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Tribute to My Father, Pastor ‘Ahoia ‘Ilaiū
‘Alu ā 'ihe 'ofa a e 'Eiki, sii 'tamai anga 'ofa.
The late Pastor ‘Ahoia ‘Ilaiū has passed on to eternity and now rests in the arms of our Heavenly Father. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Pastor Falakika Lose ‘Ilaiū, who will continue their shared ministry to win souls for the Kingdom of God. Pastor ‘Ahoia—a great man of wisdom and practical knowledge, a life guide to many—will be especially missed by his children: ‘Ilaisaane Tu'akalau, Ruth (Lute) Faleolo, James (Semisi) Valentine ‘Ilaiū, Anna Hingano Lea'aetoa, Charmaine Marie ‘Ilaiū Talei, Samuel Nasili ‘Ilaiū, Joel Penitekosi ‘Ilaiū, and Isaac Lednicky ‘Ilaiū, as well as his 25 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Pastor ‘Ahoia lived a full life, aged 81 years at his passing, and had celebrated 55 years of marriage in December 2024 (almost 56 years this year). He will be remembered for his fearlessness in the face of injustice and especially for his love for God and his fellow believers, whom he served faithfully in the ministry of the Tongan Assemblies of God in Ōtara, Auckland, New Zealand. Pastor ‘Ahoia was also well-known in Australia, often traveling to visit family members in Queensland and New South Wales.
Honouring and celebrating your life, Dad
On Friday, 21 November 2025, we gathered at Vea Funeral Home for a private worship service and faka-famili time, honouring your request to wear white and bring praise and worship to God on your passing. All eight tokos were there, along with several of your grandchildren and great-grandchildren (mokos)—representing the multigenerational family you helped build across time and space. We shared sweet memories and heard amazing, funny, and inspiring stories from Mum, the tokos, and your mokos.
On Saturday, 22 November 2025, we returned to Vea Funeral Home for a public service celebrating your life in Christ and giving all glory to God, just as you asked. It was simple yet deeply meaningful. Hearts were stirred by the gospel truth spoken by your grandson, Pastor Isaiah Ahoia ‘Ilaiū, and reaffirmed by your son James (Semisi) Valentine ‘Ilaiū, and others who stood in remembrance of you. This poignant time drew us back to Aotearoa to be with Mum and to lay you to rest in Manukau, at the special spot you requested—beside your loving parents, Semisi and ‘Ilaisaane ‘Ilaiū.
We decided as a family that we will gather again to commemorate your one-year heavenly anniversary—to honor your teachings, celebrate your legacy, and remember a father, husband, papa, pastor, and friend who is dearly missed by us all.
Family Heritage and Cultural Roots
Pastor ‘Ahoia is the eldest son of ‘Ilaisaane ‘Ilaiū (ni-Tu‘imoala) from Pukotala Ha‘apai Islands and Semisi ‘Ilaiū (ex-mayor and ex-steward/setuata of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga) in Mu‘a Tatakamotonga. He descends from a strong heritage of planters, weavers, artists, builders, and church founders in Tonga. On his paternal side, his grandparents are ‘Ana Hingano Vea from Niutoua and ‘Euaiki motu, and Mikaele Uhi from Tatakamotonga. On his maternal side, his grandparents are Fifita Tu‘itahi from Ha‘ano and Sioeli Tu‘imoala from Pukotala Ha‘apai Islands. Fifita comes from Ema Angelo of Ha‘ano and Pukotala, who was nicknamed for her spirituality and is known for birthing children who were founding members of the Church of Tonga and the Methodist Church (Faleolo & Ilaiū Vehikite, 2025).
‘Ahoia is survived by his two younger sisters, Leilani and Lute, and now joins his siblings who have gone ahead of him: younger sisters ‘Ema, Fokikovi, and Maumi, as well as his two younger brothers Similoni and Sioeli. Born in 1944 and raised in Tonga, he migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand with his young wife in the early 1970s, where they raised a family of eight children and successfully owned properties and operated businesses. Together, they promoted the importance of faith, family, hard work, and especially education—values that shaped our home and extended to familial groups in Tonga and its diaspora communities across Aotearoa, Australia, and the United States.
Faith and Ministry
Pastor ‘Ahoia received the filling of the Holy Spirit in 1966 and was born again spiritually when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour. He became one of the founding members of the Tongan Assemblies of God and is renowned for his work in sharing the gospel of Christ. His inspirational life journey—from Tongatapu to Aotearoa New Zealand, planting seeds of faith and teaching others to do likewise in their migration journeys to Australia and the United States—has touched generations of Tongan and non-Tongan believers. In his earlier career as a teacher in Tongatapu and Vava‘u, he influenced many young Tongans, who still speak highly of his character and guidance.
Following His Footsteps: Education, Health, and Faith in Action
My father began as a teacher in Tongatapu and Vava‘u; he believed education was worship when pursued with integrity, and that ministry begins at home. I have followed in his footsteps—teaching, researching, and advocating in health and wellbeing—so that families and communities can flourish. In my scholarship and practice, I uphold tauhi vā (nurturing relational spaces) and anga faka‑Tonga (our Tongan way of being), valuing relationships as the core of life and learning. These frameworks guide the way I create culturally safe spaces and prioritize holistic care in health systems, consistent with Pasifika understandings of wellbeing and relationality (Faleolo, 2023; Standfield, Faleolo, & Wallis, 2021).
