Dates

• Existence: 1887 - 1958

Biographical history

Sioeli Kauvaka (1887-1958) was an early missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga.

Sioeli Kauvaka Sika was born on November 16, 1887 in the village of Vaipao on the island of Niuatoputapu, Tonga. He was ninth of the fourteen children born to 'Aisake Ta'e'aonga Sika and 'Amelia Toloa. In June of 1912 he married Melenaite Tonga Ngata, and the couple had thirteen children. He became a preacher in the Free Wesleyan Church in Tonga in 1919. Eleven years later he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he remained active in the Church for the rest of his life.

In 1938 Kuavaka was called on a mission to his birthplace, Niuatoputapu, as the first Latter-day Saint elder to teach there in ten years. He served for about a year and helped to establish a branch.

Kauvaka died in Feletoa, Vava'u, Tonga on April 1, 1958.

Citation:

Ancestry, Mar. 27, 2017 (b. Nov. 16, 1887 in Vaipau, Tonga; d. Apr. 1, 1958 in Feletoa, Tonga; ninth of fourteen; parents 'Aisake Ta'e'aonga Sika and 'Amelia Toloa; m. Melenaite Tonga)

UPB files, Mar. 27, 2017 (m. June 1912; had thirteen children; preacher for Free Wesleyan Church; baptized Aug. 24, 1930; mission in Niuatoputapu 1938-1939; helped establish branch)

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