227:, in sponsoring a conference advocating Tonga's transition from a feudal to parliamentary monarchy. Not only did the Government resist this call but it punished ʻAtenisi for its advocacy by thenceforth refusing to employ its university graduates, a severe penalty in the developing world. The boycott was lifted after the accession of a commoner prime minister in 2006 and the Government's concession to democratic principle.
185:(1957–60). At Sydney he focused on philosophy, English literature, mathematics and physics. Back in Tonga in April 1961 he did not become – as one might have expected – a government bureaucrat, but held himself out as tutor to those having trouble keeping up at school. His way of teaching soon became famous, and many Tongans who are now important figures claim he instilled a love of learning that impelled their careers.
188:ʻAtenisi Institute was initially a downtown night school providing continuing education for civil servants, evolving into a daytime secondary school in 1964. In 1966 Helu registered ʻAtenisi's high school with the government and at the end of that year leased a 6.5-hectare (16-acre) parcel in Tufuenga, a western district in the Tongan capital of
200:. At the end of 1975 a small university joined the high school on the site, its first Bachelor of Arts degrees being awarded in 1980, followed a few years later by Bachelor of Science degrees. By the 1990s, some Master of Arts degrees – and even a PhD degree – were awarded in collaboration with universities in Australia and New Zealand.
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in literature. The scholar retired as institute director and dean of its university in 2007, replaced in the former post by his daughter Sisiʻuno (in 2008 and from 2010 to 2019) and son
Niulala (in 2009) ... and in the latter (from 2008 to 2010 and from 2015) by Dr. Michael Horowitz, a US sociologist
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at the
University of Virginia in early 19th century America – designed its classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, often in classical style. Whilst small contractors were, of course, employed in ʻAtenisi's construction, in the early days its director was not above roofing a new building after class.
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In retirement, Helu remained an authority on Tongan history, tradition, and education, and although not a politician himself, remained an influential voice in Tongan politics due to the vindication of his advocacy of democracy. At ʻAtenisi, he retained the title of professor emeritus of
Philosophy
166:. Helu, in fact, is a minor chiefly title, carrying the task of managing both the people and land of the village. In Haʻapai, Futa was a bright, although headstrong, student. In 1947 he was selected to be part of the founding class of the newly established
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and spirited excerpts from
Italian opera on tours of the Pacific, Europe, and the US; ʻAtolomake Helu has sung mezzo-soprano in noted international venues, such as Sydney and Auckland Town Halls. A son,
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Until her death in April 2008, Dr. Helu was married to Kaloni Schaaf; the union produced six children and numerous grandchildren. Two daughters have distinguished themselves in the performing arts –
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Dr. Helu was the author of several books, most importantly two books on Tongan culture, a monograph on
Herakleitos, and a collection of essays regarding South Pacific culture. In 1999 the
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In August 2012, a documentary on Futa Helu's life and the history of ʻAtenisi was screened at the New
Zealand International Film Festival, garnering favourable reviews in the
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in particular). The institute began as a continuing education programme for civil servants, then initiated a high school in 1964 and a university in 1975.
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https://web.archive.org/web/20111130043957/http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/personalities/20090203_tonga_futa-helu_atenisi.shtml
360:"NZ Film, Tongan Ark, is selected to screen 'In Competition' at FIFO Pacific International Documentary Film Festival, 11 – 17 February 2013"
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122:(17 June 1934 – 2 February 2010) was a Tongan philosopher, historian, and educator. He studied philosophy under the Australian empiricist
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https://web.archive.org/web/20120330202637/http://histfam.familysearch.org/oralhistories/media/054FutaHeluTonganVersion.pdf
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The last years of his life were marred by declining physical and mental health, the latter due to
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423:ʻI.F. Helu; Critical essays: Cultural perspectives from the Southseas; 1999
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College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 86
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310:"ʻIlaisa Futa-ʻi-Haʻangana Helu – 17 June 1934 – 2 February 2010"
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386:"At sea with 700 Tongans on an unruly, but inspirational Ark"
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Dr. Helu not only administered his institute but – like
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Tongan Ark profiles Futa Helu and the 'Atenisi vision
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and in 1963 launched an educational institute named
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146:Helu was born 17 June 1934 in the village of
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414:ʻI.F. Helu; Thinking in Tongan society; 1982
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420:ʻI.F. Helu; Herakleitos of Ephesos; 1995
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439:Official website of ʻAtenisi institute
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515:Academic staff of ʻAtenisi Institute
480:People educated at Newington College
219:, and the former president of the
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211:In 1992 Dr. Helu joined Tonga's
252:University of the South Pacific
25:ʻIlaisa Futa-ʻi-Haʻangana Helu
16:Tongan philosopher (1934–2010)
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177:Helu studied in Australia at
510:University of Sydney alumni
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495:20th-century Tongan people
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85:20th-century philosophy
437:http://atenisi.edu.to/
245:University of Auckland
500:Tongan schoolteachers
456:biographic interview
288:magazine. The film,
267:and Tongan Culture.
225:Sione ʻAmanaki Havea
221:Free Wesleyan Church
183:University of Sydney
181:(1953–1956) and the
107:Political philosophy
505:People from Haʻapai
490:Tongan philosophers
172:Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
156:Haʻapai archipelago
314:'Atenisi Institute
281:New Zealand Herald
256:honorary doctorate
217:Patelisio P. Fīnau
95:Western philosophy
485:Tongan historians
392:on 3 October 2018
366:on 3 October 2018
261:Dr. ʻOpeti Taliai
179:Newington College
168:Tonga high school
150:on the island of
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274:Documentary film
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164:Kingdom of Tonga
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130:(Tongan for
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41:17 June 1934
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475:2010 deaths
470:1934 births
396:17 February
370:17 February
136:Herakleitos
464:Categories
324:3 February
296:References
290:Tongan Ark
190:Nukuʻalofa
160:Polynesian
37:1934-06-17
174:in 1967.
120:Futa Helu
445:obituary
286:Overland
215:bishop,
213:Catholic
158:in the (
128:ʻAtenisi
109:, ethics
69:Children
194:swampus
154:in the
148:Lotofoa
51:, Tonga
45:Lotofoa
223:, Dr.
198:campus
132:Athens
91:Region
236:faiva
398:2013
372:2013
326:2010
284:and
142:Life
57:Died
31:Born
152:Foa
81:Era
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