I remember his sermons—rich with imagery and multilingual scripture—painting God’s truths in vivid colors. One enduring picture he gave us is the small bird nestled safely in a cliff’s crevice while storms rage: life is not problem‑free, but in the tempest God holds us secure. I later sketched “Insurmountable Peace in God” in honor of his storytelling, a visual memory that continues to anchor my faith and my work (Fainga’a-Manusione, Faleolo, & Hafu-Fetokai, 2024, p.530).
Prioritising Family and Holistic Wellbeing
One of Dad’s greatest teachings was to prioritize God and family life above all else. He reminded us that ministry begins at home—with love, respect, and care for one another. I have sought, in every season, to value my marriage and my children’s holistic wellbeing above other activities, aligning my academic and health work with our family’s rhythms of prayer, learning, service, and rest. This balance is possible when faith anchors every decision and when we honor tauhi vā within our homes before we extend it outward (Faleolo & ‘Ilaiū Talei, 2026 in press).
My Scholarship, Our Father’s Influence, and Holistic Progress
As his second eldest daughter, I am honored to have been raised by Pastor ‘Ahoia, my champion Daddy. His teachings shaped my academic and professional journey. Across my studies, Dad enlightened me on fakalakalaka fakalukufua—holistic progress—for Pacific peoples. This conviction underpins all three of my theses:
As I wrote in my Master of Education thesis:
“…further studies is a must not only to change our attitudes towards life but to help us develop in all areas of life whether it be spiritually, physically or mentally. You cannot be just a learner of one sphere without the others, or it will not be ‘holistic’ and cannot be defined as fakalakalaka.” (Faleolo, 2012, p.39)
These words echo my father’s teachings and continue to guide my work in education and health—anchored in faith, family, and holistic wellbeing.
A Lasting Tribute Through Scholarship and Story
In October 2025, my sisters Anna and Charmaine and I travelled to San Francisco to speak on research undertaken in Tonga that bears the imprints of knowledge shared by our beloved Dad. Anna and I spoke of the power of the Holy Spirit movement and its positive impact on Dad’s life since 1966. His story is interwoven with ours; his faith journey continues through the work we do in education, health, and community service.
Anna and I are now in the early stages of writing a book, in honour of our father's legacy, that draws on qualitative recordings with members of the global Tongan Assemblies of God Holy Spirit movement. This book will be a lasting tribute to our father and mother’s ministry—a testimony of their unwavering commitment to God and their people.
God’s Word: A Guide to Living in Christ
Dad’s life was anchored in Scripture. He poured over the Bible in study and sermon preparation, drawing wisdom from its pages. At family events and in everyday conversations, he quoted verses effortlessly, teaching us that God’s Word is not just to be read but lived. His example showed that true knowledge begins with the reverence of God (Prov. 9:10).
My Promise
My husband Thom and I, alongside our family—Israel, Sh’Kinah, Lydiah, Naomi, including our loved ones passed to eternity Angels and Nehemiah, and our newest family members Jenna and great-granddaughters—look forward to a sweet reunion someday in the everlasting arms of our Heavenly Father. ‘Oku iai ha kolo fungani ‘oku ui ko hevani. I can still hear you singing this truth in song and will remember this as I continue to live my best life, like you taught me to, Dad.
Until we meet again!
Lute xoxo
References
Fainga‘a-Manu Sione, I., Faleolo, R. L., & Hafu-Fetokai, C. (2024). Finding Harmony between Decolonization and Christianity in Academia. Art Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, Special Issue: (Re)crafting Creative Criticality: Indigenous Intergenerational Rhythms and Post-COVID Desires, 8(2),519-546. https://doi.org/10.18432/ari29764
Faleolo, R. L. (2012). Higher Education in New Zealand: A Form of Fakalakalaka for Educated Tongan Women? A Consideration of the Perspectives of Educated Tongan Women on their Experiences of Higher Education in New Zealand, and How this Relates to Fakalakalaka. Master of Education thesis. Massey University. New Zealand. https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/3549
Faleolo, R. L. (2020). Pasifika Well-Being and Trans-Tasman Migration: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Samoan and Tongan Well-Being Perspectives and Experiences in Auckland and Brisbane. PhD thesis. University of Queensland. Australia. https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:6341a5b
Faleolo, R. L. (2023) ‘Trans-Tasman Mobilities in and Through Aotearoa New Zealand: Extending Family, Home, and Work Across the Tasman’ in J. Terruhn, & S. Cassim (Eds.), Transforming the Politics of Mobility and Migration in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp.87-99). Aotearoa New Zealand: Anthem Press.
Faleolo, R. L., & ‘Ilaiū Vehikite, E. (2025). Koe folau ‘o Futukava mei Tonga ki Aositelelia: The voyage of ‘Footoocava’ from Tonga to Australia. Special Issue: Oceania Lives. Australian Journal of Biography and History, 9.
Faleolo, R. L., & ‘llaiū Talei, C. (2025, in-press) Spiritual Wellbeing – A Pacific Christian Perspective of Being Well Inside and Out. In C. ‘llaiū Talei, R.L. Faleolo, D. Enari, & S. Manuela (Eds.). ‘Untangling Notions of Pacific Wellbeing across the Trans-Tasman.’
‘llaiū, R. L. (1997). Signs of Development as “Fakalakalaka” in Tonga? A Consideration of the Views and Changing Roles of Tongan Women. Master of Arts Dissertation. The University of Auckland. New Zealand. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16466.77766
Standfield, R., Faleolo, R., & Wallis, D. (2023). Pacific Islander Mobilities from Colonial Incursions to the Present. In M. Borges & M. Hsu (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Global Migrations (pp. 123-138). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108767071.009
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