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Siblings on a quest to find grandmother’s lost grave in Nikao Cemetery

Thursday 5 June 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Local, Memory Lane, National, Weekend

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Siblings on a quest to find grandmother’s lost grave in Nikao Cemetery
Willie John and his sister Manongi Latham are on a mission to locate their grandmother’s grave, believed to be in the Nikao Cemetery on Rarotonga. MELINA ETCHES/25052324

Willie John and his sister Manongi Latham are on a mission to locate their grandmother’s grave, believed to be in the Nikao Cemetery on Rarotonga.

Their grandmother, Manongi, passed away in 1955. Despite official records confirming her death, the exact location of her burial remains unknown.

“My mama ruau’s name is Manongi. Her father was Songikore – a name from Penrhyn – and her mother, Lazaro, was from Manihiki,” explained John.

John, who was just seven years old at the time, recalls the day vividly.

“We were at a Boys’ Brigade camp in Penrhyn when we heard the news. I just had this feeling something had happened. In those days, if someone passed away, especially someone important, you’d feel it.”

Manongi had travelled to Rarotonga from Penrhyn with her husband, Vini Silinga – father of the late Nihi Vini – seeking medical treatment.

The couple had three children together: Kaku Vini (deceased), Silia (deceased), and Nihi Vini (deceased). Manongi also had children from a previous relationship, including Tinirau Soatini.

“We are from the second puna, through our mother,” said John.

The siblings remember hearing she was buried “near an old au tree, next to a water tap” – landmarks that no longer exist.

“It could be any one of those graves now,” said John. “Maybe five or 10 years ago we started asking around. But no one knew. When our uncle Nihi Vini passed, we felt we needed to do something.”

For John, the search is deeply personal.

“She brought me up when I was a kid. I grew up with her. She died here in Rarotonga while I was still in Penrhyn.”

Their hope is that by sharing their story, someone – perhaps in New Zealand or among the Cook Islands diaspora – might remember something.

“So many have moved overseas. Maybe someone’s mama or papa was around at the time and knows something,” said John.

“If we find her grave, we want to build it up and place a headstone,” he added. “And if we can’t, then we’ll put up a memorial pillar – just something with a plaque, so future generations will know she’s buried here.”

Manongi Latham said the idea came about from a conversation about their great-grandfather’s grave in Penrhyn, which is close to the beach and in need of restoration.

“I told my brother we must rebuild his grave. That’s when he brought up our grandmother’s grave – and the need to find her.”

John also shared a message of encouragement for others: “Our people, our families - don’t disregard these neglected graves. They are monuments to our loved ones.”

He acknowledged that some people don’t even know where their family are buried because they haven’t been told.

Comments

Christoph Müller on 05/06/2025

Dieses Verhältnis zu den Vorfahren verdient allerhöchsten Respekt!

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