to side Abandon ship!!!

The captain cried

Tell all to come outsideAlas!

The waves in anger rose

And cast the ship aside

The women, Children Young and small

Never had the time

To cast thier fears

And flee the ship

But neptune heard their cries

He rose and sang his lullaby

A song he sings with glee

And carried ship and all aboard

Below the raging sea

Loved ones wait upon the shores

Their hearts are heavy laden

Always scanning looking out

For signs of what is happening

Dear neptune King of tempest seas

You ride the waves with ease

Return to us our loved ones all

Hear our sighs

Our pleas Tell us where you sang your song

That night when you went walking

You rule the sea

So vast and wide

Your fearsome voice commanding

We pray to god

Each day, each night

Our hope is never fading

That somewhere O'er the ocean blue

Our loved ones are still waiting

A ship set sail On its usual course

Towards the setting sun

Its passengers stood upon the deck

And waved their last farewell.

By Vaimoana Faka'osiOcean of Light International School,

Hofoa, Tongatapu

That says it all! I'm so grateful for good people who can express themselves so well. Please help us, get Maki home, and help all of these families whose lives have been changed forever. Thank you!

HELP HAS ARRIVED!

Take a look at what's going on now....even as we speak!

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/outerislands/20090815_ashika_manawanui.shtml

The KIWI's have stepped in to help. They've got a HUGE ship to pull out the Princess Ashika. Now the waiting continues. Will they find our loved ones? We can only HOPE and PRAY!
We down to 6 days until our fundraiser. We've rec'vd some awesome donations! Thanks to all who've donated! You light up my life! What a blessing everyone has been. Maki is growing anxious and hopeful that he will go to Tonga. His desire is to be with his family!

Thank you again for everything.
Take care!

--Tiff